Court Opinion

ID: 4387312
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-15 13:55:04.584167+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:18.588008
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Marvin Mills,
Petitioner Below, Petitioner                                                         FILED
                                                                                  April 15, 2019
vs) No. 18-0177 (Raleigh County 06-C-784)                                       EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                                SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    OF WEST VIRGINIA
Donnie Ames, Superintendent,
Mount Olive Correctional Complex,
Respondent Below, Respondent

                                MEMORANDUM DECISION

       Petitioner Marvin Mills, by counsel Stephen P. New, appeals the January 25, 2018, order
of the Circuit Court of Raleigh County that denied his petition for a writ of habeas corpus
following his conviction of first-degree murder with use of a firearm. Donnie Ames,
Superintendent, Mount Olive Correctional Complex,1 by counsel Robert L. Hogan, filed a
response in support of the circuit court’s order.

        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 affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

       In September 1999, petitioner drove to Richmond Cleaners in Beckley, West Virginia,
stepped inside, removed his .38 caliber gun from the manila envelope he was carrying, 2 and shot
Pamela Cabe two times, causing her death. Petitioner then crossed the street, tossed his handgun
nearby, and waited for the police. The police recovered the handgun with petitioner’s help and
took him into custody. Petitioner confessed to the murder.3

       1
        Since the filing of the appeal in this case, the superintendent of Mount Olive
Correctional Complex has changed and the superintendent is now Donnie Ames. The Court has
made the necessary substitution of parties pursuant to Rule 41(c) of the West Virginia Rules of
Appellate Procedure. Additionally, effective July 1, 2018, the positions formerly designated as
“wardens” are now designated “superintendents.” See W. Va. Code § 15A-5-3.
       2
           The envelope had petitioner’s return address on it. It was recovered at the scene.
       3
       Petitioner and the victim shared a grandchild who was the subject of a custody dispute
between the victim’s son and petitioner’s daughter.
                                                   1
        In May 2000, petitioner was tried before a jury in the Circuit Court of Raleigh County on
the charge of first-degree murder. Given the overwhelming evidence that he shot the victim,
petitioner did not dispute this fact at trial. He was convicted of first-degree murder by use of a
firearm and was sentenced to life in prison without the recommendation of mercy. Petitioner
appealed and this Court reversed his conviction and remanded the matter for a new trial. See
State v. Mills, 211 W. Va. 532, 566 S.E.2d 891 (2002) (“Mills I”) (finding reversible error in the
trial court’s failure to grant a motion to strike a prospective juror for cause and the prosecutor’s
improper references to petitioner’s decision not to testify).

        In November 2003, following a second jury trial, petitioner was again convicted of first-
degree murder by use of a firearm and was sentenced to life without mercy. Petitioner appealed
and this Court affirmed his conviction. See State v. Mills, 219 W. Va. 28, 631 S.E.2d 586 (2005)
(“Mills II”).

       Petitioner filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus in 2006. Various appointed
counsel came and went and petitioner’s present counsel was appointed in May 2011. On June 26,
2013, petitioner, by counsel, filed an extensive amended habeas petition.

        Following a July 15, 2014, hearing, the habeas court entered a detailed thirty-page order
denying relief, specifically acknowledging that, at the habeas hearing, petitioner adopted a
strategy that he had not previously employed in either of his trials, appeals, or early on in his
request for habeas relief: actual innocence. The habeas court rejected any claim that this “new
‘contention in fact’” constituted “new evidence” warranting habeas relief because petitioner had
the opportunity to make such claim in both trials, in his two appeals, and in his earlier post-
conviction pleadings.

        The habeas court further found that the following grounds for relief alleged in the
amended petition were previously and finally adjudicated in petitioner’s appeal of his conviction
following the second trial: violation of the right to confront witnesses; prosecutorial misconduct
(as to the prosecutor’s closing argument); failure to strike jurors; improper media involvement;
and media coverage of the jury view of the crime scene. See generally Mills II, 219 W. Va. 28,
631 S.E.2d 586; W. Va. Code § 53-4A-1. As for the other grounds alleged (with the exception of
the ineffective assistance of counsel claim), the habeas court concluded that petitioner failed to
rebut the presumption that he intelligently and knowingly failed to advance certain issues that
could have been raised prior to or during trial or on direct appeal—i.e., “911 Recordings”;
“Failure [to] preserve audiotape recorded statements”; prosecutorial misconduct; prior acts of
prosecutorial misconduct involving conduct other than the prosecutor’s closing argument;
prosecutor acted as an “over[-]zealous advocate”; violation of Trial Court Rule 17 by the circuit
judges; appearance of bias by “[t]he 10th Judicial Circuit”; failure to bifurcate trial and
sentencing; failure to bifurcate on the issue of eligibility for probation; and “[f]ruit of the
[p]oisonous [t]ree—[n]o Miranda warning/coercion to give ‘voluntary statement.’” See generally
Mills II, 219 W. Va. 28, 631 S.E.2d 586; W. Va. Code § 53-4A-1.

        Thus, the remaining issue before the habeas court was whether petitioner received
ineffective assistance of trial counsel on the following grounds: (1) failure to question or move to
suppress petitioner’s statement, which petitioner now claims was coerced; (2) “[d]efense counsel
pled petitioner guilty[;]” (3) failure to dispute the State’s claim that petitioner planned a “sneak
                                                 2
attack” on the victim; (4) failure to investigate eyewitness’s claim; (5) failure to impeach
witness’s inconsistent statements; (6) failure to investigate and clarify firearm examiner
testimony; (7) failure to challenge the gun-residue kit; and (8) failure to move for mistrial or file
pretrial motions regarding missing evidence.

         The habeas court addressed and rejected each of petitioner’s ineffective assistance
arguments. See Syl. Pt. 5, State v. Miller, 194 W. Va. 3, 459 S.E.2d 114 (1995) (“In the West
Virginia courts, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are to be governed by the two-
pronged test established in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d
674 (1984): (1) Counsel’s performance was deficient under an objective standard of
reasonableness; and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceedings would have been different.”). This appeal followed.

        This Court reviews orders denying habeas relief under 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, in part, Mathena v. Haines, 219 W. Va. 417, 633 S.E.2d 771
(2006).

         In petitioner’s first assignment of error, he argues that the habeas court incorrectly
concluded that trial counsel was not ineffective. Petitioner argues, as he did below, that trial
counsel was ineffective in failing to question law enforcement about the circumstances
surrounding his confession, which petitioner now claims was coerced and should have been
suppressed. The habeas court found that, at the suppression hearing (at which petitioner refused
to testify) and in his two appeals from his convictions,4 he never claimed that his confession was
coerced or, as he now contends, that he requested a lawyer three times before making his
statement.5 Petitioner does not challenge these findings in this appeal. Further, trial counsel
testified that petitioner never advised him of the alleged circumstances surrounding his
confession. Rather, the evidence showed that petitioner twice confirmed that he understood his
Miranda6 rights before giving his confession and that he agreed in the recorded confession that
his statement was not coerced. Petitioner fails to make any compelling argument on appeal that
the habeas court abused its discretion in finding that trial counsel was not ineffective in failing to
investigate the alleged circumstances surrounding petitioner’s confession.

       Petitioner also argues, as he did below, that trial counsel was ineffective for conceding to
the jury that petitioner killed the victim; failing to investigate an eyewitness’s claim that the
shooter appeared to be “black or Hispanic [be]cause he was dark skinned,” which is a physical
description that does not match petitioner’s; failing to impeach the testimony of an eyewitness

       4
           Petitioner does not claim that his appellate counsel was ineffective.
       5
         At the habeas hearing, petitioner testified that he told trial counsel that he confessed only
after he overheard an officer tell “someone” on the telephone that if petitioner does not talk,
petitioner’s wife and daughter would be charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
       6
           See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

                                                   3
who, at the first trial, described the shooter as having a long beard and pony tail, but in the re-
trial, failed to mention a pony tail; failing to undermine the testimony of the State’s firearm
expert; and failing to re-test the gunshot residue found on petitioner’s hand, which petitioner now
claims could have been alternatively explained by the fact that, on the morning of the murder, he
had used two different nail guns that “create[d] powder residue.” We find no error. Despite
petitioner’s new theory of actual innocence, the evidence that he shot the victim was
overwhelming. Thus, it is abundantly clear that trial counsel, in concert with petitioner, acted
reasonably in conceding the same in order to focus defense efforts on persuading the jury to
convict on a charge that was lesser than the indicted charge of first-degree murder and/or to
recommend a sentence of mercy. The above arguments that petitioner claims support an
ineffective assistance claim are wholly inconsistent with the well-founded defense strategy
employed by trial counsel in both trials and in his appeals of those convictions. The habeas court
did not err in concluding that trial counsel was not ineffective in this regard.

