Court Opinion

ID: 3208990
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-02 21:08:45.223846+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:39.992513
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT KNOXVILLE
                         Assigned on Briefs January 21, 2016

                  DENNIS L. ROSE v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

                Appeal from the Criminal Court for Sullivan County
                        No. C62353   R. Jerry Beck, Judge

                  No. E2015-00768-CCA-R3-PC – Filed June 2, 2016
                        _____________________________

A Sullivan County jury found the Petitioner, Dennis L. Rose, guilty of one count of first
degree premeditated murder and two counts of aggravated assault. On appeal, this Court
affirmed the Petitioner‟s sentences and convictions. State v. Dennis Lee Rose, No.
E2010-00734-CCA-R3-CD, 2012 WL 335548, (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Feb. 1,
2012), perm. app. denied (Tenn. May 21, 2012). The Petitioner filed a post-conviction
petition and the post-conviction court denied relief following a hearing. On appeal, the
Petitioner maintains that: (1) the post-conviction court erred when it denied his motion to
recuse the District Attorney General‟s office in light of his post-conviction allegation of
prosecutorial misconduct; (2) he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial;
and (3) the post-conviction court erred in denying him relief on the basis of prosecutorial
misconduct. We affirm the post-conviction court‟s judgment.

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

ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which NORMA
MCGEE OGLE and CAMILLE R. MCMULLEN, JJ., joined.

Ilya I. Berenshteyn, Bristol, Tennessee, for the appellant, Dennis L. Rose.

Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Lacy Wilber, Senior Counsel;
Barry Staubus, District Attorney General; and Joseph Eugene Perrin, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                        OPINION
                                   I. Facts
                     A. Background and Procedural History
       A Sullivan County Grand jury indicted the Petitioner for one count of first degree
premeditated murder and two counts of aggravated assault. The proof at trial showed that
the victim stole pills from the Petitioner. In the weeks and days leading up to the offense,
the Petitioner made several threats, in the presence of others, regarding the “money” the
victim owed to the Petitioner for the stolen pills. On November 13, 2007, the Petitioner
pursued the victim and his cousin in their vehicle at speeds of up to eighty miles an hour.
Ultimately, the two vehicles came to a stop at the victim‟s residence, where the victim
walked over to the Petitioner‟s vehicle and, while still in the vehicle through the open
driver‟s side window, the Petitioner stabbed the victim in the area midway between the
victim‟s armpit and hip. The victim died as a result of the stab wound. The jury
convicted the Petitioner as charged, and the trial court sentenced him to concurrent
sentences of life for the murder conviction and three years for each of the aggravated
assault convictions.

       The Petitioner appealed these convictions on numerous bases. After review, this
Court affirmed the judgments. Rose, 2012 WL 335548, at *1.

       The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief on May 23, 2012. The
post-conviction court appointed counsel, who filed amended petitions. On October 13,
2013, the Petitioner filed a motion to recuse the Sullivan County Office of the District
Attorney General due to the Petitioner‟s post-conviction allegation of prosecutorial
misconduct. On November 19, 2013, the post-conviction court issued an order denying
the motion. The post-conviction court reasoned that the Petitioner‟s allegation that the
prosecutor had failed to turn over a witness statement had already been addressed on
direct appeal. The post-conviction court noted that issues decided on direct appeal are
generally not relitigated in a post-conviction proceeding. In declining to recuse the
District Attorney‟s office, the post-conviction court further found that the Petitioner‟s
motion was “at best vague” and failed to cite any prejudice that would be suffered by the
Petitioner if the Sullivan County District Attorney‟s office was not recused.

