Court Opinion

ID: 2644625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-12-03 01:04:57.972856+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:57.127826
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Irvin V. Cowgill,                                                                   FILED
Petitioner Below, Petitioner                                                      December 2, 2013
                                                                               RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
vs) No. 13-0636 (Hampshire County 12-C-16)                                       OF WEST VIRGINIA

Patrick A. Mirandy, Warden,
St. Mary’s Correctional Center,
Respondent Below, Respondent

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION
       Petitioner Irvin V. Cowgill, by counsel Jonathan G. Brill, appeals the order of the Circuit
Court of Hampshire County, entered February 15, 2013, denying his amended petition for writ of
habeas corpus. Respondent Warden Patrick A. Mirandy appears by counsel Christopher S.
Doddrill.

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

       With respect to the denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, this Court has held:

               “In reviewing challenges to the findings and conclusions of the circuit
       court in a habeas corpus action, we apply a three-prong standard of review. We
       review the final order and the ultimate disposition under an abuse of discretion
       standard; the underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard; and
       questions of law are subject to a de novo review.” Syl. pt. 1, Mathena v. Haines,
       219 W.Va. 417, 633 S.E.2d 771 (2006).

Syl. Pt. 1, State ex rel. Thompson v. Ballard, 229 W.Va. 263, 728 S.E.2d 147 (2012).

         Petitioner, pro se, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus with this Court on August 24,
2011, seeking review of his 2002 conviction of murder in the second degree. By order entered
February 14, 2012, the Court directed the Circuit Court of Hampshire County to appoint counsel
to file a petition on two issues: petitioner’s assertion that the State failed to disclose evidence of
the murder victim’s criminal history, and petitioner’s assertion that the murder victim was an
illegal immigrant. The circuit court appointed an attorney who filed an amended petition
addressing the first issue; petitioner conceded the second issue because counsel discovered

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evidence to the contrary.

       In its order denying the petition for writ of habeas corpus, the lower court made this
finding of fact1:

                [I]n this case, [p]etitioner’s issue is with regard to the disclosure of
       information regarding specific acts of violence against third parties by the victim,
       allegedly contained within the victim’s criminal history record. The [c]ourt finds
       that the prosecuting attorney faxed the victim’s criminal history to [p]etitioner’s
       trial counsel. The [c]ourt finds that Exhibits A and B, attached to the Response to
       Amended Petition, clearly show that the criminal history was disclosed to
       [p]etitioner’s trial counsel on August 15, 2002. Therefore, the [c]ourt concludes
       that [p]etitioner is not entitled to any relief on this ground.

The court then “conclude[d] that an evidentiary hearing is not required for the [c]ourt to make
these findings and conclusions inasmuch as all of the grounds alleged can readily be determined
by reference to the record.”

        On appeal, petitioner presents a single assignment of error: that the circuit court failed to
conduct an evidentiary hearing to address this issue. We have held that “[a] court having
jurisdiction over habeas corpus proceedings may deny a petition for a writ of habeas corpus
without a hearing . . . if the petition, exhibits, affidavits or other documentary evidence filed
therewith show to such court’s satisfaction that the petitioner is entitled to no relief.” Syl. Pt. 1,
Perdue v. Coiner, 156 W.Va. 467, 194 S.E.2d 657 (1973).

        Petitioner does not assert that the circuit court incorrectly found that the State disclosed
the victim’s criminal history, only that the court made its finding based solely on the State’s
contention. In making this finding, however, the circuit court had before it copies of the faxed
documents, together with the appropriate cover sheet, noting the completion of the transmission.
We find that this was a satisfactory basis for the circuit court’s denying the petition without
conducting a hearing, and petitioner has demonstrated no entitlement to relief.

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

                                                                                              Affirmed.

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           In light of this specific factual finding, we find no merit in petitioner’s argument that

       the [c]ourt’s order denying [p]etitioner’s relief requested fails to set forth specific
       findings of fact and conclusions of law as to why a hearing was not held. The
       lower court, as set forth in its order, makes a conclusive statement that ‘all of the
       grounds alleged can readily be determined by reference to the [criminal] record. . .
       .
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ISSUED: December 2, 2013

CONCURRED IN BY:

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

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