        Petitioner’s remaining arguments in support of his claim that trial counsel was ineffective
need not be addressed. First, petitioner argues that trial counsel failed to dispute the State’s claim
that petitioner planned a “sneak attack” on the victim and that the State improperly used “[s]neak
attack rhetoric” “extensively” throughout its case-in-chief and during closing argument.
Petitioner argues that trial counsel’s failure to object to or “investigate” the State’s claim
amounted to ineffective assistance. Petitioner fails to include any citation to the record in support
of this alleged error. Second, petitioner argues that trial counsel was also ineffective by failing to
move for a mistrial or file pretrial motions regarding “missing” recordings of certain witness
statements and unspecified 9-1-1 calls. Though petitioner summarily states that he was “greatly
prejudiced by the failure of the State and his counsel to preserve this evidence in that witnesses
could not be impeached at the second trial with their own words[,]” he fails to provide any
specific instances of prejudice with respect to witness testimony or otherwise cite to the record in
support of this claim. Furthermore, petitioner fails to argue the legal standard under which a
mistrial should have been granted, identify what motions should have been filed by trial counsel
prior to trial, or explain what impact the recordings would have had on petitioner’s defense at
trial. In short, petitioner’s arguments are inadequately briefed and we decline to address them.
See W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(7) (providing that petitioner’s brief “must contain appropriate and
specific citations to the record on appeal, including citations that pinpoint when and how the
issues in the assignments of error were presented to the lower tribunal. The Court may disregard
errors that are not adequately supported by specific references to the record on appeal.”
(Emphasis added)); Evans v. United Bank, Inc., 235 W. Va. 619, 629, 775 S.E.2d 500, 510
(2015) (observing that petitioners’ argument failed to meet requirements of Rule 10(c)(7), and
concluding, therefore, “the issue has been waived for purposes of appeal”); State v. LaRock, 196
W. Va. 294, 302, 470 S.E.2d 613, 621 (1996) (stating that “[a]lthough we liberally construe
briefs in determining issues presented for review, issues . . . mentioned only in passing but are
not supported with pertinent authority, are not considered on appeal.”). See also State v. Allen,
208 W. Va. 144, 162, 539 S.E.2d 87, 105 (1999) (stating that “[i]n the absence of supporting
authority, we decline further to review [these] alleged error[s] because [they have] not been
adequately briefed.”).

        Finally, petitioner raises seven other assignments of error, all of which were raised and
correctly resolved by the habeas court in its January 30, 2018, order denying relief. The habeas
court determined that the following alleged errors were waived because petitioner failed to raise

                                                  4
them in either of his appeals from his convictions: prosecutorial misconduct relating to the
improper suppression of 9-1-1 recordings and the alleged destruction of recorded statements of
witnesses; the alleged violation of Trial Court Rule 17 by the judges of the Tenth Judicial
Circuit; the trial court’s failure to bifurcate the trial and sentencing phases; and the admission of
gruesome photographs of the victim. See Syl. Pt. 2, Ford v. Coiner, 156 W. Va. 362, 196 S.E.2d
191 (1972) (“In a habeas corpus proceeding under Chapter 53, Article 4A, Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended, the burden of proof rests on petitioner to rebut the presumption that
he intelligently and knowingly waived any contention or ground for relief which theretofore he
could have advanced on direct appeal.”).

        Similarly, the habeas court determined that the following alleged errors were previously
and finally adjudicated in petitioner’s appeal from his conviction7: prosecutorial conduct
involving actions and remarks by the prosecuting attorney; alleged violation of petitioner’s right
to confront a witness; and whether “media involvement” during the jury view of the crime scene
warranted an inquiry into whether the jury was prejudiced by the same. See Syl. Pt. 1, Bowman v.
Leverette, 169 W. Va. 589, 289 S.E.2d 435 (1982) (“W. Va. Code, 53-4A-1(d) [1967] allows a
petition for post-conviction habeas corpus relief to advance contentions or grounds which have
been previously adjudicated only if those contentions or grounds are based upon subsequent
court decisions which impose new substantive or procedural standards in criminal proceedings
that are intended to be applied retroactively.”). On appeal, petitioner fails to present any
persuasive arguments that the habeas court abused its discretion in denying habeas relief on these
grounds.

        Accordingly, upon careful review and consideration of the habeas court’s order, the
parties’ arguments, and the record submitted on appeal, we find no error or abuse of discretion
by the habeas court. Our review of the record supports the habeas court’s decision to deny
petitioner post-conviction habeas corpus relief based on the alleged errors raised herein, which
errors were also argued below. Indeed, the habeas court’s order includes well-reasoned findings
and conclusions as to the assignments of error raised on appeal. Given our conclusion that the
habeas court’s order and the record before us reflect no clear error or abuse of discretion, we
hereby adopt and incorporate the court’s findings and conclusions as they relate to petitioner's
assignments of error raised herein and direct the Clerk to attach a copy of the court’s January 25,
2018, order denying petitioner’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus to this memorandum
decision.

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

ISSUED: April 15, 2019

       7
           See generally Mills II, 219 W. Va. 28, 631 S.E.2d 586.
                                                  5
CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Tim Armstead
Justice Evan H. Jenkins

DISQUALIFIED:

Justice John A. Hutchison

                                    6
                                                                                   l~ -0 t'11

       IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF RALEIGH COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA

  STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, ex rei.
  Marvin Mills,
                           Petitioner

 VS.                                               CASE NO. 06-C-784-H

 THOMAS MCBRIDE, WARDEN
 MOUNT OLIVE CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX
                          Respondent

                                  FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On the afternoon of September 8, 1999, Pamela Cabe was fatally shot inside her place of
 business at Richmond Cleaners in Beckley, West Virginia and the Petitioner, Marvin Mills
 (hereinafter Mills) was apprehended outside Richmond Cleaners immediately after the killing with
 a .38 caliber pistol a few feet away; he confessed to shooting and killing Pamela Cabe with that
pistol.

2. Following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Raleigh County, Mills was convicted on May 2,
2000 of first degree murder by use of a firearm, without a recommendation of mercy, and was
sentence by Judge John Hutchinson to life in the penitentiary without possibility of parole.
Thereafter, the conviction was reversed and remanded by the W. V. Supreme Court of Appeals
in State v. Mills, 566 S.E.2d 891 (2002).

3. A second jury trial was held in Raleigh County Circuit Court and on November 7, 2003, Mills
was again convicted of first degree murder by use of a firearm without a recommendation of
mercy, and was again sentenced by Judge John Hutchinson to life

                                                                                                    .~ ~   :
     imprisonment without the possibility of parole: thereafter, such conviction and sentence

     were affirmed by the W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals in State   v. Mills, 631 S.E.2d 586 (2005).

 4. During his first trial Mills was represented by two attorneys from the Raleigh County Public

     Defender's Office; in his second trial he Was represented by John SuI/ivan and Stephen Kenney

     of the Kanawha County Public Defender's Office and in his first and second appeals he was

     represented by at least two other attorneys from the appellate division of the Kanawha

    County Public Defender's Office.

 5. On June 26, 2013, Mills, by counsel, filed an Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

    (hereinafter the Petition).

6. The Petition (at 2) recites the fact that this habeas proceeding has been pending since 2006

    and that "appointed counsel has changed over the years," with Mills' present habeas counsel,

    Stephen New, appointed by Order of Judge John A. Hutchison on or about May 12, 2011.

7. On September 20, 2012 Judge John A. Hutchison voluntarily recused himself from this matter,

    for reasons wholly unrelated to this case, ant;! by Order of the W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals

    the undersigned Senior Status Judge John l. Cummings (hereinafter the Court) was aSSigned

    to preside over an omnibus habeas corpus hearing and to rule upon the matters raised in the

   Petition.

8. This Court has reviewed the Petition, the State's Response to Amended Petition for Writ of

   Habeas Corpus, the original pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and the subsequent

   Amended Petition filed by prior habeas counsel, the Writ of Prohibition and responses thereto

   and the W.Va. Supreme Court ruling concerning recusal of Judge John A. Hutchison and the

   prosecuting attorney,    the transcripts of the defendant's two trials, the records of and

   opinions resulting from his two direct appeals, the records maintained in the Raleigh County

   Circuit Clerk's Office, including several forensic evaluations of the defendant and multiple

                                           2
- •1~

                     letters and pro se pleadings from Mills to the Raleigh County Circuit Court and to the W. Va.

