Court Opinion

ID: 1047226
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 02:43:42.267673+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:51:39.767276
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                         AT NASHVILLE
                         Assigned on Briefs December 7, 2011

     BENJAMIN ASHLEY RAY DICKENS v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

             Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
                       No. 2003-D-3151 Seth Norman, Judge

                             No. M2011-00396-CCA-R3-PC

A Davidson County jury found the Petitioner, Benjamin Ashley Ray Dickens, guilty of first
degree felony murder, and the trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment in the Tennessee
Department of Correction. The Petitioner appealed, and this Court affirmed the conviction
in State v. Benjamin Ashley Ray Dickens, No. M2006-01697-CCA-R3-CD, 2007 WL
1988024, at *4 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, May 28, 2003), perm. app. denied (Tenn.
Nov. 19, 2007). The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief and filed two
subsequent amended petitions. After the post-conviction court held an evidentiary hearing,
it dismissed the petition. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court
erred when it dismissed his petition because he received the ineffective assistance of counsel
at trial, and he further argues that the State made improper arguments during its closing
argument, amounting to prosecutorial misconduct. After a thorough review of the record and
applicable law, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.

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

R OBERT W. W EDEMEYER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which T HOMAS T.
W OODALL and D. K ELLY T HOMAS, J R., JJ., joined.

David M. Hopkins, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Benjamin Ashley Ray Dickens.

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Meredith DeVault, Assistant Attorney
General; Victor S. Johnson, III, District Attorney General, D. Paul DeWitt and Dan Hamm,
Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                         OPINION

                                          I. Facts
                                          A. Trial

       This case arises from the Petitioner’s participation in an attempted robbery during
which Justine Green was shot and killed. Based on this conduct, a Davidson County grand
jury indicted the Petitioner for first degree murder committed during the perpetration of or
an attempt to perpetrate robbery. On direct appeal, this Court summarized the underlying
facts of the case as follows:

              Mary Jane Crockett Green, Justin Green’s mother, testified that at the
       time of Justin’s murder she lived with him and her other son who was Justin’s
       half-brother, Christopher Crockett, Christopher’s girlfriend, Arenthia
       Burkeen, and their two children. They all lived in a one-level home, and
       Justin and Christopher had bedrooms located next to each other, both of
       which were in the front of the house.

               On the night of this murder, Green awoke when her dog barked
       viciously. She went to her bedroom door and saw Crockett standing with his
       hands in the air while the [Petitioner] pressed a gun into Crockett’s chest. She
       startled the [Petitioner], and he turned and pointed the gun at her. Then, the
       [Petitioner] turned and pointed the gun at the dog who had begun to attack
       him. The [Petitioner] threatened to kill the dog, and Crockett told the
       [Petitioner] that he could take the dog somewhere else. Crockett led the dog
       down a hallway into a den. Green asked the [Petitioner] not to hurt anyone,
       and then she heard gunfire from the front of the house. She explained that she
       and the [Petitioner] could not see the area of the gunfire from where they
       were standing.

               Green testified that the gunfire appeared to frighten everyone, and she
       ran into her bedroom. She saw the [Petitioner] run toward the back door and
       Crockett run down the hallway. Green testified that there was “gunfire
       everywhere,” and she went to her bathroom and then back to her bedroom
       door. There, she saw a different man run out the back door, followed by
       Crockett, who was carrying a gun. Shortly thereafter, Crockett came back
       inside the house and locked the door. Green entered Justin’s room and saw
       that he was lying unconscious face down on his stomach. She attempted to
       perform C.P.R. on him while Burkeen called 9-1-1. The police arrived
       shortly thereafter. Green heard a policeman call for the homicide squad and
       knew that her son was dead.

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        Christopher Crockett testified that he and Justin had been playing
video games in Justin’s room when this crime occurred. The [Petitioner]
entered the room, pointed a gun at Crockett, and asked Crockett to take him
to “the money.” Crockett began to take the [Petitioner] to where some money
was located but stopped after Crockett’s dog attacked the [Petitioner]. The
[Petitioner] threatened to kill Crockett’s dog but allowed Crockett to take his
dog to a different room. Another intruder came into the house, ran toward
Justin’s bedroom, and then gunfire erupted from that area of the house.
Crockett ran toward the front of the house, the [Petitioner] shot at Crockett,
and the second intruder came running out of Justin’s bedroom. Crockett
fought with the second man and took his gun, which Crockett dropped on the
ground because it did not work. Crockett retrieved his own gun from his
room. The [Petitioner] and the other intruder, who were standing near the
back door, shot at Crockett, and Crockett shot back. The [Petitioner] then got
the other man out of the house, and both men ran out the back door. Crockett
tried to chase these men, and they both shot at Crockett.                    On
cross-examination, Crockett testified that the [Petitioner] shot at anyone who
was in the second intruder’s way. He acknowledged that the second intruder
was injured, and the [Petitioner] assisted the second intruder in escaping from
the house while Crockett was shooting at them.