                                 Post-Conviction Hearing

        The Petitioner‟s trial attorney (“Counsel”) testified that, during his more than forty
year career, he had represented “a lot” of criminal defendants and handled “numerous”
homicide cases. Counsel stated that his theory of the Petitioner‟s case at trial was that the
stabbing was accidental. He said that he did not consider raising self-defense nor did he
request an instruction for self-defense. Regarding his failure to request a change of
venue, Counsel testified that he was aware of three articles about the stabbing. Two of
the articles were published in the newspaper on November 14, 2007, and November 15,
2007, fifteen months before the Petitioner‟s February 9, 2009 trial. The third article was

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the “[i]nternet version” of the November 15 article, which included a comment section
with six comments.

        Counsel testified that he did not seek a change of venue because he “didn‟t have
any trouble picking . . . an unbiased jury.” He stated that during voir dire, he would have
eliminated any juror indicating bias or prejudice. Counsel agreed that he did not file a
motion for individual voir dire. He had no independent recollection of his decision not to
do so but stated that he generally only made this request when necessary. Counsel
testified that he only sought release of grand jury materials in federal court and was
unaware of any such procedure in state court. Counsel explained his decision to not
request funds for an investigator, saying that in his experience he had learned that it is
better for him to conduct any investigation himself.

       Counsel testified that he did not seek funding for an expert witness in serology
because there was never “any question that the victim‟s blood was on” the knife. Further,
the defense theory was that the stabbing occurred but that it was an accident. Counsel
stated that the evidence and the Petitioner‟s assertions did not support a self-defense
instruction.

      Counsel testified that the State made an offer of twenty-five years, which he
conveyed to the Petitioner. When asked why he never made a counter-offer, Counsel
responded that the Petitioner only authorized him to go to trial.

        On cross-examination, Counsel testified that the State had a “very strong case
against” the Petitioner but that he also felt there was a strong defense. Counsel agreed
that the Petitioner‟s denial of the chase was inconsistent with witness statements and that
the Petitioner‟s position that he did not know how the victim‟s blood would have gotten
on his knife was “at odds” with the evidence. Counsel agreed that there were no defense
witnesses available other than the Petitioner, who testified at trial. Counsel confirmed
that the three articles from his file were the only articles published about the incident.
Regarding individual voir dire, Counsel reiterated that he did not believe that there was a
need to request individual voir dire. He explained that the trial judge‟s practice was for
the trial judge to ask the jury as a whole if anyone knew anything about the case and, if a
juror responded affirmatively, then proceed with individual voir dire of that juror.

        Counsel testified that the Petitioner‟s initial statement to the police was, “This was
an accident.” The Petitioner testified consistently at the preliminary hearing. Counsel
identified his request to the trial court to include all lesser-included offenses in the jury
instruction. The Petitioner testified consistently at trial with his statement and prior
testimony that the stabbing was an accident. Counsel recalled that the Petitioner declined

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the State‟s plea offer because he believed that the victim‟s family would not want him to
serve jail time because the stabbing was an accident.

       The Petitioner testified that Counsel never spoke with him about a motion to
change venue and that he never asked Counsel about filing such a motion because he was
unfamiliar with the law. The Petitioner stated that Counsel should have discussed a
change of venue with him because of the publicity of the case. The Petitioner was
unaware of what evidence was presented to the grand jury but thought Counsel should
have sought a release of the grand jury materials. The Petitioner said that he never
questioned Counsel‟s decision to not individually voir dire jurors because he did not
know it was possible to do so. He believed, however, that there were jurors who
“probably should have been more questioned” and that there were jurors who were “not
looking out for [him].”

       The Petitioner testified that he sent a letter to Counsel in January 2008 requesting
Counsel employ an investigator and a blood spatter expert. In response, Counsel told the
Petitioner that “there was no need for that.” The Petitioner said that his defense would
have been “stronger” had Counsel employed an expert witness or investigator. The
Petitioner explained that during the “altercation,” he saw two individuals. He did not
know the individuals or their names but believed an investigator might be able to locate
the individuals who could have possibly testified on his behalf.