                     Supreme Court of Appeals, and the testimony taken and exhibits introduced during the July

                     15, 2014 habeas hearing.

              9.     The defendant in his verification of June 4, 2013, filed with the Petition, knowingly and

                     intelligently waived all grounds included in the "Losh list," Losh v. McKenzie, 277 S.E.2d 606

                     (W.Va. 1981) and all other grounds for habeas review with the exception of the grounds

                    alleged in the Petition. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 8-9.

             10. The Petition contains grounds designated "A" through "P," titled as follows:              (Errors in

                    grammarl punctuation, spelling and capitalization in original).

         A.         "Ineffective Assistance of Counsel." Petition at 9-36.

             B.     911 Recordings." Petition at 36-43.

         C.         "Failure preserve audiotape recorded statements." Petition at 43-47.

         D. "Violation ofthe Petitioner's Sixth Amendment Constitutional Right to Confront Witnesses."
            Petition at 47-52.

         E.        "The Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Committed Prosecutorial Misconduct with
                   respect to Petitioner." Petition at 52-53.

         F.        "Prior Acts of prosecutoiial misconduct." Petition at 53-56.

        G. "Ms. Keller has Acted as an Over ZealoUS Advocate Instead of a Quasi~Judicial Mister of
           Justice." Petition at 56-61.

        H. "The Judges of the 10th Judicial Circuit violated Trial Court Rule 17 resulting in an improper
           transfer of the Petitioner's case." Petition at 61-65.

        I.         "The 10th Judicial Circuit had an appearance of bias against the Petitioner." Petition at 65-68.

        1.         "The Trial Court 'abused its discretion' where it failed to bifurcate the trial and sentencing in
                   derogatiqn of West Virginia Constitution. Article /II. § 10 and United States Constitution,
                   Amendments 5 and 14 where the Defendant was prejudiced by his counsel's inability to argue
                   mercy without admitting gUilt.» Petition at 68-73.

        K.        liThe Trial Court Abused Its Discretion By RefUSing To Strike Two Jurors For Cause Who Stated
                  They Could Not Consider A Recommendation Of Mercy, Violating Mills' Right To A Trial By A
                  Fair And Impartial Jury." Petition at 73-89.

                                                            3
  l.     "The Trial Court Abused Its Discretion By Allowing Improper Media Involvement That C~used
         Prejudice To The Petitioner And Resulted In An Inability To Receive A Fair Trail And Was A
         Violation Of Due Process." Petition at 89-93.

  M. "The Trial Court Denied Mills His Right To Due Process And A Fair Trial When It Denied His
     Motion For A Mistrial As A Result of the Jury View Of The Crime Scene Which Became A
     'Walking Parade' Where The Press Walked With And Photographed The Jurors." Petition at
     93-98.

 N. "The Trial Court committed constitutional error by permitting the entrance of gruesome
    photos over objection, which denied the Petitioner a fair trial with reliable results in violation
    of West Virginia Constitution, Article Ill, § 10 and 14 and United States Constitution.
    Amendments 5.6. and 14." Petition at 99-104.

 O. "Court Abused Its Discretion by Denying Petitioner a Bifurcated Trial on the Issue of Eligibility
    for Probation." Petition at 104-108.

 P.     "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree-No Miranda warning/coercion to give 'voluntary statement. 1II
        Petition at 108-115.

 11. This Court finds as fact that pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-l, the W.Va. Supreme Court of

       Appeals previously and finally adjudicated a number of Mills' claims in State v. Mills, 631 S.E.
2d 586 (2005): these claims are designated in the Petition as "D," "F," (as to prosecutor's

       closing argument), "K," "l," "M."

12. As to the remaining claims in the Petition, this Court finds as fact that Mills has offered no

       evidence to rebut the § 53-4A-1 presumption that he "intelligently and knowingly failed to

       advance" several of his habeas 'icontentions and []grounds in fact or law" which "could have

       been advanced by the petitioner before trial, at trial, or on direct appeal ... but were not in

       fact so advanced ... ./1

13. The Petition contains no claim of ineffectiveness of appellate counsel and Mills and his habeas

       counsel have confirmed that Mills makes no such claim: accordingly, pursuant to W.Va. Code

       § 53-4A-l, any such contention has been "intelligently and knowingly" waived.          Habeas

      Corpus Hearing Tr. at 91-92,175. McBride v. Lavigne, 737 S.E.2d 560, 573 (W.Va. 2012).

                                               4
, -:

         14. The "contentions and the grounds in fact or law" which could have been advanced by Mills

             on direct appeal, but were not advanced, and which are deemed intelligently and knowingly

             waived are designated in the Petition as follows: "B/' "C/, liE," "Fi' (as to contentions in

             addition to prosecutors closing aq~ument), I'G/, IIH, ill/' IIJ/, liN/' I/O" and lip,"

         15. The sale remaining ground for consideration by the Court is the claim of ineffective assistance

             of counsel, designated /IA" in the Petition.

        16. The Petition {at 11-36} alleges eight specific instances of ineffectiveness of Mills' two trial

            attorneys, beginning with "l. [] Counsel Failed to Question or Have Suppressed Petitioner's

                                                                       1I
            AlIegeq Voluntary Statement As It Had Been Coerced.

        17. The record reflects that during pre-trial hearing held July 28, 2003, defense counsel did, in

            fact, move to suppress MUls' confession, but Mills now complains that his counsell'failed to

            investigate" his post-conviction claim that he confessed after eavesdropping on a phone call

            by Detective Shumate and hearing Detective Shumate say to '"someone' on the phone that if

                                                                                                              11I
            he ... does not talk, 'to charge his wife and daughter with conspiracy to commit murder.

           Petition at 12.

       18. The record of the July 28,2003 suppression hearing confirms that Mills declined to testify and

           that, based upon the uncontested evidence presented, the Circuit Court found that Millsi'Was

           given Miranda warnings t\Vice'i and "was not coerced" and "freely and voluntarily waived his

           rights to remain silent and gave a voluntary statement ....        1/   7/28/03 Pre-Trial Hearing 69-

           71.

       19. Mills called one of his two trial attorneys from his second trial, John Sullivan, as a witness in

          the habeas hearing: Mr. Sullivan confirmed that Mills never made a claim to his counsel

          concerning any alleged "coercion" by Detective Shumate. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 79-80.

                                                      5
  20. During the habeas hearing Mills repeatedly confirmed that had made the decision to decline

      to testify at the suppression hearing and at trial because he was of the opinion that "Judge

      Hutchison had no authority over the case:" Mr. Sullivan also confirmed that Mills made the

      decision to decline to testify. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 132, 180-182,193-194,219,238.

 21. There was no claim of "coerced" confession raised during the July 28, 2003 suppression

     hearing or during Mills' two direct appeals.

 22. The Court finds as fact (a). that Mills has failed to prove that he ever disclosed to his defense

     counsel the version of events which he now claims constituted "coercion;" (b). that Mills'

     defense attorneys had no duty to investigate a claim of coercion never suggested to them by

     Mills; (c). that Mills made a voluntary decision not to testify at the July 28, 2003 suppression

     hearing, thereby waiving any claim that the Circuit Court erred in finding his confession

     voluntary and (d). that the admission of the confession Into evidence was not the result of

    any unprofessiona/.error on the part of defense counsel.

23. Further, the Court finds that even if Mills had disclosed his "coercion" claim to defense

    counsel and had testified to the same during the suppression hearing, there is no reasonable

    probability that the confession would have been suppressed: Mills has confirmed that he

    understood his Miranda warnings and that he agreed in the recorded confession that he had

    not been "coerced in any way" and now offers no evidence to support a finding that, under

    the totality of the circumstances, his confession was the product of an impe,lIing coercive

    effect - - indeed, Mitis claims that he was asked if wanted to "talk," not urged to confess.

    Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 208, 228, 230.

24. Although Mills testified at the habeas hearing that "(o)n three different occasions (he) had

   asked for an attorney" before confeSSing, Mr. Sullivan's testimony makes clear that Mills

   never relayed any such claim to his attorneys and Mitis' habeas testimony confirms that he

                                            6
·,
,.-

           made a voluntary decision not to make any such claim during the July 28, 2003 suppression

           hearing or at trial: further, no such assignment of error was made on either of Mills' direct

           appeals and he makes no habeas claim of ineffective assistance of appel/ate counsel. Habeas

           Corpus Hearing Tr. 206.

       25. The next allegation of specific ineffective assistance of counsel in the Petition (at 15-25) is "2.

          Defense counsel pled petitioner guilty."

