Court Opinion

ID: 4098701
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-16 14:13:02.180799+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:55:47.267015
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                          AT JACKSON
                         Assigned on Briefs October 4, 2016

             CALVIN E. BARTLETT v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

                 Appeal from the Circuit Court for Madison County
                      No. C-16-16 Roy B. Morgan, Jr., Judge
                     ___________________________________

             No. W2016-00616-CCA-R3-PC - Filed November 15, 2016
                    ___________________________________

Petitioner, Calvin E. Bartlett, received an effective ten-year sentence as the result of a
January 2015 plea agreement that disposed of two felonies and six misdemeanors in two
different cases in the Madison County Criminal Court. Petitioner subsequently filed a
petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that he received ineffective assistance of
counsel and that his guilty pleas were made unintelligently. The post-conviction court
denied relief, and Petitioner timely appealed. Because Petitioner failed to prove that he
received ineffective assistance of counsel, the decision of the post-conviction court is
affirmed.

  Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed

TIMOTHY L. EASTER, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ALAN E. GLENN and
CAMILLE R. MCMULLEN, JJ., joined.

Joseph T. Howell, Jackson, Tennessee, for the appellant, Calvin E. Bartlett.

Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Brent C. Cherry, Assistant
Attorney General, Senior Counsel; Jerry Woodall, District Attorney General; and Al
Earls, Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                       OPINION

      Petitioner was indicted by the Madison County Grand Jury in case number 12-69
for aggravated assault, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, tampering with
evidence, aggravated burglary, theft over of property valued over $1000, cruelty to
animals, and vandalism over $500. In case number 12-70, Petitioner was indicted for
aggravated burglary, theft of property valued over $1000, vandalism under $500 and
resisting arrest.

       On January 9, 2015, Petitioner pled guilty to the reduced charges of simple assault,
aggravated criminal trespass, theft of property valued under $500, and vandalism in Case
No. 12-69. Petitioner also pled guilty to aggravated burglary, theft of property valued
over $1000, vandalism, and resisting arrest in Case No. 12-70. In exchange for
Petitioner‟s plea, the agreement established that Petitioner would be sentenced as a Range
II offender and that all sentences in both cases would run concurrently for an effective
sentence of ten years to serve. All other charges were dismissed as part of the plea
agreement.

       On January 21, 2016, Defendant filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief,
followed by four amended petitions with the assistance of appointed counsel, all alleging
that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel and that his guilty pleas were made
unintelligently.

       At the evidentiary hearing on the petition, Petitioner testified that he requested
copies of the discovery from trial counsel but did not receive any. Petitioner maintained
that had the discovery been provided, the outcome of his case would have been “a lot
different” because he “would have had something to work by.” Petitioner also testified
that he requested to meet with trial counsel to discuss the charges in the indictment and
the discovery, but trial counsel did “not really” meet with Petitioner. Petitioner intended
to go to trial in Case No. 12-69, but trial counsel told him that he had to plead guilty in
both cases or else the State would not approve of a plea agreement. Petitioner testified
that he felt that he had no other choice but to plead guilty because trial counsel was not
ready for trial. During cross-examination, Petitioner admitted that, before he pled guilty,
he had a criminal record of two felony convictions and several misdemeanors. However,
Petitioner contended that trial counsel did not argue for a lesser sentence based on
relevant mitigating factors, such as the non-violent nature of the crimes and his criminal
history.

       Trial counsel testified that he defended some pro se pre-trial motions filed by
Petitioner and filed a motion for discovery. The prosecutor‟s office followed an open-file
policy and permitted trial counsel access to everything within the case file. Trial counsel
reviewed the discovery material with Petitioner and discussed the plea negotiations with
him. Trial counsel recalled that the case was “pretty straightforward” and discussed
potential defenses with Petitioner. Trial counsel testified that he would have been
prepared to litigate the case by the time the trial date arrived.

      After the hearing, the post-conviction court entered an order denying post-
conviction relief. Petitioner timely appealed to this Court. He argues that the post-
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conviction court erred by denying his petition for post-conviction relief because the
evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing established that trial counsel was
ineffective for 1) failing to object to Petitioner‟s classification as a Range II offender, 2)
failing to provide Petitioner with complete discovery, 3) failing to adequately meet with
Petitioner, and 4) failing to pay adequate attention to Petitioner‟s case.1 Petitioner also
argues that trial counsel‟s ineffective assistance rendered his guilty pleas invalid.

