Court Opinion

ID: 6226807
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 16:03:51.850409+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:41.171611
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                          Docket No. 48497

 CHARLES CLIFFORD BROWN,                          )
                                                  )        Filed: February 17, 2022
         Petitioner-Appellant,                    )
                                                  )        Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk
 v.                                               )
                                                  )        THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
 STATE OF IDAHO,                                  )        OPINION AND SHALL NOT
                                                  )        BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
         Respondent.                              )
                                                  )

       Appeal from the District Court of the First Judicial District, State of Idaho,
       Kootenai County. Hon. Richard S. Christensen, District Judge.

       Judgment summarily dismissing petition for post-conviction relief, affirmed.

       Eric D. Fredericksen, State Appellate Public Defender; Ben P. McGreevy, Deputy
       Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

       Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Andrew V. Wake, Deputy Attorney
       General, Boise, for respondent.
                 ________________________________________________

HUSKEY, Judge
       Charles Clifford Brown appeals from the district court’s judgment summarily dismissing
his petition for post-conviction relief. Brown alleges the district court erred because his petition
raised genuine issues of material fact to support his claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
Because Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief failed to establish a genuine issue of material
fact regarding his claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, the district court did not err. The
judgment summarily dismissing Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief is affirmed.
                                                      I.
                      FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       After providing controlled substances to an individual who was later found dead with her
two children in her car submerged in a lake, the State charged Brown with two counts of delivery
of a controlled substance, both felonies. Pursuant to a plea agreement, in exchange for Brown’s

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guilty plea to one count of delivery of a controlled substance, the State agreed to dismiss the
remaining charge and recommend a unified sentence not to exceed fifteen years, with four years
determinate. At the change of plea hearing, the district court inquired about Brown’s mental
health, and Brown told the court he did not currently suffer from any mental impairment that could
limit his ability to understand the proceedings. The district court accepted Brown’s guilty plea,
ordered a presentence investigation report (PSI), and set the matter for sentencing.
       Brown’s PSI included various information about his mental health history. Brown
described his mental health as “not in the best of condition” and reported that as part of the process
for qualifying for social security disability, he had a psychological evaluation. He was diagnosed
with “some sort of mental health problem,” but was not prescribed medication and he was unsure
what the diagnosis was. Brown suggested the presentence investigator could obtain his evaluation
record by contacting the social security office, and the presentence investigator indicated that the
request had been made. Brown stated that he believed he had depression and anxiety and that his
father had schizophrenia, but Brown knew of no other family members with a history of mental
health problems. However, the PSI indicated that Brown’s sister reported Brown, like his father
and grandfather, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
       The GAIN-I core assessment accompanying the PSI indicated that Brown scored in the
moderate range of the internal mental distress scale, but concluded Brown’s “current risk to
himself and the community is not considered higher if he does not receive ongoing mental health
services.” The mental health professional who reviewed the GAIN-I core assessment concluded
that Brown did not meet the criteria for severe mental illness or other mental health needs, but
recommended a referral to a qualified mental health professional if Brown subsequently reported
or exhibited debilitating symptoms associated with his mental health. Taking all the information
from the PSI into account, the PSI recommended the trial court sentence Brown to a period of
incarceration.
       At the sentencing hearing, Brown’s counsel argued Brown should receive a suspended
sentence or a period of retained jurisdiction. Brown’s counsel did not mention that Brown was
impacted by any mental health issues, however, Brown gave a statement to the trial court and
disclosed that he suffered from schizophrenia and would benefit from counseling and therapy.
Brown additionally expressed contrition for his actions, stating:

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        I beat myself up so bad over this, that there was a time I was sitting in my apartment
        with a gun to my head and in my mouth where I was going to take my own life
        because of this.
                . . . I didn’t know what else to do.
        The trial court noted the facts of the case and discussed why the legislature decided that
people who deliver controlled substances should be punished more severely than those who merely
use drugs. The trial court stated that drug use in the country was at a crisis, those who deliver
drugs commit a violent offense, and it was the court’s role to protect the public. Although the trial
court recognized how Brown had benefitted from his time in the Good Samaritan program, it found
it “would depreciate the seriousness of the offense, the delivery, by not imposing a prison term in
this case.” The trial court imposed a unified sentence of fifteen years, with four years determinate.
        Brown timely appealed. Brown argued the trial court abused its discretion by imposing an
excessive sentence in light of mitigating factors, including his remorse, acceptance of
responsibility for the offense, amenability to treatment, mental health, physical condition, and
substance abuse issues. This Court affirmed the judgment of conviction and sentence in an
unpublished opinion. State v. Brown, Docket No. 46660 (Ct. App. June 18, 2019).
        Brown subsequently filed an Idaho Criminal Rule 35 motion for a reduction of his
sentence.1 During the Rule 35 hearing, Brown requested the trial court reduce his sentence to a
period of retained jurisdiction or reduce the determinate portion of his sentence to two years
because of Brown’s mental health concerns. Brown testified that he receives social security
disability because of a schizophrenia diagnosis, has never been medicated or under the care of a
doctor for schizophrenia, and did not mention the diagnosis to the Idaho Department of Correction
because he did not want the disclosure to result in being assigned a higher security level
classification.   The trial court found that Brown’s conduct underlying his conviction was
“outrageous” given the circumstances, he should have known that providing drugs to the mother
could result in the death of her and her two children, and his crime “represented a danger to the
public.” The trial court concluded even if Brown had schizophrenia, the diagnosis would not
change the reasonableness of the original sentence. Accordingly, the trial court denied Brown’s
Rule 35 motion. Brown appealed and this Court affirmed the denial of Brown’s Rule 35 motion
in an unpublished opinion. State v. Brown, Docket No. 47160 (Ct. App. Feb. 19, 2020).

