Court Opinion

ID: 1049220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 19:39:29.541233+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:30:59.651291
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT NASHVILLE
                         Assigned on Briefs September 22, 2010

           DARRELL WAYNE BUMPAS v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

             Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
                    No. 2007-D-3154     Cheryl Blackburn, Judge

               No. M2010-00222-CCA-R3-PC - Filed December 14, 2010

The Petitioner, Darrell Wayne Bumpas, pled guilty to robbery and resisting arrest, and the
trial court sentenced him as a Range II offender to six years in the Tennessee Department of
Correction. The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that his guilty
plea was unknowing and involuntary and that he received the ineffective assistance of
counsel. After a hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition, and the Petitioner
now appeals. After a thorough review of the record and applicable authorities, we affirm the
post-conviction court’s judgment.

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

R OBERT W. W EDEMEYER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which D AVID H. W ELLES
and J ERRY L. S MITH, JJ., joined.

James O. Martin, III, Nashville, Tennessee, for the Appellant, Darrell Wayne Bumpas.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Clark B. Thornton, Assistant Attorney
General; Victor S. Johnson, III, District Attorney General; Jeff Burks, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the Appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                       OPINION
                                         I. Facts
                                  A. Guilty Plea Hearing

       This case arises from the Defendant’s striking the victim and taking the victim’s cell
phone on August 12, 2007. When police subsequently attempted to arrest the Defendant, he
resisted arrest. For these actions, a grand jury indicted the Defendant for one count of
robbery, three counts of assault, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of resisting
arrest, and one count of evading arrest. The Defendant pled guilty to one count of robbery
and one count of resisting arrest. At the hearing to enter his guilty plea, the State told the
court that, had this case gone to trial, the evidence would have proven, in part:

       [O]n 12, August, 2007, this defendant . . . identified by Joshua Branch as
       having struck him and t[aken] his cell phone. The further proof was really
       what the Court heard in the suppression hearing that an effort was made to
       arrest him and he resisted that arrest in the apartment. And the Court heard
       about the struggle as it was in . . . the apartment room.

             The initial assault and taking that we submit would constitute the
       robbery occurred near . . . 12th Avenue South, which is here in Davidson
       County.

        The Defendant acknowledged that the facts were as the District Attorney said. The
trial court explained the proposed guilty pleas and proposed sentence to the Petitioner, and
the Petitioner said he understood his guilty pleas and sentence. The trial court explained all
the counts the Petitioner faced and their potential sentences and fines. The Petitioner said
that his attorney had previously explained the same to him. The Petitioner agreed that he was
present at a recent suppression hearing where he heard the testimony of the police officers
involved in his arrest. The Petitioner, who said he had completed the eleventh grade,
testified that he and his attorney went over his guilty plea together.

        The trial court asked the Petitioner whether he was on any medication at the time of
the hearing, and the Petitioner said he was not. He said he was supposed to be taking
Doxepin “for depression” but was not taking it at the time of the hearing. He testified that
being without Doxepin did not affect his ability to understand what he was doing and that he
understood that he was pleading guilty. The trial court then accepted the Petitioner’s guilty
plea to robbery and resisting arrest and sentenced him as a Range II offender to six years in
the Tennessee Department of Correction. Seventeen days after the Petitioner entered his plea
and was sentenced, he filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, and the trial court denied
this motion after a hearing.

                               B. Post-Conviction Hearing

       The Petitioner, who had completed the incarcerative portion of his sentence and was
on probation at the time, filed a petition for post-conviction relief in which he alleged that
his guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily entered and that he received the
ineffective assistance of counsel. A probation violation warrant was issued, and the
Petitioner’s probation was subsequently revoked. A hearing on the Petitioner’s petition for

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post-conviction relief was then held, at which the following evidence was presented: The
Petitioner testified that, after pleading guilty in this case, he was sentenced to six years, one
year of which was to be served in prison and the remainder of the sentence to be served on
probation. The Petitioner said his counsel for the plea (“Counsel”) never explained the
charges to him, explaining only the State’s offer for a plea agreement. The Petitioner said
that, during the time between his arrest and his plea, he never discussed with anyone his
“medical condition.” He explained that he went to “sick call” between sixty and seventy
times and filled out paperwork each time but that the jail psychiatrist never sent him to the
hospital or gave him the medicine he needed. The Petitioner said, before this, he had been
taking “psychotropic drugs,” namely Doxepin, for between fifteen and sixteen years. The
doctor in the jail, however, refused to prescribe him this medication.