       The Petitioner testified that a serology expert could have tested his vehicle for
blood spatter. He said that the victim reached into his car and choked him while the
victim‟s cousin, Douglas Dorton, swung a blade through the window. The Petitioner
pushed the blade away from himself, and the blade “hit” the victim. Because the victim
was so close to his vehicle at the time of the stabbing, the Petitioner said there would
have to have been blood spatter on his vehicle and “that would have made my defense
stronger.” The Petitioner agreed that at trial, the evidence showed that there was no
blood on his vehicle. He said that his vehicle was not towed to the police department but
instead a police officer drove the vehicle to the police department, which may have
altered evidence.

       The Petitioner testified that he wanted Counsel to request a self-defense
instruction. He said that he feared for his life during these events, and, therefore, an
instruction was warranted. The Petitioner was unsure whether he asked Counsel about
self-defense but stated that Counsel never spoke with him about pursuing a theory of self-
defense.

       The Petitioner testified that the State offered a twenty-five year sentence on two
occasions in exchange for his guilty plea. On the first occasion, Counsel told the
                                            4
Petitioner he was confident in their defense, so the Petitioner said he wanted to proceed to
trial. On the second occasion, the Petitioner asked Counsel about a counter-offer of
twelve years at 45%, and Counsel again assured him that “we had a good defense and he
could beat it.” According to the Petitioner, Counsel said that “counteroffering” was not a
good idea. Based upon these exchanges, the Petitioner instructed Counsel to proceed to
trial.

        On cross-examination, the Petitioner testified that he had criminal convictions for
burglary, felony theft, criminal simulation, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell or
deliver. The Petitioner stated that he believed there were more articles about the incident
than the three earlier presented, but he did not have any evidence with him of additional
articles about the incident. The Petitioner said that he could not name the jurors that he
believed Counsel should have struck from the jury. He agreed that jurors are not to “look
out” for him or the State but are to be fair and impartial. As to the blood spatter expert,
the Petitioner agreed that blood must be found before a blood spatter expert can analyze
and interpret the blood. He further agreed that the testimony at trial was no blood was
found on his vehicle.

        Following the hearing, the post-conviction court issued a written order denying
relief. The post-conviction court concluded that the Petitioner had failed to establish by
clear and convincing proof that he was entitled to post-conviction relief. It is from this
judgment that the Petitioner appeals.

                                        II. Analysis

        On appeal, the Petitioner maintains that: (1) the post-conviction court erred when
it denied his motion to recuse the District Attorney General‟s office based upon his claim
of prosecutorial misconduct; (2) he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial;
and (3) the post-conviction court erred in denying him relief on the basis of prosecutorial
misconduct.

       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 (2014). 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) (2014). Upon review, 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 judge, not the appellate courts. Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152, 156
(Tenn. 1999) (citing Henley v. State, 960 S.W.2d 572, 578-79 (Tenn. 1997)). A post-
conviction court‟s factual findings are subject to a de novo review by this Court;
                                             5
however, we must accord these factual findings a presumption of correctness, which can
be overcome only when a preponderance of the evidence is contrary to the post-
conviction court‟s factual findings. Fields v. State, 40 S.W.3d 450, 456-57 (Tenn. 2001).
A post-conviction court‟s conclusions of law are subject to a purely de novo review by
this Court, with no presumption of correctness. Id. at 457.

                                    A. Motion to Recuse

        The Petitioner asserts that, by denying his motion to recuse, the post-conviction
court “limited [his] ability to test the issue of prosecutorial misconduct by disallowing the
[Petitioner] to call” the prosecutor to testify as a witness at the post-conviction hearing.
The State responds that the post-conviction court properly denied the Petitioner‟s motion
to recuse the office of the District Attorney General.

       The determination of whether to disqualify the office of the District Attorney
General in a criminal case rests within the discretion of the trial court. State v. Culbreath,
30 S.W.3d 309, 313 (Tenn. 2000). Appellate review of such a ruling is limited to
whether the trial court has abused its discretion. See State v. Tate, 925 S.W.2d 548, 550
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).