1
       Although the Idaho Criminal Rule 35 motion is not in the appellate record, a transcript of
the Rule 35 hearing is.

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        Brown filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging, in part, ineffective assistance of
trial counsel for failing to request a mental health evaluation and obtain his mental health records
prior to sentencing.2 In the accompanying affidavit, Brown attested that, because of his extensive
mental health history, he pleaded with his trial counsel to obtain a current mental health evaluation
and his social security disability records. Brown alleged that had his trial counsel obtained these
documents, he would have met the criteria for mental health court or, alternatively, would have
been placed on probation. The district court appointed Brown post-conviction counsel, and the
State moved for summary dismissal of the petition.3 After a hearing, the district court found that
Brown failed to submit evidence showing a genuine issue of material fact that his trial counsel
provided deficient representation by failing to request a mental health evaluation and obtain his
mental health records or that Brown was prejudiced by any deficiency. Accordingly, the district
court summarily dismissed Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief. Brown timely appeals.
                                                  II.
                                    STANDARD OF REVIEW
        Idaho Code § 19-4906 authorizes summary dismissal of a petition for post-conviction
relief, either pursuant to a motion by a party or upon the court’s own initiative, if it appears from
the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions and agreements of fact,
together with any affidavits submitted, that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. When considering summary dismissal,
the district court must construe disputed facts in the petitioner’s favor, but the court is not required
to accept either the petitioner’s mere conclusory allegations, unsupported by admissible evidence,
or the petitioner’s conclusions of law. Roman v. State, 125 Idaho 644, 647, 873 P.2d 898, 901 (Ct.
App. 1994); Baruth v. Gardner, 110 Idaho 156, 159, 715 P.2d 369, 372 (Ct. App. 1986).
Moreover, the district court, as the trier of fact, is not constrained to draw inferences in favor of
the party opposing the motion for summary disposition; rather, the district court is free to arrive at
the most probable inferences to be drawn from uncontroverted evidence. Hayes v. State, 146 Idaho

2
        Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief alleged other ineffective assistance of counsel
claims, which are not the subject of this appeal.
3
       Although the State’s motion for summary dismissal is not in the appellate record, the record
contains both Brown’s response to the motion and the State’s reply.

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353, 355, 195 P.3d 712, 714 (Ct. App. 2008). Such inferences will not be disturbed on appeal if
the uncontroverted evidence is sufficient to justify them. Id.
        Claims may be summarily dismissed if the petitioner’s allegations are clearly disproven by
the record of the criminal proceedings, if the petitioner has not presented evidence making a prima
facie case as to each essential element of the claims, or if the petitioner’s allegations do not justify
relief as a matter of law. Kelly v. State, 149 Idaho 517, 521, 236 P.3d 1277, 1281 (2010); DeRushé
v. State, 146 Idaho 599, 603, 200 P.3d 1148, 1152 (2009). Thus, summary dismissal of a claim
for post-conviction relief is appropriate when the court can conclude, as a matter of law, that the
petitioner is not entitled to relief even with all disputed facts construed in the petitioner’s favor.
For this reason, summary dismissal of a post-conviction petition may be appropriate even when
the state does not controvert the petitioner’s evidence. See Roman, 125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at
901.
        Conversely, if the petition, affidavits, and other evidence supporting the petition allege
facts that, if true, would entitle the petitioner to relief, the post-conviction claim may not be
summarily dismissed. Charboneau v. State, 140 Idaho 789, 792, 102 P.3d 1108, 1111 (2004);
Sheahan v. State, 146 Idaho 101, 104, 190 P.3d 920, 923 (Ct. App. 2008). If a genuine issue of
material fact is presented, an evidentiary hearing must be conducted to resolve the factual issues.
Goodwin, 138 Idaho at 272, 61 P.3d at 629.
        On appeal from an order of summary dismissal, we apply the same standards utilized by
the trial courts and examine whether the petitioner’s admissible evidence asserts facts which, if
true, would entitle the petitioner to relief. Ridgley v. State, 148 Idaho 671, 675, 227 P.3d 925, 929
(2010); Sheahan, 146 Idaho at 104, 190 P.3d at 923. Over questions of law, we exercise free
review. Rhoades, 148 Idaho at 250, 220 P.3d at 1069; Downing v. State, 136 Idaho 367, 370, 33
P.3d 841, 844 (Ct. App. 2001).
                                                  III.
                                             ANALYSIS
        Brown alleges the district court erred in summarily dismissing his petition for post-
conviction relief because he raised a genuine issue of material fact concerning whether, in failing
to request a mental health evaluation and obtain his mental health records prior to sentencing, his
trial counsel’s performance was deficient and whether the deficiency prejudiced his case.
Specifically, Brown argues the information contained in his PSI, his statements at sentencing, and