        Arenthia Nicole Burkeen testified that on the night of the crime the
[Petitioner], who had a gun, came into her room and told her to give him her
cell phone. Burkeen later heard gun shots. After the gun shots had ceased
and she felt safe, she emerged from her room. Burkeen and Green went into
Justin’s room where they discovered that Justin had been injured, so Burkeen
called 9-1-1.

        Various police officers described their involvement with the
investigation of this crime. Officer Carlos Anderson testified that he arrived
at the crime scene and observed Justin Green who had been shot. Justin had
short and raspy breath, and Officer Anderson performed C.P.R. He saw blood
stains and bullet holes in the hallway area leading toward the back of the
house. Detective Joe Williams testified that he attended the victim’s autopsy
and obtained the bullet retrieved from Justin’s body. Sergeant Danny Orr
testified that he found three different weapons at the crime scene. Officer
Charles Lindville testified that he found shell casings outside the home where
the crime occurred. Michael L. Pyburn testified that he examined guns and
bullets that were retrieved from the crime scene.

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              Dr. Stacy Turner testified that she performed an autopsy on Justin’s
       body. She said he died from a gunshot wound to the chest, and she removed
       the bullet from his body. A toxicology report was performed, and no drugs
       or alcohol were found in the victim’s blood.

              Based upon this evidence the [Petitioner] was convicted of first degree
       felony murder.

Dickens, 2007 WL 1988024, at *1-2.

                                 B. Post-Conviction Hearing

        The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging the following
grounds against Counsel for ineffective assistance of counsel: (1) failing to seek a negotiated
settlement of the case with the State prior to trial; (2) only meeting with the Petitioner
approximately three times prior to trial without discussing settlement of the case; (3) failing
to present, at trial, “the agreed upon defense” that the Petitioner arrived at the location of the
murder solely to purchase marijuana; (4) failing to present evidence of drugs and scales
found at the scene to prove that the residents at the home sold drugs from that premises; (5)
failing to impeach the testimony of Christopher Crockett; (6) failing to subpoena witnesses
to testify “to facts of the case which were erroneously ignored by Counsel;” (7) failing to
“assert to the jury” that the Petitioner did not wear a mask during the offense, as stated by
Christopher Crockett in his trial testimony; (8) failing to present Christopher Crockett’s
criminal records at trial, in order to prove that he is “a known drug dealer with a lengthy
criminal record of drug possession with intent to sell;” (9) failing to explain to the jury that
the State’s witnesses fabricated testimony during the trial regarding the Petitioner’s “alleged
weapon and firing of that weapon inside of the residence;” (10) failing to hire a private
psychologist and a private psychiatrist to evaluate the Petitioner, in order to show that the
Petitioner was, at the time of trial, incompetent, which also prevented the Petitioner from
entering an insanity defense. Additionally, the Petitioner contends the State committed acts
of prosecutorial misconduct during the closing argument at trial. The post-conviction court
held an evidentiary hearing, wherein it heard the following evidence:

       The Petitioner testified that he had three co-defendants in the case but that he was
tried by himself. Regarding the first issue presented in his post-conviction petition, the
Petitioner testified that he asked his attorney (“Counsel”) “three or four days before trial” to
seek a settlement. He said, however, that Counsel never conveyed a plea bargain offer from
the State to him. He told his Counsel that he wanted his defense to be that he was at the
scene to purchase marijuana and knew nothing about a robbery. On the day of the trial,
Counsel told the Petitioner that the best defense would be that his robbery was different from

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his co-defendant’s robbery. The Petitioner testified that he did not want to mention that he
had anything to do with a robbery because he was charged with felony murder.

