Court Opinion

ID: 2721082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-26 22:04:25.232136+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:27.526093
License: Public Domain

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                                                             New Mexico Compilation
                                                           Commission, Santa Fe, NM
                                                          '00'04- 09:09:17 2014.08.19

Certiorari Denied, July 31, 2014, No. 34,741

       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Opinion Number: 2014-NMCA-081

Filing Date: May 20, 2014

Docket Nos. 32,654 & 32,777 (Consolidated)

STATE OF NEW MEXICO,

       Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross Appellee

v.

MACARTHUR CORDOVA,

       Defendant-Appellee/Cross Appellant.

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY
Michael E. Martinez, District Judge

Gary K. King, Attorney General
Santa Fe, NM
Sri Mullis, Assistant Attorney General
Albuquerque, NM

for Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross Appellee

Jorge A. Alvarado, Chief Public Defender
Will O’Connell, Assistant Appellate Defender
Santa Fe, New Mexico

for Defendant-Appellee/Cross Appellant

                                         OPINION

HANISEE, Judge.

{1}     Defendant Macarthur Cordova appeals from the district court’s order revoking his
probation and sentencing him to the Department of Corrections for violating the terms of his
probation. Defendant asserts that the record supports a prima facie case of ineffective
assistance of counsel and asks this Court to remand the case to the district court for an

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evidentiary hearing. Alternatively, Defendant argues, pursuant to Lafler v. Cooper, __ U.S.
__, 132 S. Ct. 1376 (2012), the district court erred in failing to require the State to reoffer
a plea that he previously rejected due to the ineffectiveness of his counsel. We conclude that
the record is insufficient to establish a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of counsel
on direct appeal. We therefore affirm the district court and reject Defendant’s request to
remand for an evidentiary hearing.

BACKGROUND

{2}     In June 2011 Defendant entered into a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to
(1) attempt to commit aggravated battery, (2) felon in possession of a firearm or destructive
device, and (3) tampering with evidence. Defendant was sentenced as a habitual offender
with one prior felony conviction, and his sentence was enhanced by one year of mandatory
incarceration. The district court sentenced Defendant to four-and-one-half years, to be served
consecutively, plus the one-year enhancement. All but one year of the sentence was
suspended. With presentence confinement credit, Defendant served no additional jail time
and was placed on supervised probation for two years.

{3}     In September 2012 the State moved to revoke Defendant’s probation after he
allegedly violated terms of his probation; a probation violation hearing was set before Judge
Angela Jewell on October 17, 2012. On October 15, 2012, the New Mexico Public Defender
Department, through Shoshanah Epstein, entered its appearance on behalf of Defendant. On
the day of the hearing, Epstein met with Defendant for the first time in court and informed
him that the State was offering him a seven-year sentence to resolve the case. After a brief
conversation just prior to the time when the district court went on record, Defendant shook
his head, indicating that he did not want to accept the State’s offer. At the hearing, Epstein
requested that the hearing be reset before Judge Michael Martinez, who had presided over
a prior violation hearing regarding conditions of Defendant’s probation earlier in the year.
Judge Jewell agreed to set the hearing for the following day before Judge Martinez.

{4}     At the October 18, 2012 hearing, Judge Martinez found that Defendant violated the
terms of his probation. Specifically, the district court found that Defendant failed to report
to his probation officer, failed to provide documentation that he received morphine while
hospitalized, and continuously missed counseling appointments. At Defendant’s sentencing
hearing on November 29, 2012, Epstein asserted that she was ineffective in failing to
properly advise Defendant about the seven-year plea that the prosecution had offered and
in proceeding to the violation hearing only twenty-four hours after meeting her client. Due
to her alleged deficient performance, Epstein argued that pursuant to Lafler, __ U.S. __, 132
S. Ct. 1376, the district court should order the State to reinstate the seven-year sentence that
it had offered on October 17, 2012.

