Court Opinion

ID: 173209
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 19:16:47+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:23.654446
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                           United States Court of Appeals
                                                                   Tenth Circuit

                                                                February 9, 2010
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                   Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                   Clerk of Court
                                  TENTH CIRCUIT

 CHRISTOPHER CHASE,

                 Petitioner-Appellant,                   No. 09-2219
          v.                                             (D. of N.M.)
 DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS                       (D.C. No. CIV-08-377-JCH)
 OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
 and THE NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY
 GENERAL, GARY K KING,

                 Respondents-Appellees.

               ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY *

Before TACHA, TYMKOVICH, and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges. **

      Christopher Chase was convicted by a New Mexico state court pursuant to

an Alford plea. Proceeding pro se, 1 Chase seeks a certificate of appealability

(COA) to appeal the district court’s denial of his habeas corpus petition. After

      *
         This order is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of
the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
      **
         After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
      1
        Because Chase proceeds pro se, we review his pleadings and filings
liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520–21 (1972); Brown v. Perrill,
21 F.3d 1008, 1009 (10th Cir. 1994).
carefully reviewing the record, we conclude Chase has not presented sufficient

evidence that his plea was not entered intelligently and voluntarily.

      Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, we therefore DENY his

request for a COA and DISMISS his appeal.

                                  I. Background

      Chase was indicted on 32 counts ranging from criminal sexual penetration

to kidnapping. These charges arose from a series of incidents involving eleven

victims, and all of the incidents related to Chase’s abuse of his authority as a

police officer. During state criminal proceedings, Chase was represented by

counsel, who unsuccessfully attempted to sever the trial and suppress all out-of-

court identifications of Chase as the perpetrator of these crimes.

      After these motions proved unsuccessful, Chase entered a plea pursuant to

North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970), maintaining that while he was

innocent of the crimes, the government had presented sufficient evidence to

proceed to trial. His plea covered 10 of the counts, and the government agreed

not to prosecute the remaining 22 counts. The plea agreement stated that his

maximum term of incarceration would be 15 years. According to Chase’s

testimony at the sentencing hearing, he entered his plea so he “could have a little

closure,” and he did this for the sake of his family. Sentencing Hearing Tr.,

p. 14. His lawyer elaborated that he took the plea because the maximum sentence

according to the plea agreement was less than what he would have received if he

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had been convicted of even one of the charged crimes. The court accepted

Chase’s plea and sentenced him to 15 years of incarceration.

      The plea agreement signed by Chase stated that he “specifically waives his

right to appeal as long as the court’s sentence is imposed according to the terms

of this agreement.” R., Vol. 1, p. 90. When canvassing Chase, the district court

judge confirmed that he understood he was waiving “the right to have a trial or

appeal a trial conviction to a higher court.” R., Vol. 3, p. 483. Chase’s counsel

refused to file a direct appeal on his behalf, but Chase filed a pro se petition for

state post-conviction relief. He was denied relief, and the New Mexico Supreme

Court denied certiorari.

      Chase filed a federal application for a writ of habeas corpus under 28

U.S.C. § 2254, raising seven claims. He later filed a supplemental petition adding

an eighth claim. The claims were: (1) ineffective assistance of counsel resulting

in an involuntary plea; (2) an unconstitutional identification process; (3)

insufficient evidence; (4) ineffective assistance of counsel during pre-trial

activity; (5) prosecutorial misconduct; (6) due process violations based on

publicity; (7) unfair sentencing in violation of due process; and (8) ineffective

assistance of counsel based on conflicting language in the plea canvass and plea

waiver.

      The district court dismissed claims two through six as relating only to

events that took place before the Alford plea, which were unappealable due to a

                                          -3-
waiver in the plea agreement. The district court held claim seven, which arose

from Chase’s inability to review the pre-sentence report before he was sentenced,

did not raise a constitutional issue. Finally, the district court examined claims

one and eight on the merits, and found Chase had not presented sufficient

evidence that his plea was not made voluntarily or intelligently. For these

reasons, the district court denied habeas relief, and declined to grant a COA.

      Chase seeks a COA from this court on his first and eighth claims.

                                    II. Analysis

      In order to obtain a COA, Chase must make “a substantial showing of the

denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). A guilty plea is not

valid unless it is entered intelligently and voluntarily, with a demonstration on the

record that the defendant knew the constitutional rights he was waiving by

pleading guilty. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242–44 (1969). When a

defendant claims that the ineffective assistance of counsel led him to plead guilty

involuntarily, he must prove, first, that his counsel’s conduct was objectively

unreasonable, and second, that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for

counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on

going to trial.” Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58–59 (1985).