       At trial, the State provided the prosecutor‟s notes to the defense. The prosecutor‟s
notes taken when interviewing Mistri Griffith contained a notation “Defendant made no
threats.” The Petitioner asserted that the State had failed to turn over exculpatory
material pursuant to his discovery request. On appeal, this Court determined that the
failure to earlier provide the notes was a “delayed disclosure;” however, the Petitioner
had failed to show that he suffered prejudice as a result. Rose, 2012 WL 335548, at *13.
At the post-conviction hearing, the Petitioner informed the post-conviction court that he
intended to call the prosecutor as a witness relevant to his post-conviction claim
involving prosecutorial misconduct. The post-conviction court denied the motion to
recuse, finding that the issue of the prosecutor failing to turn over his notes until trial had
already been determined on direct appeal.

       We cannot conclude that the post-conviction court abused its discretion in denying
the Petitioner‟s motion to recuse. As the post-conviction court correctly noted, this
Court, on direct appeal, held that the Petitioner had failed to show he suffered prejudice
due to the prosecutor‟s delayed disclosure of the notes. The issue of prosecutorial
misconduct had already been reviewed and no resulting prejudice identified.
Accordingly, the Petitioner is not entitled to relief as to this issue.

                           B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

                                              6
       The Petitioner asserts that he received ineffective assistance of counsel.
Specifically, he asserts that Counsel: (1) failed to seek a change of venue; (2) failed to
seek release of grand jury materials; (3) failed to seek individual voir dire of the potential
jurors; (4) failed to request funds for an investigator and/or expert for the defense; (5)
failed to request self-defense instructions; and (6) failed to make a counter-offer to the
State‟s twenty-five-year offer. The State responds that there is no evidence that Counsel
rendered deficient performance or that the Petitioner suffered prejudice from any alleged
deficiency. We agree with the State.

       In a written order issued after the hearings, the post-conviction court found the
Petitioner‟s testimony at the post-conviction hearing not credible. The post-conviction
court further found that Counsel was a credible witness at the hearing. The post-
conviction court denied relief, finding that the Petitioner had failed to prove by clear and
convincing evidence the allegations set forth in his petition and that he had failed to
prove any prejudice from Counsel‟s alleged deficient performance.

       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 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 . . . resulted from a breakdown in the
       adversary process that renders the result unreliable.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984); see also 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

                                              7
v. State, 44 S.W.3d 508, 515 (Tenn. 2001) (citing Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 369
(Tenn. 1996)).

       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 should avoid the
“distorting effects of hindsight” and “judge the reasonableness of counsel‟s challenged
conduct on the facts of the particular case, viewed as of the time of counsel‟s conduct.”
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689-90. 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. 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 (quoting Goad, 938 S.W.2d at 369).

        If the petitioner shows that counsel‟s representation fell below a reasonable
standard, 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; See Harris v. State, 875 S.W.2d 662, 665 (Tenn. 1994).

                                          1. Venue

       “[V]enue may be changed . . . if it appears to the court that, due to undue
excitement against the defendant in the county where the offense was committed or any
other cause, a fair trial probably could not be had.” Tenn. R. Crim. P. 21(a). The
ultimate test is whether the jurors who actually sat and rendered verdicts were prejudiced
by the pretrial publicity. State v. Garland, 617 S.W.2d 176, 187 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1981). Prejudice will not be presumed by a mere showing that there was considerable
                                              8
pretrial publicity. Dobbert v. Florida, 432 U.S. 282, 303 (1977); State v. Kyger, 787
S.W.2d 13, 19 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1989).