        Post-conviction relief is available for any conviction or sentence that is “void or
voidable because of the abridgment of any right guaranteed by the Constitution of
Tennessee or the Constitution of the United States.” T.C.A. § 40-30-103. In order to
prevail in a claim for post-conviction relief, a petitioner must prove his factual allegations
by clear and convincing evidence. T.C.A. § 40-30-110(f); Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d
152, 156 (Tenn. 1999). On appeal, this Court will review the post-conviction court‟s
findings of fact “under a de novo standard, accompanied with a presumption that those
findings are correct unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise.” Fields v.
State, 40 S.W.3d 450, 458 (Tenn. 2001) (citing Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d); Henley v. State,
960 S.W.2d 572, 578 (Tenn. 1997). This Court will not re-weigh or re-evaluate the
evidence presented or substitute our own inferences for those drawn by the trial court.
Henley, 960 S.W.2d at 579. Questions concerning witness credibility, the weight and
value to be given to testimony, and the factual issues raised by the evidence are to be
resolved by the post-conviction court. Momon, 18 S.W.3d at 156 (citing Henley, 960
S.W.2d at 578). However, the post-conviction court‟s conclusions of law and application
of the law to the facts are reviewed under a purely de novo standard, with no presumption
of correctness. Fields, 40 S.W.3d at 458.

       Both the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Article I,
section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution guarantee the right of an accused to the effective
assistance of counsel. In order to sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a
petitioner must demonstrate that counsel‟s representation fell below the range of
competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930,
936 (Tenn. 1975). Under the two prong test established by Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 687 (1984), a petitioner must prove that counsel‟s performance was deficient
and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense. See Burnett v. State, 92 S.W.3d 403, 408
(Tenn. 2002). Because a petitioner must establish both elements in order to prevail on a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, “failure to prove either deficient performance
or resulting prejudice provides a sufficient basis to deny relief on the claim.” Henley,
960 S.W.2d at 580. “Indeed, a court need not address the components in any particular
order or even address both if the [petitioner] makes an insufficient showing of one

       1
         Any other issues raised in the post-conviction court but not pursued before this Court are
considered abandoned. See Ronnie Jackson, Jr. v. State, No. W2008-02280-CCA-R3-PC, 2009 WL
3430151, at *6 n.2 (Tenn. Crim. App. Oct. 26, 2009), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Apr. 16, 2010).
                                                  -3-
component.” Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 370 (Tenn. 1996) (citing Strickland, 466
U.S. at 697).

       The test for deficient performance is whether counsel‟s acts or omissions fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688; Henley, 960 S.W.2d at 579. This Court must evaluate the
questionable conduct from the attorney‟s perspective at the time, Hellard v. State, 629
S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982), and “should indulge a strong presumption that counsel‟s
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” State v.
Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 462 (Tenn. 1999). This Court will not use hindsight to second-
guess a reasonable trial strategy, Adkins v. State, 911 S.W.2d 334, 347 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1994), even if a different procedure or strategy might have produced a different result.
Williams v. State, 599 S.W.2d 276, 279-80 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980). However, this
deference to the tactical decisions of trial counsel is dependent upon a showing that the
decisions were made after adequate preparation. Cooper v. State, 847 S.W.2d 521, 528
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1992).

        Even if a petitioner shows that counsel‟s representation was deficient, the
petitioner must also satisfy the prejudice prong of the Strickland test in order to obtain
relief. The question is “whether counsel‟s deficient performance renders the result of the
trial unreliable or the proceeding fundamentally unfair.” Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S.
364, 372 (1993). A petitioner must show that there is a reasonable probability “sufficient
to undermine confidence in the outcome” that, “but for counsel‟s unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 463 (quoting
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). In the context of a guilty plea, a petitioner “must show 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, 59
(1985).