        The Petitioner said he never told Counsel that he had a prescription for Doxepin, and
Counsel never asked him if he took any medication. The Petitioner said he had not been
taking his medication for six months when he entered his guilty plea. This, he said, affected
his ability to answer questions in a timely fashion because his brain would “lock,” making
him unable to think properly. Further, the absence of the medication made him feel nauseous
and suffer insomnia and anxiety. The Petitioner said, since being released, he goes to
physical therapy twice a week and suffers from brain damage from the injuries “that
occurred.”

       The Petitioner said he pled guilty only because he was in a “bad situation” in that he
was not getting his medication and he was in chronic pain. Further, the Petitioner said,
Counsel kept telling him he could receive a thirty-year prison sentence if he went to trial,
which “scared” him. He testified that Counsel “scared” him into pleading guilty. The
Petitioner said Counsel never discussed with him defenses or a trial strategy.

        On cross-examination, the Petitioner testified that he never gave Counsel his version
of the events that led to his arrest in this case. The Petitioner agreed that Counsel represented
him during the preliminary hearing and that Counsel visited him in jail, but he maintained
that the two only discussed the State’s offer for a plea agreement and never discussed that
he did not commit these offenses. The Petitioner agreed that he had a criminal record and
that Counsel reviewed with him the State’s motion for an enhanced sentence. About his
record, however, he said many of the offenses occurred more than ten years ago. The
Petitioner agreed that he understood that Counsel explained that his prior convictions could
result in his sentence being enhanced.

      The Petitioner agreed that, on the day he pled guilty, he told the trial court that he was
supposed to be taking Doxepin. He agreed the trial court asked him if the absence of this
medication affected his ability to understand what he was doing, and he responded, “Not that

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I can think of, no.” At the plea hearing, the trial court then asked him if he was having
trouble understanding what he was doing, and the Petitioner responded, “No.” The Petitioner
said he did not recall saying this to the trial court, blaming the lack of medication for his
memory loss. The Petitioner testified, “I guess I thought [at the time of the hearing] I
understood what I was doing.”

        The Petitioner agreed he was present at the motion to suppress where the officers
testified about the facts against him. He said, however, the female victim who testified
against him was a “drunk” who got mad when someone would not give her something she
wanted, which was why she testified in the manner she did. He denied ever hitting her,
saying he was not raised “that way.”

       The Petitioner said, at the time of his plea, he was not able to make a clear decision
because he was unable to think straight. He said he was unable to concentrate because of the
lack of medication. Further, he was still suffering the injuries he received from his
altercation with police. The Petitioner testified that this altercation caused him brain damage,
resulted in his teeth being knocked out and his ear drum being “busted.” The Petitioner
stated he received no medical attention for these injuries.

        The Petitioner’s trial counsel testified he represented the Petitioner beginning the day
of or the day before the Petitioner’s preliminary hearing in this case. He met with the
Petitioner before the preliminary hearing, and, during the hearing, he cross-examined the
victim. After this, Counsel requested discovery from the State, and he was eventually
satisfied with the State’s response to his request. Counsel provided the Petitioner with a copy
of the discovery as soon as he received it and met with him a number of times. After
examining his log, Counsel testified that he had a total of nineteen contacts, including letter
and telephone calls, with the Petitioner.

        Counsel recalled that he also gave the Petitioner a copy of the transcript from the
preliminary hearing, on which the Petitioner wrote questions the Petitioner wanted Counsel
to ask the witnesses at trial. Counsel opined that the Petitioner was fully aware of the facts
and factual issues surrounding the charges against him. Counsel explained that Counts 1 and
2 against the Petitioner, for robbery and assault respectively, related to the crime he
committed against a citizen, and Counts 3 through 7 related to his interactions with the
police. Counsel recalled that six police officer witnesses placed the Petitioner near the scene
of the crime and that those officers were present during the Petitioner’s subsequent
encounters with the police. Counsel discussed with the Petitioner the charged offenses and
the implications of being convicted of each charged offense.

       Counsel testified that he had the State’s notice to enhance the Petitioner’s sentence

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and was also independently aware of the Petitioner’s criminal history. The Petitioner
expressed to Counsel questions about the accuracy of the State’s notice, and Counsel
attempted to verify the Petitioner’s previous convictions.