        At the hearing, evidence of three articles published in the local newspaper in
November 2007, near the time of the stabbing was presented. One of the three articles
was the internet version of one of the printed article and had received six comments on
the article. These articles were published almost fifteen months before the Petitioner‟s
trial. According to the testimony at the hearing, the trial court inquired about any
potential juror‟s prior knowledge of the stabbing, and no one indicated any prior
knowledge. Counsel, whose testimony the post-conviction court accredited, testified he
“didn‟t have any trouble picking . . . an unbiased jury.” The Petitioner‟s testimony was
that he believed some of the jurors should have been questioned more and that he
believed that some of the jurors on the panel were “not looking out” for him.

       In our view, the Petitioner has only shown that there was very limited pretrial
publicity and not even that there was “considerable” publicity. Accordingly, the
Petitioner is not entitled to relief as to this issue.

                                 2. Grand Jury Materials

        The Petitioner asserts that Counsel was ineffective for failing to “file a motion to
release grand jury materials.” The Petitioner, however, does not direct us to any
Tennessee authority allowing for such a release. The Petitioner relies on Federal Rules
which have not been adopted by Tennessee. Therefore, we cannot conclude that the
Petitioner was prejudiced by Counsel‟s failure to obtain grand jury materials. See Owens
v. State, 13 S.W.3d 742, 746 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). He is not entitled to relief on this
issue.

                                  3. Individual Voir Dire

       Rule 24(a), Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, provides in part that “[t]he
court, upon motion of a party or on its own motion, may direct that any portion of the
questioning of a prospective juror be conducted out of the presence of the tentatively
selected jurors and other prospective jurors.” The word “may,” as used in this rule, is
permissive rather than obligatory. State v. Burton, 751 S.W.2d 440, 452 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1988).

       When there is a significant possibility that prospective jurors have been exposed to
potentially prejudicial material, the parties are entitled to individual voir dire with respect
to each prospective juror‟s exposure to the prejudicial material. State v. Claybrook, 736
S.W.2d 95, 98-101 (Tenn. 1987); Sommerville v. State, 521 S.W.2d 792, 797 (Tenn.
                                              9
1975). In State v. Porterfield, our supreme court said that when “a crime is highly
publicized, the better procedure is to grant the defendants individual, sequestered, voir
dire.” 746 S.W.2d, 441, 447 (Tenn. 1988). The Court noted however, that “it is only
where there is a „significant possibility‟ that a juror has been exposed to potentially
prejudicial material that individual voir dire is mandated.” Id.

       The ultimate goal of voir dire is to insure that jurors are competent, unbiased, and
impartial. State v. Cazes, 875 S.W.2d 253, 262 (Tenn. 1994). The Petitioner has not
established that any juror was unqualified to serve, biased, or partial. Three fifteen-
month old articles from a local publication were submitted during the hearing; however,
there was no proof that any juror was exposed to the articles. Counsel testified that if any
juror had indicated prior knowledge of the case, he would have requested individual voir
dire. Furthermore, the Petitioner has failed to establish that trial counsel‟s request for
individual voir dire would have been successful if pursued or that the outcome would
have been different if the request had been granted. Accordingly, the record does not
preponderate against the determination of the post-conviction court that the Petitioner did
not establish that Counsel was ineffective in selection of the jury.

              4. Motion to Request Funds for an Investigator or Expert

       The Petitioner contends that Counsel should have filed a motion to request funds
for an investigator or expert for his defense. The Petitioner, however, failed to
demonstrate Counsel was ineffective for failing to request funds for an investigator or
expert for the defense. The Petitioner did not present any evidence at the post-conviction
hearing providing information about what evidence an investigator or blood spatter
expert would have discovered. In Tennessee, the petitioner must meet a rigorous test to
prove that Counsel‟s failure to present a witness was prejudicial:

       [W]hen a petitioner contends that trial counsel failed to discover, interview,
       or present witnesses in support of his defense, . . . the petitioner [must
       prove] that (a) a material witness existed and the witness could have been
       discovered but for counsel‟s neglect in his investigation of the case, (b) a
       known witness was not interviewed, (c) the failure to discover or interview
       a witness inured to his prejudice, or (d) the failure to have a known witness
       present or call the witness to the stand resulted in the denial of critical
       evidence which inured to the prejudice of the petitioner.