      A. Voluntary Nature of Plea Agreement

      Claim one directly attacks whether Chase intelligently and voluntarily

entered into the plea agreement, and thereby waived his constitutional rights.

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Specifically, Chase has couched this claim in terms of ineffective assistance of

counsel. Since this claim challenges the validity of the plea itself, we need not

address whether this claim is covered by the scope of the appeal waiver contained

within the plea agreement.

      The district court concluded Chase did not present sufficient evidence that

his guilty plea was involuntary. Chase claims his attorney promised him he

would be sentenced to no more than 9 years of imprisonment, and that he would

not have pleaded guilty if he had understood he could be sentenced for up to 15

years. Chase also claims he did not understand the true nature of an Alford plea

and would not have pleaded guilty if it had been correctly explained to him.

These contentions are undermined by statements made in the record.

      The plea agreement, which Chase signed, states that “the parties agree to a

‘cap’ of 15 years incarceration” and “the defendant may be ordered to serve a

period of incarceration up to fifteen (15) years at initial sentencing.” R, Vol. 1, p.

88–89. The agreement later states “I have read and understand this agreement.

. . . I have discussed the case and my constitutional rights with my lawyer.” R.,

Vol. 1, p. 91.

      During sentencing, the following exchange occurred:

          THE COURT: Have you read the plea agreement?

          THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

                                          -5-
THE COURT: Have you gone over these charges, the possible
penalties for the charges, the terms and conditions of the plea
with your attorney?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

THE COURT: Do you have any questions regarding the
charges, the possible penalties for the charges or the terms and
conditions of the plea?

THE DEFENDANT: No, ma’am.

THE COURT: You understand that by entering into this plea
agreement, you waive the following constitutional rights, the
right to plead not guilty, the right to a jury trial, the right to
see, hear, question and cross-examine witnesses who may
testify against you, the right to present evidence on your own
behalf, the right to have the State compel the attendance of
witnesses of your choosing, the right to remain silent and not
be forced to incriminate yourself, the right to be presumed
innocent, the right to have the State bear the burden of
attempting to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and
the right to have a trial or appeal a trial conviction to a higher
court. Do you understand these rights?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

THE COURT: Do you wish to knowingly and voluntarily give
up these rights to enter into this plea?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

...

THE COURT: Were there any promises made to you other than
those contained in this plea agreement?

THE DEFENDANT: No, ma’am.

THE COURT: Are you pleading guilty knowingly, voluntarily
and of your own free will?

                                -6-
          THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

          THE COURT: And you understand, sir, that although you are
          pleading guilty pursuant to Alford, I will find you guilty of
          these charges?

          THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

          THE COURT: Have you understood everything that I’ve said
          to you today?

          THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.

          THE COURT: Do you have any questions that you would like
          to ask me or your attorney?

          THE DEFENDANT: No, ma’am.

R., Vol. 3, p. 483.

      The district court concluded, based on these statements, that Chase had

failed to prove that his counsel’s performance was deficient, or that he was

prejudiced by counsel’s performance. An erroneous sentence calculation does not

automatically render counsel’s assistance ineffective. United States v. Gordon, 4

F.3d 1567, 1570 (10th Cir. 1993). Nor do Chase’s unsupported assertions that he

would have gone to trial demonstrate prejudice, especially given his statements

during sentencing regarding his motivation in accepting the plea agreement.

      Reasonable jurists would not debate the correctness of these conclusions,

see Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000), and therefore we deny a COA

on this claim.

                                         -7-
      B. Conflicting Language in the Plea Canvass and Plea Agreement

      Chase argues that he did not give up the right to an appeal, and that it was

ineffective assistance of counsel for his attorney to tell him he had given up this

right. The district court concluded that Chase had given up his right to an appeal

when he signed the plea agreement, which specifically waived this right. The

plea agreement states:

         Unless this plea is rejected or withdrawn, the defendant gives
         up all motions, defenses, objections, or requests which he has
         made or could make concerning the Court’s entry of judgment
         against him if that judgment is consistent with this agreement.
         The defendant specifically waives his right to appeal as long as
         the court’s sentence is imposed according to the terms of this
         agreement.

R., Vol. 1, p. 90. Having already determined that Chase entered into the plea

agreement intelligently and voluntarily, the district court found this claim

presented no evidence of ineffective assistance of counsel or that the plea had

been entered into involuntarily. Because this conclusion is not debatable among

jurists of reason, we deny a COA.

                                  III. Conclusion

      Because Chase has failed to present “a substantial showing of the denial of

a constitutional right,” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), we DENY a COA and DISMISS

                                          -8-
his appeal. We DENY his motion to appoint counsel.

                                                Entered for the Court

                                                Timothy M. Tymkovich
                                                Circuit Judge

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