Court Opinion

ID: 860217
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-26 22:44:01.139064+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:06:53.591706
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
                                 NO. 96-CA-01011-SCT
HENRY LAWRENCE, JR.
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND MAY NOT BE CITED,
                        PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-A
DATE OF JUDGMENT:                             8/7/96
TRIAL JUDGE:                                  HON. BETTY W. SANDERS
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                    LEFLORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                       SOLOMON C. OSBORNE
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                        OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                              BY: W. GLENN WATTS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                            FRANK CARLTON
NATURE OF THE CASE:                           CIVIL - POST CONVICTION RELIEF
DISPOSITION:                                  AFFIRMED - 12/18/97
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:                               2/12/98

     BEFORE SULLIVAN, P.J., SMITH AND MILLS, JJ.

     MILLS, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

                                 STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On April 18, 1996, the defendant, Henry Lawrence, pled guilty to the charge of selling cocaine and
was sentenced to eight years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. On May 14, 1996,
Lawrence made a Motion to Withdraw his Guilty Plea. The Circuit Court of Leflore County denied
the motion on August 7, 1996. Aggrieved, Lawrence appeals to this Court, assigning as error the
following issues:

     I. WHETHER LAWRENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT AS A
     CONVICTED FELON HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO PROBATION OR SUSPENDED
     SENTENCE.
     II. WHETHER THE COURT SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED LAWRENCE
     REGARDING THE VERSION OF THE FACTS CONTAINED IN HIS PLEA
     PETITION.

     III. WHETHER THE DEFENDANT RECEIVED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
     COUNSEL.

                                               FACTS

On August 7, 1995, Henry Lawrence was arrested on the 300th block of Palace Street in Greenwood,
Mississippi for selling narcotics to an undercover police officer. This was in violation of Mississippi
Code Annotated § 41-29-139, which prohibits the sale of specified controlled substances. The 300th
block of Palace Street is within 1500 feet of the Wesley United Methodist Church. Section 41-29-
142 of the Mississippi Code Annotated is an enhancing statute which provides that any person who
violates § 41-29-139 within 1500 feet of a church will be subject to twice the punishment authorized
in § 41-29-139.

On April 18, 1996, Lawrence pled guilty to selling cocaine in violation of § 41-29-139. Even though
Lawrence entered a guilty plea, he denies that he was selling cocaine. He contends that the substance
he sold the undercover police officer was a "dummy" drug and claims that he was selling "dummy"
drugs in order to support his own drug habit. The Mississippi Crime Laboratory analyzed the
substance and determined that it was in fact cocaine.

Prior to the sentencing hearing, Lawrence's attorney, Leland Jones, entered a list of mitigating factors
for the trial judge to consider when sentencing Lawrence. There is no plea bargaining in Leflore
County, but after considering these factors, the assistant district attorney decided not to pursue the
enhanced penalty provided for in § 41-29-142. These mitigating circumstances included the facts
that: Lawrence was a high school graduate with one year of college; Lawrence had completed
vocational training as a professional truck driver; he had been gainfully employed since the incident,
earning $320.00 a week, which he used to help support his three children and invalid mother; and at
the time of the offense Lawrence's father had recently passed away, causing him much grief.

In addition to the mitigating circumstances, the judge took into consideration the fact that Lawrence
was already a convicted felon. Approximately two years prior to his current offense, he had been
convicted of receiving stolen property and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation. After
reviewing these circumstances and facts, the judge sentenced Lawrence to eight years in the custody
of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with drug and alcohol rehabilitation as determined
necessary by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, attorney's fees, and a fine of $5,000.

On May 14, 1996, Lawrence entered a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, asserting that his guilty
plea was induced because he mistakenly believed that he was eligible for a suspended sentence or
probation. A hearing was held on this motion on July 16, 1996. At this hearing the judge determined
that Lawrence fully understood all of his rights and that his guilty plea was freely and voluntarily
given. The judge denied the motion, stating that Lawrence had failed to establish good cause.

                                            DISCUSSION
     I. WHETHER LAWRENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT AS A
     CONVICTED FELON HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO PROBATION OR A
     SUSPENDED SENTENCE.

Section 47-7-33 (1993) of the Mississippi Code Annotated prohibits suspension of a sentence or
probation to a defendant with a prior felony conviction. Thus, as a convicted felon, Lawrence was
ineligible for a suspended sentence or probation when he pled guilty to selling cocaine. Lawrence
argues that he was unaware of this prohibition. He testifies that he would not have changed his plea
from not guilty to guilty if he had been advised that he was facing a mandatory period of
incarceration. Lawrence relies on the case of Robinson v. State, 585 So. 2d 757 (Miss. 1991). In
Robinson, this Court held that the defendant could withdraw his guilty plea because the state induced
his guilty plea by promising to recommend a suspended sentence. Robinson, 585 So. 2d at 758-59.
The case sub judice is distinguishable from Robinson. In that case, the defendant was in a jurisdiction
that allowed plea bargaining, and Robinson was induced to plead guilty in reliance on a plea bargain.
Robinson, 585 So. 2d at 758. In the present case Lawrence was sentenced in a jurisdiction that does
not allow plea bargaining and the record does not reflect that Lawrence was in any way induced to
plead guilty. To the contrary, his attorney, Leland Jones, testified that he never told Lawrence he
would receive a suspended sentence and that Lawrence pled guilty on his own initiative.
Furthermore, when the judge asked if Lawrence had been promised parole or any form of early
release to plead guilty, he replied that he had not.