      26. Mr. Sullivan confirmed that the defense decision to admit that Mills committed the homicide

          of Pamela Cabe was made in consultation with Mills and was a strategic decision with which

          Mills agreed, in the hope of winning a recommendation of mercy or a conviction of something

          less than first degree murder, as "(t)here was no - no expectation of an acquittal in this case."

          Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 54, 110-111.

      27. The record reflects that Mills' trial counsel succeeded insofar as the Circuit Court instructed

          the jury in the lesser included offenses of second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and

         involuntary manslaughter, despite the paucity of evidence to support such lesser verdicts.

         Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 111-112.

      28. The Court finds that the excerpts of opening remarks and closing arguments by Mills'

         attorneys recited in the Petition, and used on direct examination of Mr. Sullivan, fail to convey

         the fact that the totality of such remarks and arguments were consistent with the defense

         strategy: indeed, during the habeas hearing Mr. Sullivan was read one part of a portion of

         the defense opening on direct examination and agreed that the words were a "mistake," but

         when he was read the complete part, he agreed that the words made "more sense in context"

         and thatthere was a strategic "reason (co-counsel) said that in opening statements." Habeas

         Corpus Hearing Tr. 60-61, 112-113.

                                                   7
29. The Court further finds that Mr. Sullivan's closing arguments were the result of a reasonable

    strategic decision designed to encourage the jury to return a recommendation of mercy.

    Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 66.

30. The Court finds as fact that, given the overwhelming admissible evidence in this case, the

    result of Mills' trial would not have been different if his attorneys' opening remarks and

    closing arguments had been different.

31. The conclusion that Mills and his trial counsel made a strategic decision not to contest the

   fact that Mills was the person who shot and killed Pamela Cabe is further confirmed by the

   fact that in both Mills' first and second appeals, based upon the petitions and briefs of

   appellate counsel, the W.Va. Supreme Court found as follows:

                It is undisputed that the defendant, Marvin Mills, fatally shot Pamela Cabe. The
                evidence at trial revealed the following. On September 8,1999, the defendant
               entered Richmond Cleaners in downtown Beckley, West Virginia, where Mrs.
               Cabe worked, and shot her with a .38 caliber pistol once in the back and once in
               the head. Mrs. cabe was dead by the time paramedics arrived moments later.
               After shooting Mrs. Cabe, the defendant walked across the street, sat on a wall,
               and watched emergency vehicles arrive while he smoked a Cigarette. He was
               arrested without incident after a police officer recognized him as the shooter
               froma description given by a witness. Mills, 566 S.E.2d at 895 (2002).

                                                      ***
               The Appellant admits that he fatally shot Mrs. Pamela Cabe on September 8,
               1999 at her employment location, Richmond Cleaners, in Beckley, West Virginia.

                                                      ***
               During the Appellant's first trial, the defendant attempted to show that the
               Appellant had acted without premeditation or deliberation. The State, however,
               presented evidence indicating that the Appellant had premeditated the murder.
               The Appellant had beehinformed of the results of a custody hearing involving
               the mutual grandchild of the Appellant and Mrs. Cabe earlier that day. After
               hearing of the custody hearing results, the Appellant took his .38 caliber pistol,
               drove seven miles to Richmond Cleaners, walked into the bUSiness, took the gun
               out of a manila envelope, and shot four bullets, hitting Mrs. Cabe twice. Mills,
               631 S.E. 2d at 590 {200S}.

                                            8
     32. Mills' habeas claim that he was " not aware" that his trial attorneys were "going to plead Ihim)

         guilty   In opening and closing statements" is belied by the fact that during his first trial and

         also on direct appeal, it was conceded that he was the killer of Pamela Cabe, and Mills makes

         no claim of ineffectiveness of appellate counsel: indeed, in his habeas testimony he conceded

         that his appellate counsel had consulted with him and that he was "satisfied with (their)

         representation" during the appeal, which included Mills' admission that he shot and killed

         Pamela Cabe. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 175, 183, 213.

     33. Mr. Sullivan's testimony that Mills admitted the same to his two trial attorneys and joined in

         the strategic decision to admit that he was the killer of Pamela Cabe in order to "lessen the

        damage" is further confirmed by the fact that in multiple forensic evaluations following his

        1999 arrest and continuing into his second trial, Mills admitted that he shot and killed Pamela

        Cabe. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 104-105,217-218.
(   34. In his habeas testimony Mills contended that he never called the Circuit Court's attention to

        his new claim that he was "surprised" by what he now asserts were false opening remarks

        and closing arguments by his trial attorneys, but Mills also admitted that he made a decision

        not to call these matters to Judge John A. Hutchison's attention because, in Mills' opinion, the

        presiding judge "had nO authority to rule over the case." Habeas Corpus Tr. 218-219.

    35. Although there is no obligation on the part of a criminal defendant represented by counsel to

       communicate with the presiding judge, the record in Mills' first and second trials and appeals

       and post-conviction proceedings demonstrates that Mills persistently has directed letters to

       Judge John A. Hutchison and other judges and filed pro se pleadings even while represented

       by counsel, and that such communications have contained his complaints about the conduct

       of his several apPOinted attorneys: given that Mills voluntarily and repeatedly has expressed

                                                 9
'.

               such complaints, it is not plausible that he would have declined to do so if he had been
     (
               "surprised" by his two attorneys' words or conduct during trial.

           36. A review of all of the records in Mills' two trials and appeals and other post-conviction

               proceedings Including his original pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, the Amended

               Petition filed by former counsel and the instant Petition, confirms that Mills for the first time

                                                                      i
              claimed that he "was not the s.hooter of Pamela Cabe ' during the habeas hearing on July 15,

              2014, approximately fifteen years after the killing and after repeatedly - - from his confession

              through multiple forensic evaluations and two trials and appeals - - admitting that he was

              the killer. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 189.

          37. The Court finds as fact that Mills' contention that he made a claim of actual innocence to his

              two trial attorneys is not credible, and that his attorneys committed no unprofessional error

              by conceding that Mills committed the homicide of Pamela Cabe.

          38. The next claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is designated in the Petition (at 25-28) as:

              "3. Defense Counsel Fail (sic) to Dispute State's Claim that Petitioner Planned a 'Sneak

             Attack'."

         39. Mr. Sullivan, called by Mills during the habeas hearing, opined that he "remember(ed)

             thinking that (he) had failed to properly cross-examine" Telia Echols concerning purported

             differences between her testimony in Mills' first trial and her testimony in the second trial,

             concerning the route Mills took in approaching Richmond Cleaners on foot: Mr. Sullivan on

             direct examination agreed with Mills' habeas counsel that impeachment of Ms. Echols as to

             Mills' route Ilcouid have led to argument about reasonable doubt and just - - in terms of the

             degree of the offense." Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 42-47.

         40. Mr. Sullivan then agreed that Ms. Echols' testimony did I'catch (him) by surprise," and that

            there were no other surprises at trial: he further agreed, and the Court so finds, that there

                                                     10
      was nothing he or co-counsel could have done to raise reasonable doubt that Mills armed

      himself with the .38 caliber pistol hidden In a manila envelope and went into Mrs. Cabe's

      workplace and shot and killed her. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 129-130.

  41. Mr. Sullivan also agreed, and this Court so finds, that "whether one uses the phrase 'sneak

     attack' or not, all of the evidence - - and including what (the) defendant told (counsel) - - Was

     that Mrs. Cabe was taken by surprise when the defendant came in with a gun in a manila bag

     (sic) and began firing." Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 120.

 42. A review of the transcripts of Ms. Echols' testimony during Mills' first and second trials fails

     to convince the Court that there was, in fact, any material contradiction in her testimony

     concerning Mills' route into Richmond Cleaners, and in his habeas hearing Mills offered no

     evidence - - including testimony by Ms. Echols or any other witness - - to prove that defense

     counsel's cross-examination of Ms. Echols constituted unprofessional error or that different

    or additional cross-examination of Ms. Echols by Mills' attorneys would have changed the

    outcome ofthe trial. 2003 Trial Tr. 464-484.

43. The neXt claim of specific ineffectiveness of counsel is designated in the Petition {at 28-29} as

    "4. Defense Counsel's Failure to Investigate Eyewitness' Claim"

44. In the Petition (at 29) Mills contends that his counsel committed an unprofessional error by

    failing to call Martha Paulson as a witness because her "testimony most likely could have

    changed the outcome of the trial by injecting more than reasonable doubt into the trial,"

    because "Paulson said she saw a dark skinned individual commit the crime (and) the

    Petitioner is a light-skin (sic) caucasion."