       Counsel said he filed a motion to suppress evidence against the Petitioner, and he
discussed with the Petitioner the consequences of the trial court’s ruling on that motion,
namely that it only addressed the tampering with evidence charge the Petitioner faced and
not the other six charges. Two of the police officers present at the time the Petitioner was
taken into custody testified at the hearing on this motion, and Counsel cross-examined both
of them.

       Counsel testified that a number of discussions about settling the Petitioner’s case
occured, and he described the Petitioner as “actively involved” in these discussions. He
conveyed offers to the Petitioner via email, and the Petitioner denied these offers. Counsel
recalled nine or ten different plea bargaining scenarios that he and the Petitioner and the State
discussed. Counsel said that, once the parties reached a resolution in this case, he prepared
the plea petition and reviewed it thoroughly with the Petitioner four days before the Petitioner
entered his guilty plea. Counsel said he himself signed the guilty plea petition on the day
they reviewed it together, and the Petitioner signed it on the day he entered his guilty plea.

        Counsel described the Petitioner as “very literate” and said he felt the Petitioner was
“very well informed” about and “very involved” in his case. Counsel said he was not aware
that the Petitioner needed medication, and he saw nothing in the Petitioner’s behavior that
indicated as much. During Counsel’s initial interview with the Petitioner, the Petitioner
denied having any mental health difficulties. Counsel said he never recalled the Petitioner
saying that he needed any medication, and the first Counsel heard of this was the day of the
guilty plea hearing. After the hearing, the Petitioner called Counsel and told him that he
wanted to withdraw his guilty plea. Counsel sent a letter to the Petitioner explaining the
procedures for withdrawing his plea and asking the Petitioner for facts to support this
withdrawal. Because he did not receive a response from the Petitioner, Counsel filed a
petition to withdraw the plea, which the trial court denied.

       On cross-examination, Counsel testified that he sent to the Petitioner copies of the
pattern jury instructions on both robbery and tampering with evidence. Counsel explained
that he did not discuss any possible medications the Petitioner was taking or should have
been taking because he had no reason to believe the Petitioner had mental health problems.
The Petitioner told Counsel that, before being arrested, he worked as a landscaper. He did
not disclose that he was on disability, which would have given Counsel a reason to inquire
further into the Petitioner’s mental health. Counsel recalled that the Petitioner asked him for
numerous documents, including: colored copies of all of his mug shots from his previous

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arrests, his entire record, hospital records on all of the victims, copies of the criminal records
of all of the witnesses, copies of all of the warrants, and everything included in the
Petitioner’s file kept by Counsel. Counsel agreed that this may be a sign that the Petitioner
was suffering from agitation or anxiousness.

       Based upon this evidence, the post-conviction court dismissed the Petitioner’s petition
for post-conviction relief. It is from this judgment that the Petitioner now appeals.

                                          II. Analysis

                            A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

        The Petitioner argues that Counsel was ineffective for advising the Defendant to plead
guilty despite knowing the Defendant was not taking his medication. The State responds that
the evidence support the post-conviction court’s findings that Counsel’s representation was
not ineffective.

      When it dismissed the Petitioner’s petition for post-conviction relief, the post-
conviction court found:

               Petitioner did not present any clear and convincing evidence at his
       evidentiary hearing to support his claims [that his guilty plea was not entered
       knowingly and voluntarily]. Petitioner’s testimony consisted of blanket
       statements that trial counsel never discussed the facts of his case and that he
       was not sure why he pled because “everything was a blur.” His testimony
       contradicted itself as to whether he took mental health medications while at the
       jail and when asked if the Court inquired about medication during the plea
       colloquy, Petitioner testified that he could not recall. Petitioner provided
       nonresponsive answers to many of the questions posed to him during the
       hearing.

               Trial counsel, however, testified that he did explain the elements of the
       charges to Petitioner and that they discussed the facts of his case, his
       likelihood of convictions, and the effect of his prior criminal history. Trial
       counsel also stated that Petitioner frequently requested copies of documents in
       his case and that these documents were supplied to him when possible. The
       Court finds trial counsel’s testimony to be credible. Additionally, Petitioner
       was able to hear the testimony against him at his preliminary hearing as well
       as at his suppression hearing held a few weeks prior to Petitioner’s scheduled
       trial date.

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              Furthermore, the transcript of Petitioner’s guilty plea hearing belies his
       claims. . . .