Lawrence concedes that he was informed of the maximum and minimum sentences that he could
receive. However, he asserts that the court should have informed him that he was not eligible for a
suspended sentence. He claims that the court's failure to do so results in his plea being unknowingly
and involuntarily made. While Lawrence claims that he believed he would receive a suspended
sentence, the record does not support his claim. Lawrence replied affirmatively when the judge asked
him if he understood that in Mississippi after a certain number of felony convictions a defendant must
serve the maximum sentence for the crime of which he is convicted without parole. This indicates
that Lawrence knew that with each felony committed the consequences become more severe. The
judge also informed him that parole was a right and that he should not plead guilty with the idea that
he would be released from prison at any time prior to the completion of the full sentence imposed on
him. The judge was very thorough in determining that Lawrence's plea was voluntary and that he
knew of the minimum and maximum penalties. Lawrence is not entitled to relief based on this issue.

     II. WHETHER THE COURT SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED LAWRENCE
     REGARDING THE VERSION OF THE FACTS CONTAINED IN HIS PLEA
     PETITION.

Lawrence also contends that the judge should have questioned him about the fact that he stated in his
guilty plea petition that he was selling "dummy" drugs. He claims that his attorney told him the
sentence for selling counterfeit drugs was the same as the sentence for selling real drugs. There is
nothing in the record to support this contention. Lawrence asserts that the judge should have told
him the sentences for selling counterfeit drugs differed from the sentence for selling real drugs. He
claims that if he had been aware that the sentences were different, he never would have pled guilty.
Lawrence contends that when the judge failed to inform him of the different sentences he breached
his duty under Rule 8.04(4)(b) of the Uniform Circuit and County Court Rules. Rule 8.04(4)(b) only
requires that the judge insure that the defendant "understands the nature and consequences of the
plea, and the maximum and minimum penalties provided by law." URCCC 8.04 (4)(b).

In the case sub judice, the trial judge did inform Lawrence of the minimum and maximum penalties of
pleading guilty to the sale of a schedule 3 controlled substance. Regardless of the fact that Lawrence
wrote in the plea that he was selling a"dummy," he did plead guilty to selling a schedule 3 controlled
substance. Furthermore, the Mississippi Crime Lab tested the substance and found that it was in fact
cocaine, a schedule 3 controlled substance. Thus, we find that the judge did comply with Rule
8.04(4)(b) and that Lawrence's claim is without merit.

     II. WHETHER THE DEFENDANT RECEIVED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
     COUNSEL.

The test for ineffective assistance of counsel was set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668 (1984). This Court adopted the Strickland test in Gilliard v. State, 462 So. 2d 710, 714 (Miss.
1985). The Strickland test consists of two parts: (1) whether or not counsel's overall performance
was deficient; and (2) whether or not the deficient performance, if any, prejudiced the defense. The
defendant has the burden of proving both prongs of this test. Edwards v. State, 615 So. 2d 590, 596
(Miss. 1993).

Lawrence alleges that the assistance he received from counsel was defective in two ways. First, he
claims that his attorney erred in not advising him he was ineligible for a suspended or probationary
sentence. The record does not support this contention. However, even if there was evidence that
Jones failed to advise Lawrence that he was not eligible for a suspended sentence this would still not
constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. There is a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls
within a reasonable range of professional assistance. Cole v. State, 666 So. 2d 767, 775 (Miss. 1995).
Jones did advise Lawrence of the minimum and maximum sentences for the crime. He even
highlighted the part of the statute regarding the penalty. This Court has held that an attorney must
make a "firm representation" to a defendant that the defendant detrimentally relied upon before this
Court will grant the petitioner relief. Sanders v. State, 440 So. 2d 278, 287 (Miss. 1983). Lawrence
fails to meet this standard. Not only is there no evidence that Jones made any firm representations,
but Jones testifies that he never in any way indicated to Lawrence that he would receive a suspended
sentence by pleading guilty. We believe Jones is telling the truth.

Lawrence also claims that his attorney failed to advise him that selling counterfeit drugs was a
misdemeanor. He testifies that his attorney told him that the sale of counterfeit drugs carried the same
punishment as the sale of real drugs. This contention is not supported by the record.

This Court has held that when the defendant alleges ineffective assistance of counsel in a motion for
post conviction relief, it must be alleged with specificity and detail. Brooks v. State, 573 So. 2d 1350,
1354 (Miss. 1990). The Brooks Court went on to hold that when a petitioner's affidavits are the only
support submitted to prove facts alleged in a motion for post conviction relief, post conviction relief
will not be granted. Brooks, 573 So. 2d at 1354. In the present case, Lawrence offers no proof other
than his own testimony that Jones failed to tell him he was ineligible for a suspended sentence or that
Jones told him the sentence for selling "dummy" drugs was the same as the sentence for selling real
drugs. For this reason, both of Lawrence's contentions are without merit.
                                         CONCLUSION

This Court finds no merit among Lawrence's assignments of error, and would therefore affirm the
lower court's denial of Lawrence's Motion to Withdraw his guilty plea.

LOWER COURT'S DENIAL OF POST CONVICTION RELIEF AFFIRMED.

PRATHER AND SULLIVAN, P.JJ., PITTMAN, BANKS, McRAE, ROBERTS AND SMITH,
JJ., CONCUR. LEE, C.J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.