Court Opinion

ID: 9405341
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-27 22:07:29.956737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:21.434895
License: Public Domain

06/27/2023

                                           DA 22-0296
                                                                                        Case Number: DA 22-0296

              IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                        2023 MT 125N

JAY DONALD WITKOWSKI,

               Petitioner and Appellant,

         v.

STATE OF MONTANA,

               Respondent and Appellee.

APPEAL FROM:           District Court of the Seventeenth Judicial District,
                       In and For the County of Valley, Cause No. DV-2021-65
                       Honorable Yvonne Laird, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

                For Appellant:

                       Jay Donald Witkowski, Self-represented, Shelby, Montana

                For Appellee:

                       Austin Knudsen, Montana Attorney General, Mardell Ployhar, Assistant
                       Attorney General, Helena, Montana

                       Dylan Jensen, Valley County Attorney, Glasgow, Montana

                                                   Submitted on Briefs: May 31, 2023

                                                              Decided: June 27, 2023

Filed:

                       __________________________________________
                                         Clerk
Justice Ingrid Gustafson delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating

Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not

serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this

Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana

Reports.

¶2     Jay Donald Witkowski (Witkowski) appeals from the May 20, 2022 Order on

Petition for Postconviction Relief issued by the Seventeenth Judicial District Court, Valley

County. We affirm.

¶3     Witkowski was charged with deliberate homicide on February 7, 2017. He pled

guilty pursuant to a plea agreement on August 16, 2017. Thereafter, he raised complaints

about counsel which, after an evidentiary hearing, the District Court determined were not

seemingly substantial. Witkowski then appealed and this Court affirmed his conviction.

State v. Witkowski, No. DA 18-0621, 2021 MT 297N, 2021 Mont. LEXIS 937. Witkowski

then filed a petition for postconviction relief (PCR). After the State responded, the District

Court denied the petition without conducting an evidentiary hearing.

¶4     Witkowski’s PCR petition asserted claims of ineffective assistance of counsel

(IAC), prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and newly discovered evidence supporting

a claim of innocence. The District Court considered each of these claims individually,

finding that Witkowski provided no evidence, only unsupported and self-serving

assertions, of IAC, prosecutorial misconduct, and judicial bias and that Witkowski’s “new”
                                              2
video evidence—of poor-quality shot from a train engine showing the crime scene and

Witkowski’s minor injuries sustained on the date the offense occurred—was not new but

available to him before trial and at the time he entered his guilty plea. The District Court

further found that Witkowski failed to explain how the video evidence might establish his

innocence.

¶5     Upon this appeal, Witkowski asserts five issues which he intermixes with each

other: (1) the District Court erred by dismissing his PCR petition for failing to meet

pleading standards; (2) IAC; (3) the District Court erred in imposing a parole condition

requiring him to pay parole supervision fees while incarcerated; (4) the District Court erred

in denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea; and (5) judicial bias in sentencing.1

¶6     The State asserts the District Court properly dismissed Witkowski’s PCR petition

as it was insufficient to satisfy the procedural threshold of § 46-21-104(1)(c), MCA.

¶7     We review a district court’s denial of a petition for postconviction relief to

determine whether the court’s findings of fact are clearly erroneous and whether its

conclusions of law are correct. Wilkes v. State, 2015 MT 243, ¶ 9, 380 Mont. 388, 355

P.3d 755 (citing Heath v. State, 2009 MT 7, ¶ 13, 348 Mont. 361, 202 P.3d 118). A district

court may dismiss a petition for postconviction relief as a matter of law, and we review a

1
  It is noted that Witkowski’s PCR petition is, at best, disjointed and confusing and his appeal
briefing intermixes the issues he asserts. For example, he bases his claim that the District Court
erred in dismissing his PCR petition upon IAC of trial counsel, his asserted denial of access to a
train video, that he acted in self-defense, and that both he and the victim were under the influence
of methamphetamine at the time of the offense.

                                                 3
court’s conclusions of law for correctness. Herman v. State, 2006 MT 7, ¶ 13, 330 Mont.

267, 127 P.3d 422. “We review discretionary rulings in PCR proceedings, including

rulings related to whether to hold an evidentiary hearing, for an abuse of discretion.”

McGarvey v. State, 2014 MT 189, ¶ 14, 375 Mont. 495, 329 P.3d 576 (citing State v.

Morgan, 2003 MT 193, ¶ 7, 316 Mont. 509, 74 P.3d 1047).

¶8     In Montana, “petitions for post-conviction relief are collateral attacks that are civil

in nature and are not governed by the Sixth Amendment requirements for counsel.” State

v. Black, 245 Mont. 39, 43, 798 P.2d 530, 532 (1990); see also Coleman v. State, 194 Mont.