State v. Black, 794 S.W.2d 752, 757 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). Without proof of what
that evidence would have shown, and that without the evidence the Petitioner received an
unfair trial, we cannot grant the Petitioner relief on this claim.

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                                5. Self-Defense Instruction

       The Petitioner contends that Counsel was deficient for failing “to object to the
absence of the self-defense instructions in the charging of the jury.” As the State
correctly notes, the record indicates that the jury was charged as to self-defense. The
Petitioner is not entitled to relief.

                                      6. Counter-offer

       The Petitioner asserts that Counsel failed to exercise reasonable diligence by not
countering the State‟s plea offer. The post-conviction court accredited Counsel‟s
testimony that Counsel was not authorized by the Petitioner to do anything other than
proceed to trial. The Petitioner is not entitled to relief as to this issue.

                               C. Prosecutorial Misconduct

        The Petitioner asserts that the State committed prosecutorial misconduct when it
failed to turn over “potentially exculpatory material before trial.” The State responds that
this issue has already been addressed on direct appeal.

       Relief under the terms of the Post-Conviction Procedure Act may be granted only
when “the conviction or sentence is void or voidable because of the abridgement of any
right guaranteed by the Constitution of Tennessee or the Constitution of the United
States.” T.C.A. § 40-30-103 (2014). Prosecutorial misconduct qualifies as a
constitutional basis for relief. The “touchstone of due process analysis in cases of . . .
prosecutorial misconduct is the fairness of the trial . . . .” Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209,
218 (1982).

       On direct appeal, the Petitioner raised an issue as to whether “the trial court erred
by refusing to allow the defense to use the prosecutor‟s notes for impeachment and by
refusing to allow the defense to make an offer of proof regarding the State‟s failure to
provide the notes to the defense before trial.” After the first witness at trial, the State
provided the prosecutor‟s notes to the defense. The prosecutor‟s notes, taken when
interviewing Mistri Griffith, contained the notation “Defendant made no threats.” In a
jury-out hearing, the prosecutor told the trial court that he spoke to Mistri Griffith along
with other witnesses and that he could not recall who made the statement. Counsel then
questioned Mistri Griffith about whether she had told the prosecutor that the Petitioner
had not made threats to the victim, and Ms. Griffith denied making that statement. On
appeal, this Court determined that the notation was a “delayed disclosure” and, therefore,
the Petitioner must show that the delay caused prejudice. Rose, 2012 WL 335548, at *13.

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In analyzing the facts of this case, this Court concluded that the Petitioner failed to show
prejudice from the delay. Id.

        While the Petitioner‟s issue is not framed in exactly the same language in this
appeal as it was in his direct appeal, the outcome remains the same. The Petitioner
alleges that he is entitled to relief because of prosecutorial misconduct. The prosecutorial
misconduct that he bases this claim on is the prosecutor‟s withholding his notes
containing the notation “Defendant made no threats.” The statement certainly could be
exculpatory if a witness said the Defendant made no threats; however, the trial court
allowed Counsel to ask Ms. Griffith about whether she made the statement and she
indicated that she did not make that statement to the prosecutor. The Petitioner does not
allege that anyone else made the statement. The Petitioner did not then, nor does he now
address what prejudice he suffered as a result of the prosecutor providing his notes after
the first witness‟s testimony rather than at some point earlier in time. Accordingly, the
Petitioner has failed to show he was prejudiced by prosecutorial misconduct. The
Petitioner is not entitled to relief as to this issue.

                                     III. Conclusion

       After a thorough review of the record and relevant authorities, we conclude that
the post-conviction court properly denied post-conviction relief. Accordingly, we affirm
the judgment of the post-conviction court.

                                                 _________________________________
                                                 ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE

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