45. Martha Paulson was not called by either party at trial, and there is no dispute that her

   statement to police, upon which Mills now relies, was provided to defense counsel by the

   State in "open file" pre-trial discovery. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 101.

                                              11
..'

        46. Mr. Sullivan testified during the habeas hearing that a choice was made to refrain from

           challenging the physical description of Mills provided by Martha Paulson, which would have

           required calling her as a defense witness. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 61-62 .

       47. The Petition (at 28-29) recites only a portion of Martha Paulson's statement to police, and on

           direct examination of Mr. Sullivan Mills' habeas counsel alluded only to Martha Paulson's

           description of Mills as "black" or "hispanic." Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 53.

       48. However, attached to the Petition as Exhibit W is the entire statement of Martha Paulson, in

           which she stated:

               Me (sic)The only thing J could see was the back of his head ... J think he was black or
               Hispanic cause he was dark skinned but not real dark.

                                                  ***
              Gl:              Ok. But you just saw the back of his head?

              Me (sic):        Yes.

              Gl:              So your (sic) not sure what race he was?

              Me (sic):        No Uh Huh (sic).

      49. The Court finds that there was no unprofessional error in the decision of Mills' trial attorneys'

          to refrain from calling Martha Paulson as a witness to attempt to create doubt as to the

          identity of the killer: further, the Court notes that Mills in the habeas hearing offered no

         testimony - - of Martha Paulson or any other witness - - to demonstrate that Martha Paulson's

         trial testimony would have affected the outcome of the trial.

      50. The Court further notes "that during the habeas hearing, Mills' habeas counsel on "direct

         examination of Mr. Sullivan asked whether the presence or absence of a beard on Mills - -

         described by at least one witness - - on a booking photo could have raised reasonable doubt:

                                                   12
         ',t'

'   ..
    -.

                      the booking photo introduced into evidence as State's Exh. 22 at trial confirms that Mills had

                      a full beard at the time of the killing, as did the trial testimony of his former wife. 2000 Trial

                     Tr.546.

                 51. The Court finds as fact that the choice made by Mills' trial attorneys, to refrain from attacking

                     the accuracy of physical descriptions of the killer provided by witnesses, was a reasonable

                     strategic decision that did not affect the outcome of the trial. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 69-

                     70.

                 52. The next claim of a specific instance of ineffective assistance of counsel is designated in the

                     Petition (at i9-32) as:     1/5. Defense Counsel Failed to Impeach Witness' Inconsistent

                     Statements."

                53. The claims made in this regard have been addressed above, and the Court reiterates that the

                    choice of Mills' trial attorneys to refrain from contesting the identity of Mills as the killer of

                    Pamela Cabe was not an unprofessional error and did not affect the outcome of the trial: this

                    is especially so since Mills in his first appeal preceding this trial - - and again in his second

                    appeal - - made no claim of misidentification or insufficiency of the evidence and instead

                    conceded that he was gUilty of the homicide of Pamela Cabe, and Mills makes no claim of

                    ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.

                54. The next specific claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is designated in the Petition (at 32-

                    33) as "6. Defense Counsel Failed to Investigate and Clarify Firearm ExaminerTestimony." In

                   contending that his two trial attorneys committed an unprofessional error in declining to

                   contest the fact that he was the killer, Mills simply misstates the undisputed evidence, arguing

                   that "the cartridge and the bullets never matched the gun" and that "(t}he gun was not found

                   in (his) possession:" Mills has offered no evidence, either during his two trials Dr during this

                   habeas proceeding, to rebut the firearms examiners expert testimony that the bullet

                                                             13
      fragments recovered at the murder scene were consistent with the .38 caliber pistol found

      within arm's reach of Mills and thus in his constructive possession and that three of the

      recovered casings "had characteristics ... made by this particular gun" - - Mills' .38 caliber

     pistol. 2003 Trial Tr. 576, 687-689.

 55. The next specific claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is designated in the Petition (at 33)

     as 17. Defense Counsel Failed to Challenge the Gun Residue (sic) Kit."

 56. The Petition recites the fact that Mills, by counsel, stipulated at trial that forensic laboratory

     testimony would confirm the presence of gunshot residue on the swabs from Mills' hands

     taken by police on September BI 1999: Mills now asserts that he had been using two nail guns

     prior to the killing of Pamela Cabe, and that his trial attorneys committed an unprofessional

    error by failing to investigate such claim.

  57. Mr. Sullivan offered no testimony to corroborate the claim in the Petition (at 34) that Mills

     informed defense counsel of his use of nail guns prior to the homicide.

58. The Petition (at 34-35) contends that Mills' trial attorneys committed an unprofessional error

    by "fail(ing) to have the gunshot residue retested," but Mills in this habeas proceeding has

    made no motion to have such retesting accomplished and has offered no expert testimony to

    support his entirely speculative claim that his use of nail guns earlier on the day of the killing

    might have made it "difficult to link the gun to the Petitioner."

59. Further, since it is only Mills who now contends that he was using nail guns, and since - - as

    discussed above - - he voluntarily refused to testify at pre-trial suppression hearings and at

   trial, his attorneys cannot be faulted for failing to investigate a claim which necessarily would

   have depended upon testimony made unavailable by Mills' refusal to testify.

60. Further, as discussed above, as the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, adopting the

   position advanced by Mills on appeal, twice has found as fact that Mills armed himself with

                                            14

                                                                                            .       !
                                                                                        ~   -:   ~- ;
      his .38 caliber pistol and fired two bullets into Pamela Cabe, and as Mr. Sullivan has confirmed

     throughout the habeas hearing that Mills agreed to such findings of fact, this Court finds that

     Mills' two trial attorneys did not commit an unprofessional error by declining to investigate

     im   alternative explanation for either the firearm examiners expert testimony or positive

     results of the gunshot residue kit.

 61. The next specific claim of ineffective assistance of counsel Is designated in the Petition (at 35-

     36) as "8. Failure to Move for Mistrial/Pre-Trial Motions Regarding Missing Evidence."

 62. Although designated as a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the Petition (at 35-36)

     offers no evidence of error by Mills' trial attorneys in this regard, and instead argues that "the

     State reasonably anticipated as should his first trial counsel that evidence would likely need

    to be preserved" following Mills' first conviction, and that his second "convection (sic) should

     be overturned" because by the time of Mills' second trial only the transcripts of witness

    statements - - but not the recordings - - were in the State's possession. (Italics added).

63. Mills offers no evidence to show that copies of the recordings about which he complains were

    not provided to and were not originally in the possession of the attorneys who represented

    him in his first trial; nor does he offer any evidence that the transcripts of such recordings,

    which were provided to his trial attorneys in both his ~irst and second trials, were inaccurate

    or that the absence of the recordings during his second trial deprived him of material or

    eXCUlpatory evidence.

64. The record confirms that Mills' trial counsel filed a motion for sanctions due to the apparent

   absence of the recordings of the Emergency Operations Center "911 call" made after the

   killing and of witness statements from which transcripts were made and provided to the

   defense. 2003 Trial Tr. 271-275.

                                            15
.
,

             65. In arguing that certain witnesses should have been barred from testifying, Mills' counsel

                 conceded that "if none of these witnesses testify, the State still has a perfectly good case

                 against Mr. Mills. They have a shooting, they have a confession, they have a weapon." 2003

                 Trial Tr. 274.

             66. After taking testimony and hearing argument of counsel, the Circuit Court found, inter alia,

                 that there was no State misconduct to justify the imposition of sanctions and that the

                 transcripts of the recordings satisfied Rule 26.2, W.V. R. Crim. Pro., and denied the defense

                 motion for sanctions: accordingly, it is clear that a defense motion for mistrial would not have

                been granted. 2003 Trial Tr. 271-304, 357-366.

            67. No claim of error was made on direct appeal concerning recordings of the "911" call or witness

                statements, and there was no claim thatthe Circuit Court erred in denying the defense motion

                for sanctions: accordingly, as discussed above, any such claims have been waived pursuant

    .   (       to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-l.

            68. During the habeas hearing Mr. Sullivan confirmed that although he "WOUld have wanted to

                have" the recordings from which the transcripts were made, his primary purpose in filing the

                motion for sanctions was uin preserving ... an appellate issue" and that the recordings

               themselves "WOUld not have been useful in preparing for triaL" Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr.

               29-31.

            69. The Court finds as fact that Mills has failed to sustain his burden of proving that he was

               prejudiced in any way by the fact that transcripts, but not recordings, of witness statements

               were available to him during trial: further, the fact that the issue was "preserved" by his trial

               counsel but never raised by appellate counsel confirms that any claim in this regard has been

               waived, particularly since Mills makes no claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.