       When a petitioner asserts that his guilty plea was rendered invalid due to the
ineffective assistance of counsel, the primary question is whether it was entered
knowingly, voluntarily, and understandingly. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242-43
(1969). “[A] plea is not „voluntary‟ if it is the product of „[i]gnorance, incomprehension,
coercion, terror, inducements, [or] subtle or blatant threats.‟” Blankenship v. State, 858
S.W.2d 897, 904 (Tenn. 1993) (quoting Boykin, 395 U.S. at 242-43). Moreover, a plea
cannot be voluntary if the defendant is “incompetent or otherwise not in control of his
mental facilities” at the time it is entered. Id. (quoting Brown v. Perini, 718 F.2d 784,
788 (6th Cir. 1983)).

       To determine whether a plea has been made knowingly, voluntarily, and
understandingly, a court must look at the totality of the circumstances, including such
factors as:
                                            -4-
       the relative intelligence of the [petitioner]; the degree of his familiarity with
       criminal proceedings; whether he was represented by competent counsel
       and had the opportunity to confer with counsel about the options available
       to him; the extent of advice from counsel and the court concerning the
       charges against him; and the reasons for his decision to plead guilty,
       including a desire to avoid a greater penalty that might result from a jury
       trial.

Powers v. State, 942 S.W.2d 551, 556 (Tenn. 1996) (quoting Blankenship, 858 S.W.2d at
904). “If the accused is to make a „voluntary and intelligent choice among the alternative
courses of action‟ available to him, counsel must advise the accused, among other things,
of the choices that are available to him as well as the probable outcome of these choices.”
Parham v. State, 885 S.W.2d 375, 384 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). Moreover, “[t]he entry
of a plea of guilty to avoid a . . . risk [of] greater punishment does not, standing alone,
make the plea involuntary.” Id. at 381(citing Capri Adult Cinema v. State, 537 S.W.2d
896, 898 (Tenn. 1976) (other citations omitted)); see also Brady v. United States, 397
U.S. 742, 748-50 (1970); Hicks v. State, 983 S.W.2d 240, 248 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998).

        After a careful review of the record, we conclude that the evidence in the record
does not preponderate against the findings of the post-conviction court and does not
demonstrate that the post-conviction court erred by denying post-conviction relief. The
post-conviction court accredited the testimony of trial counsel over that of Petitioner.
Trial counsel testified that he was adequately informed about Petitioner‟s cases. He
obtained discovery, reviewed the discovery with Petitioner, discussed trial strategy with
Petitioner, and explained the plea negotiations with Petitioner. Petitioner failed to prove
that trial counsel performed deficiently in his obligations to Petitioner as alleged.

        Petitioner also failed to prove that there was anything improper about his plea-
bargained sentence as a Range II offender. When plea bargaining, “the parties may agree
to a „hybrid‟ sentence that „mixes and matches‟ range assignment, term of years, and
release eligibility without regard to what our sentencing scheme might call for absent a
plea bargain so long as (1) the term of years is within the overall range of years specified
for the offense and (2) the [release eligibility date] is not less than the minimum
allowable for the offense.” Davis v. State, 313 S.W.3d 751, 760 (Tenn. 2010) (internal
citations omitted). “[A] knowing and voluntary guilty plea waives any irregularity as to
offender classification or release eligibility.” Id. (quoting Hoover v. State, 215 S.W.3d
776, 780 (Tenn. 2007)). Petitioner has not pointed to any authority suggesting that his
offender classification or sentences were improper, and he has not claimed that trial
counsel did not explain the details of the plea agreement with him before he entered his
guilty pleas. The transcript of the guilty plea hearing demonstrates that the trial court

                                              -5-
thoroughly reviewed the details of the plea agreement with Petitioner and also advised
him of his constitutional rights.2

       Because Petitioner has failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he
received the ineffective assistance of counsel when entering his guilty pleas, he has
likewise failed to prove that his guilty pleas were unintelligent or involuntary as a result
of ineffective assistance. Based on the foregoing, Petitioner is not entitled to post-
conviction relief, and the decision of the post-conviction court is affirmed.

                                                     ____________________________________
                                                     TIMOTHY L. EASTER, JUDGE

        2
         During the plea colloquy, Petitioner, through his attorney, stipulated “to the alleged facts of both
indictments” and thus waived a determination of a factual basis for all seven offenses. Petitioner does not
now claim that there was no factual basis for his pleas. Consequently, the lack of a stated factual basis at
the time of the plea acceptance has no impact on his post-conviction claims.
                                                    -6-