Court Opinion

ID: 1079523
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:33:14.813571+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:36:07.448073
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                           AT JACKSON

               KEVIN WASHINGTON v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

                               Circuit Court for Madison County
                                         No. C-00-145

                   No. W2000-02736-CCA-R3-PC - Filed February 1, 2002

                                             ORDER

       The Appellant, Kevin Washington, appeals from the dismissal of his petition for post-
conviction relief by the Madison County Circuit Court. On appeal, the Appellant contends that trial
counsel never informed him that his “packaged” plea agreement included a plea of guilty to Class
C theft of property and, therefore, his plea was involuntarily entered. We find this contention
without merit. The judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed pursuant to Rule 20 of the
Rules of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

        Under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement, the Appellant pled guilty to one count of
theft of property over $10,000, twenty-eight counts of Class E forgery, and twenty-four counts of
Class D forgery. The Appellant, a Range II multiple offender, was sentenced to eight years for theft
of property, six years for each Class D forgery count, and four years for each Class E forgery count.
The trial court ordered the theft conviction to run consecutive to one count of Class E forgery and
all other counts to run concurrent, for an effective twelve-year sentence. On May 4, 2000, the
Appellant filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which was amended on August 10, 2000,
following appointment of counsel.

        A hearing was held on September 12, 2000, at which time the Appellant and Appellant’s trial
counsel were called as witnesses. The Appellant acknowledged that he was aware of the 1997
indictment for theft which charged him with exercising control over a 1993 Lexus vehicle, stolen
from California and valued at over $10,000. The Appellant also admitted that he was in possession
of the stolen vehicle in Madison County. He argues, however, that he was not aware that his plea
agreement included this offense. The Appellant recalls at the guilty plea hearing the Assistant
District Attorney advising the court that the plea agreement included the offense of theft of the
Lexus; he also recalls signing a plea agreement which included the offense of theft of property over
$10,000; and finally, he recalls the trial judge pronouncing him guilty of theft. In response, the
Appellant now states that “he wasn’t in [his] right state of mind,” and that he was “shocked” and
“afraid.” Appellant’s trial counsel testified that he “took great care to make sure that [Appellant]
fully understood” the plea agreement, and that the Appellant had no “objections about the theft”
charge.
       In denying the Appellant’s petition, the post-conviction court found:
       [Trial counsel] testified that Petitioner requested that counsel negotiate a plea bargain
       agreement that would “take care of” all of Petitioner’s pending cases. [Trial counsel]
       further testified that he thoroughly explained the 12 year sentence @ thirty-five
       percent to serve in the Department of Corrections to Petitioner. Moreover, [trial
       counsel] further testified that it is his practice to thoroughly go over a plea bargain
       agreement with his clients and to explain all the rights that his clients are waiving
       with respect to a guilty plea.

        In order to succeed on a post-conviction claim, the Appellant bears the burden of showing
by clear and convincing evidence, the allegations set forth in his petition. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-
210(f) (1997). The Appellant argues that his guilty plea was not voluntary, knowing, and intelligent.
The established test for determining the validity of the guilty plea is “whether the plea represents a
voluntary and intelligent choice among the alternative courses of action open to the defendant.” Hill
v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56, 106 S. Ct. 366, 369 (citing North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 31,
91 S. Ct. 160, 164 (1970)). The Appellant also argues that trial counsel’s ineffectiveness led to his
involuntary plea. To succeed in a challenge for ineffective assistance of counsel, the Appellant must
establish (1) deficient representation and (2) prejudice resulting from the deficiency. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984).

       The Appellant has not proved the allegations set forth in his petition by clear and convincing
evidence. Moreover, the record does not preponderate against the post-conviction court’s finding
with regard to the merit of those allegations.

         The judgment of the Madison County Circuit Court is affirmed pursuant to Rule 20,
Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. It appearing that the Appellant is indigent, costs of this
appeal will be paid by the State of Tennessee.

                                               ___________________________________________
                                               DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE

                                               _____________________________________________
                                               GARY R. WADE, PRESIDING JUDGE

                                               ___________________________________________
                                               DAVID H. WELLES, JUDGE

                                                 -2-