428, 433, 633 P.2d 624, 627 (1981). Postconviction petitions must “identify all facts

supporting the grounds for relief set forth in the petition and have attached affidavits,

records, or other evidence establishing the existence of those facts.”                Section

46-21-104(1)(c), MCA. A district court may properly dismiss a PCR petition for failure to

state a claim when the petitioner fails to attach the appropriate affidavit, records, or other

evidence required by § 46-21-104(1)(c), MCA. Herman, ¶¶ 15, 32.

¶9     This Court “will not consider grounds for postconviction relief that reasonably could

have been raised on direct appeal.” DeShields v. State, 2006 MT 58, ¶ 15, 331 Mont. 329,

132 P.3d 540. “Criminal defendants may not substitute postconviction relief for direct

appeal.” DeShields, ¶ 15; see also § 46-21-105(2), MCA.

¶10    Upon our review of the record, we agree with the State and the District Court that

Witkowski’s PCR petition does not meet the threshold standard of § 46-21-104(1)(c),

MCA, such that the District Court correctly dismissed it for failure to state a claim.
                                              4
¶11    Witkowski contends the District Court abused its discretion when it denied his

“federal constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel,” and insinuates this occurred

through the District Court’s failure to adequately inquire into his complaint that defense

counsel rendered IAC.

¶12    We have adopted the two-pronged test of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,

104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984), to judge IAC claims. Whitlow v. State, 2008 MT 140, ¶ 10, 343

Mont. 90, 183 P.3d 861. To show IAC, “a defendant must prove both (1) that counsel’s

performance was deficient, and (2) that counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the

defense.” State v. Ward, 2020 MT 36, ¶ 18, 399 Mont. 16, 457 P.3d 955 (citation omitted).

In analyzing prejudice, the defendant must show “a reasonable probability that the result

of the proceeding would have been different but for counsel’s deficient performance.”

State v. Brown, 2011 MT 94, ¶ 12, 360 Mont. 278, 253 P.3d 859. A strong presumption

exists that counsel’s performance was “within a broad range of reasonable professional

assistance.” Brown, ¶ 12.

¶13    On August 16, 2017, Witkowski appeared with his trial counsel, Clark Mathews and

Terrance Toavs, for a change of plea hearing. At that time, Witkowski was fully advised

of his right to persist in his not guilty plea and put the State to its burden to prove beyond

a reasonable doubt at trial that he committed the homicide offense. He was further advised

that if he entered a guilty plea, he was giving up his right to trial and his right to require

the State to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Witkowski’s counsel, Mathews, as

an officer of the court, advised that Witkowski had engaged with counsel and had fully
                                              5
discussed potential defenses and lesser included offenses. Witkowski acknowledged he

had had the opportunity to review the evidence, he was fully satisfied with his counsel, and

he understood the rights he was waiving—including the right to challenge evidence,

cross-examine witnesses, or argue for a lesser-included offense—and the possible penalties

which could be imposed at sentencing. He averred he had reviewed the plea agreement

with his counsel, he fully understood it, and he signed it. Witkowski then admitted that he

had knowingly caused the death of Evelynn Garcia using a dangerous weapon to do so and

the court accepted his guilty plea.

¶14    The next day, the District Court received a letter dated August 15, 2017, from

Witkowski requesting substitution of his counsel. The District Court held a hearing to

determine if Witkowski’s complaints about his counsel were seemingly substantial. At

that hearing, it became apparent that the letter dated August 15, 2017, was written prior to

Witkowski appearing with his counsel for his change of plea hearing.            After fully

discussing each of Witkowski’s asserted complaints with him, it became clear that although

Witkowski had earlier felt like things were not being looked at close enough, he did not

have specifics as to that, and was since able to discuss all his concerns—including why

motions such as a change of venue were not pursued—with counsel. The District Court

determined Witkowski’s complaints were not seemingly substantial, to which he did not

disagree, and further acknowledged he was no longer contending he was pressured into

entering the plea agreement. The District Court specifically asked if Witkowski’s counsel

                                             6
intended to file a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and was advised counsel did not intend

to do so—to which Witkowski also did not disagree.

¶15    Other than to assert the court “denied my federal constitutional right to effective

assistance of counsel[,]” Witkowski has failed to delineate any specifics as to how the court

did this. The District Court received Witkowski’s complaints regarding his counsel, held

a hearing, and thoroughly explored his claims that counsel were ineffective. Given the

detailed inquiry at hearing, combined with counsel’s information and explanations, and

Witkowski’s failure to delineate any particular deficiencies or problems with counsel, we

find no error on the District Court’s part in finding Witkowski’s claims regarding counsel

to not be seemingly substantial. Witkowski has utterly failed to demonstrate counsel’s

performance was deficient, let alone that counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced his

defense. In his PCR petition, Witkowski failed to demonstrate either Strickland prong and

the District Court correctly dismissed his IAC claim.