        To the Petitioner’s claim that Counsel introduced no physical evidence, the Petitioner
testified that gloves, drugs, scales, and bags were found in the trash can across the street from
the home where the crimes occurred. The Petitioner stated that Crockett admitted to
Detective Kelton that the drugs belonged to him. When asked at trial, however, Crockett
pled the fifth. The Petitioner claimed that his Counsel, during cross-examination, failed to
mention evidence that the drugs found on the scene belonged to Crockett. The Petitioner
further complained that Counsel was ineffective in questioning Crockett by not bringing up
his criminal record. He asserted that Crockett had drug possession offenses on his record,
which the Petitioner stated would have supported his defense that he was at the house to
purchase drugs. The Petitioner complained that his Counsel did not ask Crockett about his
previous convictions. Counsel only asked Crockett if the drugs found in the trash can across
from the home belonged to him, to which Crockett pled the Fifth. The Petitioner stated that
Counsel should have impeached Crockett’s testimony, and Counsel should have shown
Crockett’s criminal records to the jury.

        The Petitioner testified that his Counsel was ineffective for failing to subpoena certain
witnesses to testify in his defense. Specifically, he argued that Counsel should have
subpoenaed an anonymous neighbor who reported to the police that she saw someone run
across the street from the location of the shooting and place something into the garbage can.
The Petitioner stated that his Counsel could have hired a private investigator to locate the
anonymous neighbor witness. He also stated that Counsel should have subpoenaed Detective
Kelton to testify that Crockett admitted that the recovered drugs belonged to him. The
Petitioner claimed that, through these witnesses, Counsel could have supported the defense
that the Petitioner was at the home to purchase drugs and not to commit a robbery.

        The Petitioner testified that his Counsel should have allowed him to testify in his own
defense at trial. The Petitioner admitted, however, that he waived his right to testify. He
stated that he would have told the jury that he was at the home to purchase marijuana. He
said that he was told to wait in the livingroom. He testified that his “charge partner,” who
was also his cousin and co-defendant, entered the home because he knew Crockett and
wanted to purchase “a little dime sack or maybe a 20 sack.” The Petitioner said that, while
he waited outside the residence, he heard gunshots. Then, his co-defendant limped around
the corner of the house and said he had been shot. Due to his co-defendant’s injuries, the
Petitioner carried him to the car.

       The Petitioner stated that Crockett testified that his co-defendant wore a mask during

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the incident and that the Petitioner did not. The Petitioner testified that, had his Counsel
emphasized that the Petitioner was not wearing a mask during his questioning of Crockett
and during his closing argument to the jury, it would have shown that he was not there to rob
the residence.

        The Petitioner also complained that Counsel failed to assert to the jury in closing
argument that Crockett and other witnesses may have fabricated their stories. He felt that the
testimony of Mary Jane Crockett, Christopher Crockett’s mother, was inconsistent. First, she
testified that there was one volley of gunfire in the home and that there were no more
gunshots in the house. Later, she testified that the Petitioner was three feet from her, within
an arm’s reach, and the Petitioner had the barrel of the gun pointed at Christopher Crockett’s
chest. Christopher Crockett testified that the Petitioner began firing his weapon immediately
after gunfire erupted. The Petitioner opined that someone would have been hurt or killed if
that had been true. Therefore, the Petitioner concluded that those witnesses fabricated their
stories. He complained that Counsel failed to highlight those inconsistences to the jury
during his closing argument.

       The Petitioner contends that his Counsel was ineffective by not hiring a private
psychologist or psychiatrist to evaluate the Petitioner’s competency and ability to enter an
insanity defense. The Petitioner was represented by a different trial counsel before Counsel
and that trial counsel had the Petitioner evaluated in 2004. The Petitioner testified that he
had been a patient at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute “[m]any, many times” from
age nine through 2004. Up until the trial, the Petitioner had been taking a medication called
Haldol Decanoate. Although state doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists found him
competent to stand trial, the Petitioner thought that Counsel should have hired private doctors
to evaluate him because he may “have possibly been found incompetent to stand trial.”

        The Petitioner asserted claims of prosecutorial misconduct. He argued that the
prosecutor made improper statements during the closing argument, specifically that the
prosecutor “preyed on the jury as parents of small children and/or as a victim of crime.” The
Petitioner contended that the prosecutor “invoked fear” in the jurors by asking them to
imagine that someone came into their houses while their kids were inside. The Petitioner
stated that his Counsel did not object to that argument. The Petitioner further argued that it
was improper for the prosecutor to tell the jury, in the closing argument, that the Petitioner
was guilty of the charges. The Petitioner’s Counsel did not object to the statement during the
closing. As a result of his arguments, the Petitioner asked the trial court to overturn his
convictions and allow him a new trial.