{5}     The district court initially found that Epstein was ineffective and granted Defendant
a new probation revocation hearing. However, after a discussion with counsel in chambers,
the district court stated, “I’m going to retract my ruling. I’m not going to order a new

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[probation violation] hearing.” Instead, the court reiterated its finding that there was
ineffective assistance of counsel but set a hearing on the issue of prejudice for the following
week. However, after additional discussion, the court stated, “I don’t think I’m in a position
now to find ineffective assistance of counsel.” The district court then sentenced Defendant
to nineteen years. Defendant appeals.

DISCUSSION

1.      Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

{6}      The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, applicable to the states
through the Fourteenth Amendment, guarantees defendants in criminal proceedings the right
to effective assistance of counsel. Patterson v. LeMaster, 2001-NMSC-013, ¶ 16, 130 N.M.
179, 21 P.3d 1032. This Court has held that the right to effective assistance of counsel
extends to probation revocation hearings. State v. Leon, 2013-NMCA-011, ¶ 12, 292 P.3d
493, cert. quashed, 2013-NMCERT-010, 313 P.3d 251. On appeal, Defendant asserts that
counsel was ineffective in (1) failing to speak to his probation officer or drug counselor and
(2) failing to investigate or even be aware of his claim that he had been hospitalized, which
was the reason for his failure to report to his probation officer. We review claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. Duncan v. Kerby, 1993-NMSC-011, ¶ 7, 115 N.M.
344, 851 P.2d 466.

{7}      Our Supreme Court has expressed a preference that ineffective assistance of counsel
claims be adjudicated in habeas corpus proceedings, rather than on direct appeal. Id. ¶ 4;
State v. Grogan, 2007-NMSC-039, ¶ 9, 142 N.M. 107, 163 P.3d 494; State v. Hunter, 2006-
NMSC-043, ¶ 30, 140 N.M. 406, 143 P.3d 168. Therefore, this Court will only remand a
case for an evidentiary hearing if the record on appeal supports a prima facie case of
ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Dylan J., 2009-NMCA-027, ¶ 42, 145 N.M. 719,
204 P.3d 44. “This preference stems from a concern that the record before the [district] court
may not adequately document the sort of evidence essential to a determination of trial
counsel’s effectiveness.” State v. Schoonmaker, 2008-NMSC-010, ¶ 31, 143 N.M. 373, 176
P.3d 1105 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Therefore, when a defendant
presents a prima facie case on appeal, “[r]emanding for a hearing is usually necessary
because the claim of ineffective assistance is brought on appeal, and thus, the trial court did
not have the chance to rule on the issue.” Grogan, 2007-NMSC-039, ¶ 18.

{8}      In this case, the claim was raised in the district court, and the court made findings on
the issue. Nonetheless, we conclude that the record does not contain all the facts necessary
for a full determination of the issue. See State v. Paredez, 2004-NMSC-036, ¶ 22, 136 N.M.
533, 101 P.3d 799 (“[W]e have held when the record does not contain all the facts necessary
for a full determination of the issue, an ineffective assistance of counsel claim is more
properly brought through a habeas corpus petition[.]” (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted)). Additionally, for the reasons that follow, we conclude that Defendant has failed
to present a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of counsel.

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{9}       A prima facie case of ineffective assistance of counsel requires that a defendant
establish that: “(1) counsel’s performance fell below that of a reasonably competent attorney;
(2) no plausible, rational strategy or tactic explains counsel’s conduct; and (3) counsel’s
apparent failings were prejudicial to the defense.” State v. Bahney, 2012-NMCA-039, ¶ 48,
274 P.3d 134; accord State v. Bernal, 2006-NMSC-050, ¶ 32, 140 N.M. 644, 146 P.3d 289
(“For a successful ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must first demonstrate
error on the part of counsel, and then show that the error resulted in prejudice.”). Defendant
asserts that counsel failed to investigate “and perhaps was unaware of” his claim that he
failed to report to his probation officer because he had been hospitalized. Defendant also
claims that counsel’s failure to speak with his probation officer or his substance-abuse
counselor prevented counsel from rebutting testimony that he failed to comply with the
requirement that he go to substance-abuse counseling. Assuming that this Court would have
decided the first two prongs of a prima facie case in Defendant’s favor, his arguments would
still fail because he cannot demonstrate that counsel’s performance was prejudicial to his
defense under the third prong. See State v. Allen, 2014-NMCA-047, ¶ 19, ___ P.3d ___ (No.
32,066, Dec. 16, 2013) (“[E]ven if [the d]efendant were able to demonstrate that [the] trial
counsel’s conduct was deficient . . . [the d]efendant has failed to establish that any of the
claimed actions or inactions prejudiced [the defense].”).