               During his evidentiary hearing, Petitioner presented no evidence that
       would contradict the information he provided to the Court at his plea hearing.
       Petitioner has not demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that his trial
       counsel was ineffective in explaining his case to him or ineffective by not
       seeking a mental health evaluation nor has Petitioner demonstrated that he was
       prejudiced by any alleged deficiency. Petitioner’s request for post-conviction
       relief is, therefore, denied.

              Additionally, the court notes that the Notice of Enhanced Punishment
       and Impeachment, admitted as Exhibit 1 to the hearing, shows Petitioner has
       a lengthy criminal history and is not new to the criminal justice process.

        In order to obtain post-conviction relief, a petitioner must show that his or her
conviction or sentence is void or voidable because of the abridgment of a constitutional right.
T.C.A. § 40-30-103 (2006). The petitioner bears the burden of proving factual allegations
in the petition for post-conviction relief by clear and convincing evidence. T.C.A. § 40-30-
110(f) (2006). Upon our review, the trial judge’s findings of fact are given the effect and
weight of a jury verdict, and this Court is “bound by the trial judge’s findings of fact unless
we conclude that the evidence contained in the record preponderates against the judgment
entered in the cause.” Black v. State, 794 S.W.2d 752, 755 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Thus,
this Court will not re-weigh or re-evaluate the evidence below; all questions concerning the
credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given their testimony and the factual
issues raised by the evidence are to be resolved by the trial court judge, not the appellate
courts. Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152, 156 (Tenn. 1999); Henley v. State, 960 S.W.2d 572,
578-79 (Tenn. 1997). A post-conviction court’s conclusions of law, however, are subject to
a purely de novo review by this Court, with no presumption of correctness. Fields v. State,
40 S.W.3d 450, 457 (Tenn. 2001).

       The right of a criminally accused to representation is guaranteed by both the Sixth
Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 9, of the Tennessee
Constitution. State v. White, 114 S.W.3d 469, 475 (Tenn. 2003); State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d
453, 461 (Tenn. 1999); Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975). The following
two-prong test directs a court’s evaluation of a claim for ineffectiveness:

       First, the [petitioner] must show that counsel’s performance was deficient.
       This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not
       functioning as the “counsel” guaranteed the [petitioner] by the Sixth

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       Amendment.         Second, the [petitioner] must show that the deficient
       performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that counsel’s
       errors were so serious as to deprive the [petitioner] of a fair trial, a trial whose
       result is reliable. Unless a [petitioner] makes both showings, it cannot be said
       that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown in the
       adversary process that renders the result unreliable.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984); State v. Melson, 772 S.W.2d 417, 419
(Tenn. 1989).

       In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, this Court must determine
whether the advice given or services rendered by the attorney are within the range of
competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter, 523 S.W.2d at 936. To prevail
on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that “counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” House v. State, 44
S.W.3d 508, 515 (Tenn. 2001) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688).

       When evaluating an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the reviewing court
should judge the attorney’s performance within the context of the case as a whole, taking into
account all relevant circumstances. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; State v. Mitchell, 753
S.W.2d 148, 149 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). The reviewing court must evaluate the
questionable conduct from the attorney’s perspective at the time. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690;
Hellard v. State, 629 S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982). In doing so, the reviewing court must be
highly deferential and “should indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls
within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 462.
Finally, we note that a defendant in a criminal case is not entitled to perfect representation,
only constitutionally adequate representation. Denton v. State, 945 S.W.2d 793, 796 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1996). In other words, “in considering claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel, ‘we address not what is prudent or appropriate, but only what is constitutionally
compelled.’” Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 794 (1987) (quoting United States v. Cronic,
466 U.S. 648, 665 n.38 (1984)). Counsel should not be deemed to have been ineffective
merely because 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). The fact that a
particular strategy or tactic failed or hurt the defense does not, standing alone, establish
unreasonable representation. House, 44 S.W.3d at 515 (citing Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d
363, 369 (Tenn. 1996)). However, deference to matters of strategy and tactical choices
applies only if the choices are informed ones based upon adequate preparation. House, 44
S.W.3d at 515.

       If the petitioner shows that counsel’s representation fell below a reasonable standard,

                                               -8-
then the petitioner must satisfy the prejudice prong of the Strickland test by demonstrating
“there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of
the proceeding would have been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Nichols v. State, 90
S.W.3d 576, 587 (Tenn. 2002). This reasonable probability must be “sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Harris v. State, 875 S.W.2d 662,
665 (Tenn. 1994).