       Counsel testified that he had practiced law for twenty-nine years, and, of those years,

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the last twenty were primarily in the area of criminal defense. Counsel had been appointed
to represent the Petitioner. Two other attorneys had represented the Petitioner on the same
charges before Counsel was appointed. Counsel stated that he did not recall if a formal plea
agreement had been made and did not recall that the Petitioner showed interest in one. He
recalled that he may have discussed a term of thirty-five years with the Petitioner, but the
State never extended him a formal offer of thirty-five years. Counsel described his
relationship with the Petitioner as “good.” The Petitioner participated in the trial by talking
to Counsel and giving suggestions during the trial. Counsel was aware that the Petitioner had
been evaluated by doctors, who concluded that he was competent and sane. Counsel did not
notice anything about the Petitioner that caused him concern or caused him to believe that
these results were flawed. He testified that had he noticed anything of concern about the
Petitioner’s mental stability, he would have had him reevaluated.

        Counsel testified that whether Crockett was a drug dealer was not an issue in the case
because the State conceded that Crockett was a drug dealer. Other than the Petitioner’s
testimony at the post-conviction hearing, Counsel was not aware of any evidence that the
Petitioner was at the home to purchase drugs and not to commit a robbery. The jury knew
that there were drugs and possibly a weapon in the trash can across the street from the home.
Counsel testified that the reason for the robbery of this particular home was, in part, because
Crockett was a drug dealer. Counsel stated that he had heard that information had leaked out
that Crockett had settled a lawsuit for some “cash money” or that cash was at the house as
a result of the lawsuit.

        Counsel testified that the Petitioner’s identity was not an issue, in part because the
Petitioner was close to seven feet tall. The witnesses identified the Petitioner in a
photographic lineup and gave police officers descriptions of the Petitioner. Counsel stated
that the trial proof did not support the theory that the Petitioner’s purpose for being at the
house was to purchase drugs instead of to commit a robbery. Counsel’s theory was that the
Petitioner did go to the house to “rip off,” or rob, the occupants of the house and,
unbeknownst to the Petitioner, another person, a co-defendant, came in the backdoor, got in
a gunfight with “this kid who . . . was involved [in] drug dealing.” Counsel testified that he
argued that the co-defendant’s actions were “separate and apart” from those of the Petitioner.

      Counsel testified that the Petitioner had not complained to him about not testifying.
Counsel stated that he advised the Petitioner not to testify, but the Petitioner also never told
Counsel that he wanted to testify. Counsel stated the Petitioner’s testimony would not have
changed the facts.

      Counsel testified that, contrary to the Petitioner’s claims, he met with the Petitioner
more than three or four times. He said that he met with the Petitioner several times, and

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accepted several collect phone calls from the Petitioner, discussing the case over the phone
as well as in person. Counsel felt adequately prepared for trial. He testified that the
discovery in the case was “voluminous,” and the State had an open file policy for discovery.
Counsel stated that he knew what the testimony would be during trial.

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

                                          II. Analysis

       On appeal, the Petitioner argues that the post-conviction court erred when it dismissed
his petition for post-conviction relief because he received the ineffective assistance of
counsel, and he further argues that the State made improper arguments during its closing,
amounting to prosecutorial misconduct. The State argues that the trial court properly
dismissed the petition.

        In order to obtain post-conviction relief, a petitioner must show that his or her
conviction or sentence is void or voidable because of the abridgment of a constitutional right.
T.C.A. § 40-30-103 (2006). The petitioner bears the burden of proving factual allegations
in the petition for post-conviction relief by clear and convincing evidence. T.C.A. § 40-30-
110(f) (2006). The post-conviction court’s findings of fact are conclusive on appeal unless
the evidence preponderates against it. Fields v. State, 40 S.W.3d 450, 456-57 (Tenn. 2001).
Upon review, this Court will not re-weigh or re-evaluate the evidence below; all questions
concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given their testimony and
the factual issues raised by the evidence are to be resolved by the trial judge, not the appellate
courts. Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152, 156 (Tenn. 1999); Henley v. State, 960 S.W.2d 572,
578-79 (Tenn. 1997). A post-conviction court’s conclusions of law, however, are subject to
a purely de novo review by this Court, with no presumption of correctness. Id. at 457.