                                                       16
'.

       70. Following the eight specific claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, the Petition (at 36-47)

           converts the same contentions into claims that the State violated Rule 26.2, W.V. R. Crim. Pro.

           and suppressed exculpatory evidence: as discussed above, these claims never were raised on

           direct appeal and thus have been waived pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-1.

       71. Nevertheless, the Court finds that a Rule 26.2 violation - - even if it occurred - - is not an issue

           of constitutional dimension cognizable in a habeas proceeding, and that Mills has failed to

           establish that the prosecution withheld any exculpatory evidence.

      72. The Petition (at 47-52) then recites a claim previously and finally adjudicated in Mills, 631 S.E.
2d at 596-597 (2005) concerning the victim's fear of Mills: the Petition's reliance on Crawford

          v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 1245 S.Ct. 1354,158 L. Ed 2d 177 (2004) and State v. Mechling,

          633 S.E.2d 311 (2006) does not affect that previous adjudication for reasons including (a).

          there is no claim that such statement of the victim was "testimonial" so as to fall within the

          holdings of Crawford and Mechling; (b). neither the Crawford nor the Mechling opinion

          issued until after Mills' second trial; and (c). there is no claim that Mills' appellate counsel was

          ineffective for declining to rely upon Crawford on appeal.

     73. The Petition (at 52-61) sets forth Mills' complaints about the prosecuting attorney, which

         claims began during his 1999 arraignment and have persisted continuously through his pro se

         response to the State's Response to Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and his

         testimony during the habeas hearing: except for a contention concerning the prosecutor's

         closing argument, this claim also has been waived pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-1 and the

         contention concerning the prosecutor's closing argument was previously and finally

         adjudicated in Mills, 631 S.E. 2d 592-594 (2005). Mills, 566 S.E.2d at 903-904, n. 3 (2002).

     74. Mills' complaints against the prosecutor all are rebutted by the State's Response to Amended

         Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus: even assuming arguendo that the complaints have a

                                                   17
      factual basis, Mills has made no showing that the conduct of the prosecuting attorney

      prejudiced him or that the results of his trial would have been different if the prosecuting

      attorney had conducted the trial differently or if some other prosecutor had represented the

     State at trial.

 75. The Petition (at 61-68) then complains about Judge John A. Hutchison and other Raleigh

     County judges and officials: as discussed above, these claims also were not raised on direct

     appeal and thus have been waived pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-l.

 76. Mills' primary complaint is that, priorto his first trial and after he moved to disqualify Judge

     H.l. Kirkpatrick III, his case was transferred to Judge John A. Hutchison: Mills contends that

     this was in violation of Rule 17, W.V.T.C.R.

77. Mills testified on direct examination by his counsel during the habeas hearing, concerning the

    transfer of his case to Judge John A. Hutchison, as follows:

                  Q:     ( ] My questions is, at some point, you have to show prejudice - -

                 A:      Excuse me.

                 Q:      Sure.

                  A:     J don't think you have to show prejudice in a procedure. You know, trial
                         court Rule 17 is procedure. It doesn't require prejudice.
                                                                 Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 196.

78. The Court finds as fact that, even assuming a Rule 17 error occurred prior to Mills' first trial,

    such error is not of constitutional dimension and that any such claim has been waived by the

   absence of any motion to recuse Judge John A. Hutchison from Mills' first and second trials,

   as well as by the absence of any claim of error in this regard on direct appeal: further, even

   when inVited by his habeas counsel to make some showing of prejudice in this regard, Mills

   could not do so.

                                            18

                                                                                              :' . .

                                                                                        l     "-"   ,   ~,
                                                                                   '.
.
•
    "
        I

              79. The Court further finds as fact that the claims of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct raised

                  in the Petition were previously raised by Mills in a Petition for Writ of Prohibition filed by Mills

                  before the W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals on May 22, 2012, seeking the recusal of both

                 Judge John A. Hutchison and the prosecuting attorney, and that such Petition for Writ of

                 Prohibition was refused by Order of the Supreme Court of Appeals entered June 19,2012.

             80. Mills in the Petition next argues that the Circuit Court erred in refusing to bifurcate closing

                 arguments: as discussed above, such claim has been waived pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-

                 4A-l because it was not raised on direct appeal: further, the Petition and the testimony

                 offered during the habeas hearing fail to make any showing that Mills was prejudiced by

                 unitary closing arguments or that the Circuit Court's ruling in this regard was an error of

                constitutional dimension cognizable in a habeas proceeding.

            81. Mills in the Petition (at 73-89) complains about jury selection, a claim previously and finally

                adjudicated pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-l in Mills, 590 S.E.2d 590-592 (2005): further,

                as to the two jurors named in the Petition and on direct appeal, Mills is entitled to no relief

                because the Petition (at 73) confirms that they were removed by Mills' preemptory strikes.

                State v. Sutherland, 745 S.E. 2d 448,450 (W.Va. 2013).

            82. Mills in the Petition (at 82-89) complains aboutthe body language of an unknown "Jane Doe"

               juror who "did not actually give answers which indicated bias" but who, Mills claims, "so

                blatantly ... was flirting with (the) Judge and the Judge seemed to be delighted ...."

            83. No such claim was made by Mills' trial or appellate counsel; there is an absence of any record

               to substantiate his claim; he presented no credible evidence during the habeas hearing

               concerning his supposed observations of "Jane Doe" and in the absence of any trial record or

               factual basis for his claim concerning this unknown juror, the claim is entirely without merit.

                                                         19

                                                                                                            ,   "
                                                                                                                ".'
,.J

        84. The Petition (at 89-99) again reiterates a claim previously and finally adjudicated concerning

            the jury view and the Court's refusal to grant the motion for mistrial made by Mills' trial

           counsel: pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-1, Mills' habeas claim in this regard is without

           merit. Mills, 631 S.E. 2d at 594-596 (2005).

       85. The Petition (at 99-104) makes another claim never raised on direct appeal and thus waived

           pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-1: he claims that the Circuit Court "committed constitutional

           error by permitting the entrance (sic) of gruesome photographs," a claim that is not of

           constitutional dimension so as to be cognizable in a habeas proceeding.

       86. Although this claim has been waived, this Court notes that the test as to the admissibility of

           photographs is not whether the photographs are "gruesome" but whether they are relevant

          and whether their probative value outweighs their unfair prejudicial effect:          only two

          photographs of Pamela Cabe's body at the crime scene were introduced at trial, and this Court

          finds that they were relevant to show the position of the victim and the injuries inflicted upon

          her and that they resulted in no unfair prejudice.

      87. Mills in the Petition (at 104-106) then raises another claim waived pursuant to W.Va. Code §

          53-4A-l, and complains that the indictment included a firearm allegation as set forth by W.Va.

          Code § 62-12-2: in addition to finding that any such claim has been waived, this Court finds

          that Mills has failed to make any showing that the firearm allegation was improper or that it

          prejudiced him in any manner or constituted an error of constitutional dimension cognizable

          in a habeas proceeding.

      88. Mills' final claim in the Petition (at 108-115), "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree - - No Miranda

         warning /coercion to give 'voluntary statement,'"           has been discussed under the

         ineffectiveness of counsel claims above: such claim has been waived pursuant to W.Va. Code

         § 53-4A-l and, as discussed above, is without merit even in the absence of such waiver,

                                                 20
                                   CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

  89. The Court concludes that the following "contentions in fact" have been previously and finally

      adjudicated by the W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals in Mills (2002) and Mills (2005): Mills

      had been informed of the results of a custody hearing involving the mutual grandchild of Mills

     and Pamela Cabe; Mills armed himself with his .38 caliber pistol, drove seven miles to

     Richmond Cleaners, walked into Richmond Cleaners, where Pamela Cabe was employed, took

     the gun out of a manila envelope and fired multiple rounds, fatally shooting Pamela ,Cabe in

     her back and in her head. Mills then Walked across the street and watched emergency

     vehicles as he smoked a cigarette until he was arrested after a police officer recognized that

     he matched the description of the killer given by a witness. He then confessed.

 90. Pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-1 and Rule 4, W.Va. Rules Governing Post-Conviction Habeas

     Corpus Proceedings, these "contentions in fact ... relied upon in the {P}etition have been

     previously and finally adjudicated" and the findings of fact of the W.Va. Supreme Court of

    Appeals are res judicQtQ in this habeas proceeding.