              With respect to the showing that counsel’s deficient performance
       prejudiced the defense, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable
       probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
       proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a
       probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.”

Lytle v. Jordan, 2001-NMSC-016, ¶ 27, 130 N.M. 198, 22 P.3d 666 (alteration in original)
(quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984).

{10} While counsel raised her alleged ineffectiveness at the sentencing hearing, she did
not specifically address the two instances of conduct that are being raised on appeal. At the
sentencing hearing, Epstein argued that she was ineffective, in part, because she “fail[ed] to
investigate.” She also stated, “I was not aware of the specific claims that were being made.
I did not have the opportunity to interview . . . the individuals who were making the
allegations.” She made similar statements regarding her alleged ineffectiveness multiple
times during the hearing. The record of counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness consists of
counsel’s arguments at Defendant’s sentencing hearing. However, the “[a]rgument of
counsel is not evidence.” Wall v. Pate, 1986-NMSC-014, ¶ 5, 104 N.M. 1, 715 P.2d 449,
overruled on other grounds by Sunnyland Farms, Inc. v. Cent. N.M. Elec. Co-op., Inc., 2013-
NMSC-017, 301 P.3d 387; see State v. Spearman, 2012-NMSC-023, ¶ 39, 283 P.3d 272
(explaining that the “[a]llegations of counsel are not generally considered evidence” in
rejecting counsel’s claim of prejudice). A general claim of failure to investigate is not
sufficient to establish a prima facie case if there is no evidence in the record indicating what
information would have been discovered. The only evidence, other than Defendant’s
testimony, in the record that Defendant was in the hospital and had been given morphine was

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one page of a five-page document, about which the district court expressed reservation due
to its incomplete nature. Without additional, specific evidence as to the basis of Defendant’s
defense, we cannot say that but for counsel’s performance, there is a reasonable probability
that the outcome would have been different. In other words, there has been no prima facie
showing of prejudice to Defendant.

{11} The same is true of Defendant’s second claim of ineffectiveness. There is no
evidence in the record indicating what additional information Defendant’s probation officer
or his counselor would have provided that would have, with a reasonable probability,
changed the outcome of the proceedings. See State v. Dartez, 1998-NMCA-009, ¶ 27, 124
N.M. 455, 952 P.2d 450 (holding that counsel’s failure to interview the witness was not
prejudicial, for purposes of a claim of ineffective assistance, in the absence of any indication
that the witness’s testimony would have benefitted the defendant). We do not know what
Defendant’s probation officer or his counselor would have said or whether it would have
benefitted Defendant because they did not testify. Accordingly, we conclude that Defendant
has failed to establish a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of counsel with respect to
these two claims.

II.    Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Resulting in Rejection of Plea

{12} In addition to the ineffective assistance of counsel claims addressed above,
Defendant raises a claim pursuant to Lafler, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 1376. This raises an
issue of first impression in New Mexico, as there is no New Mexico case law addressing
Lafler or its companion case, Missouri v. Frye, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 1399 (2012). In both
cases, the defendant sought “a remedy [after] inadequate assistance of counsel caused
nonacceptance of a plea offer and further proceedings led to a less favorable outcome.”
Lafler, ___ U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 1382-83; accord Frye, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. at
1404-05. The United States Supreme Court addressed how to apply the prejudice prong of
the Strickland test when “ineffective advice led not to an offer’s acceptance but to its
rejection.” Lafler, ___ U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 1384-85.