¶16    Intermixed in his complaints about the District Court denying his PCR petition for

failure to state a claim, Witkowski references a train video and a photograph which he

asserts were “never entered into evidence” and asserts he was “convicted without a

defense,” implicating claims of IAC. Witkowski appears to assert that he did not have

access to the video and that the video showed the presence of another car at the scene of

the offense. The State vehemently disputes Witkowski’s assertion the video shows another

car. The affidavit filed in support of the State’s motion for leave to file the information

details the contents of the video—one vehicle, consistent with the vehicle Witkowski was
                                             7
driving, pulling up to and stopping before the railroad tracks. It is difficult to determine

exactly what Witkowski’s allegations are about the video. Of course, since he pled guilty

to the homicide charge and no trial occurred, no evidence was entered. Witkowski

seemingly acknowledges his counsel had the video and, prior to his entry of a guilty plea,

he acknowledged to the District Court he had had the opportunity to go over the evidence

presented by the State with his counsel. To the extent Witkowski asserts the video to be

“new” evidence as it was somehow available only to his counsel and not to him, he has

failed to establish that “viewed in light of the evidence as a whole [it] would establish that

[Witkowski] did not engage in the criminal conduct for which [he] was convicted[.]”

Section 46-21-102(2), MCA. At sentencing, the State outlined the evidence supporting its

theory that Witkowski stabbed the victim, beat her with a tire iron, and then struck her with

his car—which included the victim’s blood on layers of Witkowski’s clothing. Even if the

video showed another vehicle at the train crossing, such would not refute the evidence that

Witkowski stabbed the victim.

¶17    It is even more unclear what Witkowski’s issue with the photograph is. He asserts

he had given his counsel a copy of the photograph which purported to be of a person

matching the description he originally gave to law enforcement. The photograph is clearly

not new evidence. Additionally, it does nothing to refute the presence of the victim’s blood

on Witkowski’s clothing. Witkowski acknowledged he had the opportunity to go over the

evidence provided with his counsel, which certainly would include evidence he provided

to his counsel, and as Witkowski pled guilty to the homicide, no evidence was admitted.
                                              8
¶18    Finally, related to the denial of his PCR petition Witkowski contends “I was

convicted without a defense . . . I defended myself from what I believed to be a real threat

to my own life.”     He then asserts he and the victim were under the influence of

methamphetamine which should have been considered. At best, these statements are

confusing. Witkowski appears to assert someone else was involved or another vehicle was

present at the offense. He asserts both that he defended himself and that he acted in

response to a methamphetamine-induced fear for his life but does not articulate exactly

what he defended himself from or what actions he took and why they were justified.

Witkowski has failed to adequately develop what the threat to his life was—actions of other

men or actions of the victim—or how being under the influence of methamphetamine

provided justification for anything. Witkowski has failed to provide anything more than

speculation and self-serving statements which are insufficient to “identify all facts

supporting the grounds for relief set forth in the petition and [which include] attached

affidavits, records, or other evidence establishing the existence of those facts.” Section

46-21-104(1)(c), MCA.

¶19    Witkowski asserts the District Court erred in imposing a parole condition requiring

him to pay parole supervision fees while incarcerated. Witkowski misunderstands or

mischaracterizes the parole condition. The condition, (m)(i), authorizes the Department of

Corrections to collect supervision fees for time periods where Witkowski is on parole, it

does not require that Witkowski pay parole fees while he is incarcerated.

                                             9
¶20    Witkowski asserts the District Court abused its discretion by denying his motion to

withdraw his guilty plea again asserting “I had been denied access to [the] train video and

to all evidence” and that he had requested his trial counsel Mathews file a motion to

withdraw his guilty plea prior to sentencing. As discussed above, Witkowski was not

denied access to all evidence. He acknowledged the opportunity to review all evidence

provided by the State. The video and photograph discussed above do not point to innocence

when viewed in light of the evidence as a whole. Further, he did not express disagreement

at the plea change hearing when counsel advised no motion to withdraw Witkowski’s guilty

plea was going to be filed.

¶21    Witkowski asserts judicial bias when the District Court imposed a consecutive

sentence to that imposed in this case for a subsequent attempted escape. Witkowski mixes

apples and oranges. The District Court’s sentencing in a subsequent case does not

substantiate any inappropriate bias of the District Court in this case.

¶22    Witkowski’s petition and subsequent briefing fail to identify facts supporting the

relief he seeks. At best, they set forth inconsistent speculations. Witkowski merely grasps

at straws with his meritless claims for postconviction relief. From our review of the record,

we find no credible claims of IAC nor error on the part of the District Court in denying

Witkowski’s PCR petition without a hearing.

¶23    We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of our

Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. In the opinion of the

                                             10
Court, the case presents a question controlled by settled law or by the clear application of

applicable standards of review.

¶24    Affirmed.

                                                 /S/ INGRID GUSTAFSON

We concur:

/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR
/S/ JIM RICE

                                            11