                            A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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

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

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

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

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

       When evaluating an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the reviewing court
should judge the attorney’s performance within the context of the case as a whole, taking into
account all relevant circumstances. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; State v. Mitchell, 753
S.W.2d 148, 149 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). The reviewing court must evaluate the
questionable conduct from the attorney’s perspective at the time. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690;
Hellard v. State, 629 S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982). In doing so, the reviewing court must be
highly deferential and “should indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls
within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 462.
Finally, we note that a defendant in a criminal case is not entitled to perfect representation,
only constitutionally adequate representation. Denton v. State, 945 S.W.2d 793, 796 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1996). In other words, “in considering claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel, ‘we address not what is prudent or appropriate, but only what is constitutionally
compelled.’” Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 794 (1987) (quoting United States v. Cronic,
466 U.S. 648, 665 n.38 (1984)). Counsel should not be deemed to have been ineffective
merely because a different procedure or strategy might have produced a different result.
Williams v. State, 599 S.W.2d 276, 279-80 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980). “The fact that a
particular strategy or tactic failed or hurt the defense does not, standing alone, establish
unreasonable representation. However, deference to matters of strategy and tactical choices
applies only if the choices are informed ones based upon adequate preparation.” House, 44
S.W.3d at 515 (quoting Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 369 (Tenn. 1996)).

       If the petitioner shows that counsel’s representation fell below a reasonable standard,
then the petitioner must satisfy the prejudice prong of the Strickland test by demonstrating

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

        In the matter at hand, the post-conviction court examined the credibility and weight
of the witnesses’ testimony, considering the Petitioner’s admitted involvement in illegal
activities and his criminal record. As a result, the post-conviction court determined
Counsel’s testimony to be more credible. We find that the post-conviction court properly
weighed and valued the witnesses’ testimony, and we will not reevaluate that evidence. See
Momon, 18 S.W.3d at 156 (Tenn. 1999); Henley, 960 S.W.2d at 578-79 (Tenn. 1997).
Further, the record shows that Counsel met with the Petitioner on several occasions,
consulted with the Petitioner regarding trial defenses, provided evidence at trial to support
the Petitioner’s defense, did not hide facts from the jury, properly handled the questioning
of the State’s witnesses, and sufficiently evaluated the Petitioner’s mental status. Thus, we
conclude that the Petitioner failed to show that Counsel’s services fell outside the range of
competence normally required of attorneys in criminal trials. See Baxter, 523 S.W.2d at 936.
Having failed to show the first prong of the Strickland standard, the Petitioner has not met
his burden of showing that he is entitled to post-conviction relief based upon Counsel’s
performance. Id. He is not entitled to relief on this issue.

       Additionally, several of the Petitioner’s complaints focus on trial strategy and tactical
decisions made by his Counsel, including the following: impeachment of Crockett, not
producing Crockett’s criminal records, emphasizing that the Petitioner wore no mask, and
the content of Counsel’s closing argument. “[S]trategic choices made after thorough
investigation of law and facts relevant to plausible options are virtually unchallengeable.”
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690. Counsel testified that he felt adequately prepared for trial, he
had a voluminous discovery file, and prosecutors had an open file discovery policy in the
case. As evident through Counsel’s testimony, he knew the facts of his case, he understood
the State’s position, and he made tactical decisions based on that knowledge. Because it is
well established that “[t]he fact that a particular strategy or tactic failed or hurt the defense
does not, standing alone, establish unreasonable representation[,]” we do not find that
Counsel was ineffective. House, 44 S.W.3d at 515 (quoting Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363,
369 (Tenn. 1996)). The Petitioner, therefore, is not entitled to relief on this issue.

                               B. Prosecutorial Misconduct

      The Petitioner alleges that the prosecutor committed misconduct in his closing
argument at trial. No claim, however, of prosecutorial misconduct was raised on direct

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appeal. Therefore, this issue is waived. See T.C.A. § 40-30-106(g) (2006) (providing that
claims are waived if they could have been, but were not, presented in an earlier proceeding);
see also Tony A. Phipps v. State, No. E2008-01784-CCA-R3-PC, 2010 WL 3947496, at *14
(Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Oct. 11, 2010), no Tenn. R. App. P. 11 application filed
(holding that the petitioner waived the issue because no claim of prosecutorial misconduct
was raised on direct appeal).

                                      III. Conclusion

        After a thorough review of the record and the applicable law, we conclude the
post-conviction court properly dismissed the Petitioner’s petition for post-conviction relief.
The evidence does not preponderate against the post-conviction court’s findings. Counsel
personally met with the Petitioner, in addition to accepting several collect phone calls and
speaking with him over the telephone, and presented evidence at trial to support the defense
that the Petitioner intended to rob Crockett independently of another robbery that took place
at the same time. In accordance with the foregoing reasoning and authorities, we affirm the
judgment of post-conviction court.

                                                    ________________________________
                                                     ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE

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