       In these circumstances a defendant must show that but for the ineffective
       advice of counsel there is a reasonable probability that the plea offer would
       have been presented to the court (i.e., that the defendant would have accepted
       the plea and the prosecution would not have withdrawn it in light of
       intervening circumstances), that the court would have accepted its terms, and
       that the conviction or sentence, or both, under the offer’s terms would have
       been less severe than under the judgment and sentence that in fact were
       imposed.

Id. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 1385. With respect to potential remedies, the Court explained that
in some cases, “the proper exercise of discretion to remedy the constitutional injury may be
to require the prosecution to reoffer the plea proposal.” Id. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 1389.

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{13} Defendant argues that he is entitled to an order directing the State to reoffer the
seven-year plea. He asserts that he rejected the plea as a result of his attorney’s failure to
adequately explain the plea and discuss his case with him. Although the standard to be
applied in this context is different, it is nevertheless an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim. Therefore, we see no reason to treat this case any differently than any other alleging
ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal. In other words, the preference, discussed earlier,
that these claims be adjudicated in habeas proceedings rather than on appeal still applies. See
Hunter, 2006-NMSC-043, ¶ 30. Resolution of this type of claim will require an adequate
record just like any other ineffective assistance of counsel claim. See id.; Schoonmaker,
2008-NMSC-010, ¶ 31. Accordingly, we will remand to the district court for an evidentiary
hearing only if the defendant has presented a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of
counsel. Dylan J., 2009-NMCA-027, ¶ 42. According to the Strickland test, the nature of this
case requires that Defendant establish that counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness and resulted in prejudice. See Lafler, ___ U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct.
at 1384-85; Bernal, 2006-NMSC-050, ¶ 32.

{14} Defendant’s counsel raised her alleged ineffectiveness pursuant to Lafler in the
district court. In fact, she filed a motion to enforce the State’s original plea offer pursuant
to Lafler. Although the court heard argument on counsel’s motion, no evidentiary hearing
was held on the issue. As we explained with regard to the two other claims, the argument of
counsel is not evidence. Wall, 1986-NMSC-014, ¶ 5.

{15} In rare cases, our Supreme Court has been willing to reach the merits of ineffective
assistance of counsel claims without the benefit of an evidentiary hearing. In Grogan, for
example, the Court concluded that defense counsel’s action in failing to secure and review
his own expert’s opinion, which was the most damaging evidence presented at trial,
“constituted such obvious attorney incompetence, it cannot be rebutted.” 2007-NMSC-039,
¶ 17. In other cases, the Court has reached the merits only when an evidentiary hearing was
held at the trial level. See, e.g., Hunter, 2006-NMSC-043, ¶¶ 30-31 (ruling on a claim where
an evidentiary hearing regarding counsel’s effectiveness had been conducted in the district
court). This is not a case of obvious incompetence, and no evidentiary hearing was held in
the district court. Additionally, there is no evidence in the record below indicating what
counsel discussed with Defendant with respect to the plea offer that would allow this Court
to assess the adequacy of counsel’s performance. Furthermore, there is no evidence relating
to (1) the likelihood that Defendant would have accepted the offer but for counsel’s allegedly
inadequate advice; (2) whether the prosecution would have withdrawn the offer in light of
intervening circumstances; or (3) whether the court would have accepted the terms of the
plea. We do know that Defendant was offered a seven-year plea, which he rejected, and was
ultimately sentenced to nineteen years, which establishes one requirement of his Lafler
claim. However, for the most part, the resolution of this claim depends on evidence not in
the record. We therefore conclude that Defendant has failed to make a prima facie showing
of ineffective assistance of counsel with respect to the rejection of his plea offer.

CONCLUSION

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{16} Because we determine that Defendant has not presented a prima facie case of
ineffective assistance of counsel with respect to any of the claims that he raised, we decline
to remand the case to the district court for an evidentiary hearing. This decision, however,
does not preclude Defendant from pursuing habeas corpus proceedings on these issues.

{17}   IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              ____________________________________
                                              J. MILES HANISEE, Judge

WE CONCUR:

____________________________________
RODERICK T. KENNEDY, Chief Judge

____________________________________
LINDA M. VANZI, Judge

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