Court Opinion

ID: 948423
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-28 14:25:58.197863+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:05:33.121423
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Jesse Howard Weaver Jr.,                                                         FILED
                                                                                 June 28, 2013
Petitioner Below, Petitioner                                                RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK

                                                                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

vs.) No. 12-0944 (McDowell County 10-C-216)                                   OF WEST VIRGINIA

David Ballard, Warden, Mount Olive Correctional
Complex, Respondent Below, Respondent

                                  MEMORANDUM DECISION

       Petitioner Jesse Weaver, by counsel Natalie Hager, appeals the May 16, 2012 order of the
Circuit Court of McDowell County denying his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The
respondent, by counsel Scott Johnson, filed a response.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.

        In December of 1988, a McDowell County Grand Jury indicted petitioner on one count of
first degree sexual assault. After a two-day jury trial, petitioner was found guilty of first degree
sexual assault. The circuit court allowed petitioner to remain on bond pending his direct appeal
to this Court. In October of 1990, the Court refused petitioner’s direct appeal. Petitioner failed to
attend his sentencing hearing and a capias was issued to secure his presence before the circuit
court.1 Following his return to the State of West Virginia, petitioner was sentenced to a term of
incarceration of not less than fifteen years nor more than twenty-five years. On November 20,
2010, petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus. On April 2, 2012, the circuit court held
an omnibus evidentiary hearing. Petitioner was denied habeas relief following this hearing by
order entered on May 16, 2012.

        On appeal, petitioner alleges that it was an abuse of discretion for the circuit court to
deny his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Petitioner alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective
and his conviction was based on insufficient evidence. In support of his assignments of error,
petitioner argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to retain a medical expert
to refute the testimony of Dr. Kwei who testified regarding the victim; he failed to effectively
        1
            Petitioner remained a fugitive at large until he was captured in Virginia on June 18,
2008.
                                                      1

cross-examine the State’s sole medical witness; he failed to retain a medical expert for an
independent psychological examination of the victim; he failed to hire a private investigator; he
failed to call critical witnesses; he failed to expose the victim’s testimony as unreliable; and the
medical records did not support the allegations. In response, the State first argues that petitioner
has waived his rights to pursue post-conviction habeas corpus relief because he fled the circuit
court’s jurisdiction for eighteen years.2 The State argues that the circuit court was correct to deny
the petition for habeas relief because the record clearly fails to produce evidence to show that
trial counsel’s actions fell outside an objective standard of reasonableness, the record fails to
contradict the circuit court’s findings, the victim’s testimony was sufficient to sustain a
conviction, and the victim proved that he was competent during an in-camera hearing.

       This Court has previously held that

       [i]n reviewing challenges to the findings and conclusions of the circuit court in a
       habeas corpus action, we apply a three-prong standard of review. We review the
       final order and the ultimate disposition under an abuse of discretion standard; the
       underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard; and questions of
       law are subject to a de novo review.

Syl. Pt. 1, Mathena v. Haines, 219 W.Va. 417, 633 S.E.2d 771 (2006). After careful
consideration of the parties’ arguments, this Court concludes that the circuit court did not abuse
its discretion in denying the petition for writ of habeas corpus. The circuit court clearly addressed
all of petitioner’s claims regarding alleged ineffective assistance of counsel and also addressed
whether there was sufficient evidence to convict petitioner. Having reviewed the circuit court’s
“Order” entered on May 16, 2012, we hereby adopt and incorporate the circuit court’s well-
reasoned findings and conclusions as to the assignments of error raised in this appeal. The Clerk
is directed to attach a copy of the circuit court’s order to this memorandum decision.

       For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court and its May
16, 2012 order denying the petition for writ of habeas corpus is affirmed.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

ISSUED: June 28, 2013

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

       2
         The Court declines to address the State’s argument based on equitable principles and
will address petitioner’s appeal on the merits of his claims.
                                                     2