        In the context of a guilty plea, the petitioner must establish that “counsel’s
constitutionally ineffective performance affected the outcome of the plea process.” Hill v.
Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985). To do so, he must show “a reasonable probability that, but
for counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to
trial.” Id.; see Hicks v. State, 983 S.W.2d 240, 246 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). In the context
of ineffective assistance of counsel that resulted in a guilty plea, the petitioner is not required
to present evidence that he likely would have fared better at trial than he fared by pleading
guilty, although such evidence may also demonstrate that he would have insisted on his right
to a jury trial. See Hill, 474 U.S. at 59. Should the petitioner fail to establish either deficient
performance or prejudice, he is not entitled to relief. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697; Goad v.
State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 370 (Tenn. 1996). Indeed, “[i]f it is easier to dispose of an
ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, . . . that course should be
followed.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697.

        In the case under submission, we conclude that the Petitioner has not proven by clear
and convincing evidence that Counsel’s performance was deficient or that his guilty plea was
not knowingly and voluntarily entered. With regard to Counsel’s performance, the post-
conviction court found that Counsel credibly testified that the Petitioner did not disclose to
Counsel any mental health issues or his need for medication. Further, Counsel did not
observe any behavior by the Petitioner that caused Counsel to doubt the Petitioner’s ability
to understand the implications of his guilty plea. To the contrary, he found the Petitioner to
be involved and engaged in his own defense. Counsel first learned of the Petitioner’s need
for medication during the guilty plea hearing when the Petitioner disclosed to the trial court
that he had been prescribed Doxepin. The trial court then made multiple inquiries, which
satisfied the judge that the Petitioner understood the implications of pleading guilty despite
being off his depression medication. We agree with the post-conviction court that Counsel’s
failure to request that the guilty plea proceeding be halted in order to have the Petitioner’s
mental health evaluated did not constitute deficient performance.

                               B. Voluntariness of Guilty Plea

      The Petitioner contends he is entitled to post-conviction relief because his guilty pleas
were not knowingly and voluntarily entered. He argues that, because he was unable to take

                                                -9-
his depression medication, Doxepin, during the six months leading up to his plea submission
hearing, he did not knowingly and voluntarily plead guilty. The State counters that, because
the Petitioner did not present expert testimony about the effects of Doxepin, he failed to
prove by clear and convincing evidence that his guilty plea was unknowingly and
involuntarily entered. The State cites three cases to support its argument: State v. Jimmy Ray
Culberson, No. M2005-01860-CCA-R3-PC, 2006 WL 2956504, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App.,
at Nashville, Oct. 12, 2006), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11 application filed; Bobby Rayle v. State,
No. E2006-01366-CCA-R3-PC, 2007 WL 1966021, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville,
July 9, 2007), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Oct. 15, 2007); and Ivan Moreno a/k/a Fernando
Fileto a/k/a Roberto Lepe-Cervantes v. State, No. M2009-00393-CCA-R3-PC, 2010 WL
2483473, at *6 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, June 21, 2010), no. Tenn. R. App. P. 11
application filed.

        We conclude that the Petitioner has not proven that his guilty plea was not knowingly
and voluntarily entered. As the State pointed out in its brief, this Court has, on multiple
occasions, held that a petitioner’s bare allegations, unsupported by medical testimony, about
the use of psychiatric drugs was insufficient to support a claim that his guilty plea was not
knowingly and voluntarily entered. See Culberson, 2006 WL 2956504, at *4; Rayle, 2007
WL 1966021, at *4; Moreno, 2010 WL 2483473, at *6. In this case, the Petitioner’s bare
allegations that, due to being unmedicated, his guilty plea proceedings were a “blur” and that
he suffered insomnia and anxiety do not constitute clear and convincing evidence that his
guilty pleas were not constitutionally entered. The Petitioner presented no medical testimony
about the uses of Doxepin and what affect not having this medication would have upon him.
Under these circumstances, we simply cannot conclude that the Petitioner has met his burden
of proof in this regard. He is not, therefore, entitled to relief on this issue.

                                      III. Conclusion

       After a thorough review of the record and the applicable authorities, we affirm the
post-conviction court’s judgment.

                                                    _________________________________
                                                    ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE

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