91. Mills for the first time during the habeas hearing - - some fifteen years after the killing of

    Pamela Cabe - - adopted a new strategy, and testified that he was not the killer, despite never

    making such claim in the Petition which gave rise to this habeas procet;!ding or in his original

    pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus or his Amended Petition filed by his former counsel,

    or in his two direct appeals or in his two trials, demonstrating that his new "contention in

    fact" has been both previously and finally adjudicated and waived pursuant to W.Va. Code

    § 53-4A-1 and Rule 4, W.Va. Rules Governing Post-Conviction Habeas Corpus Proceedings.

92. Mills has failed to make any claim of actual innocence such as would warrant habeas review.

   Schlup v. De/o, 115 S. Ct. 851, 513 U.S. 298, 130 l. Ed 2d 808 (1995), Wilson v. Greene, 155 F.
21
..

           3d 396, 404-405 (4th Cir. 1998): liThe claim must be based on reliable evidence not presented

           at trial.' [] A reviewing court must evaluate the new evidence alongside any other admissible

          evidence of the defendant's guilt, { Jand may grant relief only where'a constitutional violation

          has probably resulted in the conviction of one who is actually innocent.'" (Citations omitted).

      93. Mills' new claim that he was not the killer of Pamela Cabe is not "new evidence" because Mills

          had the opportunity to make such claim in his first and second trials and on his two direct

          appeals and in his several post-conviction pleadings, but declined to do so.

      94. Further, even if Mills' new "contention in fact" had not been previously and finally adjudicated

          and waived, and even if testimony entirely under his control could be deemed "new

         evidence," Mills, after admitting during the habeas hearing that he was at Richmond Cleaners

         at the time of the killing, refused to answer the obvious question as to whether he witnessed

         the killing: even when a habeas petitioner invokes the Fifth Amendment, "the trial court may

         properly draw an adverse inference from the habeas corpus petitioner's silence," and such

         adverse inference is stronger still when the petitioner simply refuses to answer a relevant

         inquiry without even an assertion of the privilege. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 222-223; State

         ex reI. Myers v. Sanders, 526 S.E.2d 320 (W.Va. 1999).

     95. During his habeas testimony, Mills confirmed that he was advised by the Circuit Court of his

         right to testify at trial and his testimony during the habeas hearing rebutted any claim of

        actual innocence which he may have been attempting to put forth: he admitted that police

        officers' trial   testimony about his location across from Richmond Cleaners when

        apprehended immediately after the killing was correct; that he had driven his white van to

        the location; that the gun located outside of Richmond Cleaners had "been in (his) possession

        for four years;" that his reason for going to Richmond Cleaners was "to get control of

        (him)self;" that he "wanted to scare" Pamela Cabe; that the "problem" he had with Pamela

                                                22

                                                                                                   ,   .   ~
· . ~:

               Cabe concerned their grandchild; that he went to Richmond Cleaners because he wanted
(
               Pamela Cabe to "make    sense about custody of the grandchild; that he did not tell his wife
                                             ll

              where he was going when he left for Richmond Cleaners; that he "seen(sic) money flashing,

              OJ. Simpson - - rich people just do whatever they want;1I that he was aware that the manila

              envelope containing his return address was recovered from the crime scene and that "all this

              was over custody of a grandchild." Habeas Hearing Tr. 230-237.

          96. The Court concludes as a matter of fact and as a matter of law that the testimony offered by

              Mills at his habeas hearing rebutted his claim that his conviction was the result of any

              unprofessional error by his two trial attorneys and rebutted his claim that, but for such error,

              there is a reasonabie probability he would not have been convicted of the first degree murder

             of Pamela Cabe by use of a firearm with no recommendation of mercy.

         97. Under the two-prong test for evaluating ineffective assistance of counsel claims, established

             by Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984) and State

             v. Miller, 459 S.E.2d 114 (1995), the burden is on the habeas petitioner to establish both

             prongs of the test, and in determining whether, but for unprofessional errors, there is a

             "reasonable probability" that the result of the trial would have been different the operative

             definition of "reasonable probability" is "a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in

             the outcome." State ex reI. Bowers v. Scott, 697 S.E.2d 722, 727.;.729 (W.Va. 2010).

         98. This Court concludes that Mills had no quarrel with counsel nor any claim of ineffectiveness

            of counsel when his trial attorneys in both of his two trials and his appellate counsel in his two

            direct appeals conceded that he was guilty of the homicide of Pamela Cabe: his habeas claim

            of ineffective assistance of counsel came only after the strategy that had succeeded in

            winning him a re-trial in 2002 failed to win him a second remand in 2005:

                                                     23
.,'

                            A defendant is not denied counsel merely because the prosecution has been
                            permitted to introduce evidence of guilt - - even evidence so overwhelming that
                            the attorney's job of gaining an acquittal is rendered impossible. In such
                            circumstances the accused continues to enjoy the assistance of counsel; the
                            assistance is simply not worth much. Id., citing Kansas v. Ventris 566 U,S'---J
                            ----'-' 129 S. Ct. 1841, 1846, 173 L. Ed. 2d 801 (2009).

       99. When a strategic or tactical decision by counsel makes a particular investigation

               unnecessary, counsel is not deemed ineffective for choosing not to pursue such

                investigation:

                           Counsel is constitutionally ineffective only if professional standards caused     the
                           defendant to lose what he otherwise probably would have won. Thus,                the
                          determinative issue is not whether the defendant's counsel was ineffective         but
                          whether he was thoroughly ineffective so that defeat was 'snatched from            the
                          jaws of victory.' State v. LaRock, 470 S.E.2d 613, 628, n. 22 (W.Va. 1996).

      100.       The authorities cited in the Petition in support of the claim that Mills' trial attorneys

             committed unprofessional error by failing to conduct an investigation into whether or not

             Mills was the killer are inapplicable to this case, in which the fact that Mills did, in fact, shoot

             and kill Pamela Cabe already had been conceded by Mills during his first trial and on direct

             appeal and "previously and finally adjudicated" by the W.va. Supreme Court of Appeals:

             counsel has "a duty to either investigate an issue or to make a reasonable decision that makes

             particular investigation unnecessary," and a reviewing court must "apply [ ] a heavy measure

         of deference to counsel's judgments." Syl. Pt. 3, State ex rei. Daniel v. Legursky, 465 S.E. 2d

         416,422 (W.Va, 1995). (Italics added).

      101.      Mills' reliance upon State ex rei. Strogen v. Trent, 469 S.E.2d 7, 13 (W.Va. 1996) is

         misplaced because in Strogen. the defendant entered a guilty plea to first degree murder

         eleven days after his attorney was appointed, and his counsel never "fil(ed) a motion to

         suppress the (defendant's) statement, or any other motions" and "could not have made an

         informed decision concerning the statement's validity." In contrast, Mills' two trial attorneys

                                                      24
        from the Kanawha County Public Defender's Office had the benefit of consultation with Mills'

        appellate counsel in the same office; Mills had been represented by that office since his

        original 2000 conviction, and his two trial attorneys were appointed long before his second

        trial; Mills' trial attorneys filed and vigorously argued a motion to suppress Mills' confession

       and several other motions, including,      inter alia, a motion for bifurcation of arguments, a

       motion for sanctions to exclude State's witnesses from testifying, a motion for mistrial and a

       motion to exclude the prior trial testimony of firearms examiner C.R. lane; Mills' two trial

       attorneys had the benefit of "open file" discovery and the transcripts of the first trial,

       including complete investigative reports, statements of all witnesses, multiple psychiatric and

       psychological evaluations of Mills and copies of or access to all exhibits to be introduced at

       trial; Mills' attorneys had the benefit ofthe W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals opinion following

       Mills' first trial; Mills had two highly experienced criminal lawyers who had all information

       necessary to undertake Mills' defense, including Mills' version of events, and had a complete

   understanding of the facts and issues of the case. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 18-19,20-21,

   95,97-101.

102.      The Petition also cites State   ex rei. Vern otter v. Warden, 528 S.E. 2d 207,212-214 (W.Va.

   1999), a case in which the habeas petitioner claimed that his attorneys had been ineffective

   for failing to investigate an insanity defense and the Circuit Court denied the habeas petition.

   In affirming the Circuit Court, the W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals agreed with the Circuit

   Court that, based upon the petitioner's statements to counsel, an insanity claim would have

   been false and "trial counsel could not perpetuate a fraud upon the Court in assisting the

   petitioner in offering false testimony... or indirectly presenting a defense based upon false

   representations ...." and that counsel"may properly rely upon the truthfulness of confidential

                                               25
• ' •..J

                   statements made by the defendant in deciding what investigations may be necessary./I (Italics

                   added).

             103.      This Court concludes that Mills' trial counsel made a reasonable decision not to conduct

                   further investigation as to whether Mills committed the homicide of Pamela Cabe because

                   counsel had overwhelming proof, Including Mills' admissions to counsel, that he had

                   committed the homicide - - a position his appellate counsel advanced before the W.Va.

                   Supreme Court of Appeals, with Mills' approval, during his successful first appeal and again

                   during his unsuccessful second appeal.

            104.      This Court also concludes that the decision of Mills' attorneys to refrain from cross-

                  examining particular witnesses or from asking particular questions was a strategic decision

                  which did not constitute an unprofessional error or affect the outcome of the trial. State v.

                  Frye, 650 S.E.2d 574, 577 (W.Va. 2006).

           105.       In the Petition and during the habeas hearing Mills cited United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S.
648, 104 S. Ct. 2039, 80 l. Ed 2d 657 (1984), a case in which the 10th District Court reversed

                  the defendant's conviction based upon ineffective assistance of counsel and the United States

                  Supreme Court, in turn, reversed the 10th Circuit, indicta confirming the fact that the Sixth

                  Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant the right to an advocate in an adversarial trial

                  proceeding.

           106.      This Court concludes that Mr. Sullivan during the habeas hearing was correct in

              confirming, as the record demonstrates, that he and his co-counsel were vigorous advocates

              on Mills' behalf in an "absolutely adversarial" trial against the State. Habeas Corpus Tr. 56-

              57,107.

           107.      The United States Supreme Court in note 19 of Cronic confirmed, as did the W.Va.

    .         Supreme Court in Vernatter, supra:

                                                        26

                                                                                                .. ;.
                     Of course, the Sixth Amendment does not require that counsel do what is
                     impossible or unethical. If there is no bona fide defense to the charge, counsel
                     cannot create one and may disserve the interests of his client by attempting a
                     useless charade.

 108.       While arguing that his counsel committed an unprofessional error in declining to

        challenge the evidence that he was the killer, Mills also contends that his attorneys should

        have produced evidence to demonstrate that Mills' reaction to learning of the custody ruling

        caused him to kill without malice and as a result of provocation: this Court concludes that

        such inconsistent strategies would have caused a reasonable jury to convict the defendant of

        first degree murder and that emphasis on Mills' "reason" for committing the homicide would

       have served only to strengthen the State's case concerning his motive, malice and

       premeditation. Habeas Corpus Hearing Tr. 74-77, 156-157, 165-167, 169-170.

109.       The Court further concludes that, given the overwhelming evidence that Mills committed

       the first degree murder of Pamela Cabe by use of a firearm and further, given his voluntary

       decision to decline to testify or to attempt to explain to the jury any facts in mitigation of his

       conduct, the only course available to his counsel was to attempt to "Iessen the damage" by

       admitting the homicide and attempting to persuade the jury to recommend mercy: this Court

       concludes that Mills' attorneys committed no unprofessional error in this or any other regard

       and that the result of Mills' second trial would not have been different if his counsel had

   conducted his defense differently. See Fletcher v. State, 756 S.E.2d 625, 627-628 (Ga. App.

   2014).

110.      In the habeas hearing Mills complained that his trial attorneys should have "spoke (sic) to

   all the witnesses ... family members ... (to) have prepared (sic) mitigating circumstances for

   a mercy defense - - I mean, for a mercy plea:" the Court notes that such defense witnesses

   testified during Mills' first trial, which resulted in precisely the same verdict as in his second

                                               27
:

                trial, providing his counsel in the second trial empirical evidence that jurors would not be
    (
                persuaded to grant mercy on the basis of defense testimony that Mills was       "a good family

                man" who was upset over decreased visits with his grandchild: Ita good family man" does

                not murder his grandchild's grandmother. Habeas Corpus Tr. 169, 185-186. 2000 Trial Tr.

               999-1040.

         111.      Having found that pursuant to W.Va. Code § 53-4A-l and Rule 4, W.Va. Rules Governing

               Habeas Corpus Proceedin~s, Mills has waived any claim of error concerning the absence of

               the "911" recording and recordings of statements from which transcripts were prepared, this

               Court further finds that Mills fails to show any error in this regard: a violation of Brady v.

               Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 l. Ed. 2d 215 (1963) occurs only when "material"

               evidence has been suppressed by the prosecution:

                           (W)e noted that suppressed evidence . . . is material only if there is a reasonable
                           probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the
                           proceeding would have been different. A 'reasonable probability' is a probability
                           sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. State ex reI. Bowers v. Scott,
                           697 S.E.2d 722, 727 (W.Va. 2010), citing State v. Fortner, 387 S.E.2d 812, 820 (W.
                           Va. 1989).

        112. This Court concludes that no material evidence was suppressed by the prosecution: indeed,

        Mills claim of inaccurate witness identification relies upon police reports and transcripts of the

        recordings of witness statements provided by the State to the defense in pre-trial discovery and

        the identification of Mills was not a bona fide issue at trial: there is no "reasonable probability"

        that if the recordings of the transcribed statements had been preserved after Mills' first trial, the

        result of his second trial would have been different.

        113.     In Ballard v. Ferguson, 751 S.E.2d 716 (W.Va. 2013) the W. Va. Supreme Court of Appeals

        upheld the Circuit Court's order granting a petition for writ of habeas corpus and opined

        that "the best evidence (the defendant) had to defend his claim of innocence at trial was

        suppressed through (defense counsel's) constitutionally deficient performance:" there was a

                                                      28
  police report describing that      "someone else had committed the crime;" there were "five

  witnesses ... who made ... exculpatory statements;" there was "evidence ... to support third-

  party guilt; the defendant consistently " protest(ed) his innocence;" there was       "no eyewitness

  identification" and "no evidence directly linking (the defendant) to the weapon used in the

  killing."    Due to trial counsel's failure to investigate any of these bona fide issues, the W.Va.

 Supreme Court of Appeals found that the trial could not be "relied upon as having produced a just

 result."

114.          As discussed at length above, Mills' case is the opposite of the case presented in Ballard

v. Ferguson, as confirmed by the findings of fact contained in the two opinions of the W.Va.

Supreme Court of Appeals in 2002 and again in 2005.

 115.       lilt has long been recognized that [a} habeas corpus proceeding is not a substitute for a
                                               I

 writ of error in that ordinary trial error not involving constitutional violations will not be

 reviewed.'" McBride v. Lavigne, 737 S.E.2d 560, 573, n. 38 (W.Va. 2012), citing Syl. Pt. 4,

 McMannis      v. Mohn, 254 S.£. 2d 805 (1979). This Court concludes as a matter of law that there

were no errors of constitutional dimension in the second trial resulting in Mills' conviction of first

degree murder by use of a firearm without a recomlTlendation of mercy.

                                              CONCLUSION

         For the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED that the Petition is DENIED and DISMISSED with

prejudice, and that any further petitions for habeas corpus relief or other extraordinary relief

related to Mills' conviction and sentence in Raleigh County Indictment No. 99-F-213-H shall be

summarily dismissed pursuant to W.Va. Code §S3-4A-l and Rule 4, W.Va. Rules Governing Post-

Conviction Habeas Corpus Proceedings. Further, pursuant to Rule 9, W.Va. Rules Governing Post-

                                               29
 Conviction Habeas Corpus Proceedings, this Court finds that Mills has been

 informed arid has understood his obligation to raise all grOlmds for relief in this

  omnibus habeas corpus proceeding and has knowingly and intelligently waived

 a/l grounds    not specifically asserted; that he has set forth no State nor Federal
 constitutiona/grOiJnds for relief; that he has been represented in this proceeding

 by competent and effective counsel, and that the result of this proceeding is not

 a consequence of any error or ineffective assistance on the part of habeas

 counsel.

the Clerk is Ordered and Directed to .send a copy of this ruling arid Order to
 counsel    as listed beiow.   :.

Entered this 25th day of January, 2018.

                                                                                                            .32odDi'.. '
                                                John L. Cummings, Special            ae           ' .
                                                                                           0in
                                            ,                                Th..e I.0I"d9
                                                                            entered    in . IS., lfice
                                                                                                 . "'"     ro" '
                                                                                                       on the               a'l
                                                                            01.___ _
                                                                        PAUL H. FLANA
                                                                                                     -L- • •
                                                                                            ~ . GIl lerk 0 .1alelgh Co. WV
Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney             Stephen
                                                 . ....
                                                        P. New,. Esq.
                                                                  ..
                                                                               By                                  Oeputy

Rc:Jleigh County courthouse                     114 Main Street

Beckley,   WV                               Beckley, WV 25801

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