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his post-conviction affidavit, combined with evidence that Brown received social security
disability for a mental health diagnosis, had schizophrenia, and reported suicidal ideation and a
suicide attempt, demonstrated a need for his trial counsel to investigate his mental health condition.
Brown argues that he was prejudiced because had his trial counsel obtained a current mental health
evaluation and his social security records, he would have received a lesser sentence.4 In response,
the State argues that the district court did not err in summarily dismissing Brown’s petition for
post-conviction relief.
       A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel may properly be brought under the Uniform
Post-Conviction Procedure Act. Barcella v. State, 148 Idaho 469, 477, 224 P.3d 536, 544 (Ct.
App. 2009). To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the petitioner must show
that the attorney’s performance was deficient and that the petitioner was prejudiced by the
deficiency. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 (1984); Self v. State, 145 Idaho 578,
580, 181 P.3d 504, 506 (Ct. App. 2007). To establish a deficiency, the petitioner has the burden
of showing that the attorney’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.
Aragon v. State, 114 Idaho 758, 760, 760 P.2d 1174, 1176 (1988); Knutsen v. State, 144 Idaho
433, 442, 163 P.3d 222, 231 (Ct. App. 2007). To establish prejudice, the petitioner must show a
reasonable probability that, but for the attorney’s deficient performance, the outcome of the trial
would have been different. Aragon, 114 Idaho at 761, 760 P.2d at 1177; Knutsen, 144 Idaho at
442, 163 P.3d at 231. This Court has long adhered to the proposition that tactical or strategic
decisions of trial counsel will not be second-guessed on appeal unless those decisions are based
on inadequate preparation, ignorance of relevant law, or other shortcomings capable of objective
evaluation. Gonzales v. State, 151 Idaho 168, 172, 254 P.3d 69, 73 (Ct. App. 2011).
       To survive a motion for summary dismissal, post-conviction relief claims based upon
ineffective assistance of counsel must establish the existence of material issues of fact as to both
the deficient performance and prejudice prongs. Marsalis v. State, 166 Idaho 334, 340, 458 P.3d
203, 209 (2020). Courts need not address the performance component first “[i]f it is easier to
dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we expect
will often be so, that course should be followed.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697.

4
       Neither incident to his Rule 35 motion nor the petition for post-conviction relief has Brown
submitted a mental health evaluation, mental health records, or social security records.
                                                  6
       Here, we need not address whether Brown’s trial counsel’s performance was deficient
because Brown failed to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact that but for his counsel’s
alleged failures, the result of his sentencing would have been different. In its order summarily
dismissing Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief, the district court concluded that because
Brown did not provide admissible evidence of his schizophrenia diagnosis with the petition, he
could not establish a genuine issue of material fact that, but for the alleged deficiency, the outcome
of the case would have been different. The district court did not err.
       In Brown’s petition, he alleges that had his trial counsel requested a mental health evaluation
and obtained his mental health records, Brown would have either been admitted to mental health
court, received a probation sentence, or otherwise been subjected to a different sentence. We are
not persuaded. First, Brown does not provide evidence that he would have received a different
sentence had his trial counsel obtained a current mental health evaluation and Brown’s mental
health records prior to sentencing, and Brown’s conclusory, speculative assertion that sentencing
in general may have been different does not create a material dispute of fact. See Hall v. State,
156 Idaho 125, 132, 320 P.3d 1284, 1291 (Ct. App. 2014) (holding post-conviction petition is
subject to summary dismissal when claim is based on nothing more than speculation). Second,
pursuant to I.C. § 19-5609(1), there is no right to admission into mental health court. Thus, even
if Brown had a qualifying diagnosis and trial counsel requested a referral, there is no showing of
a reasonable probability the trial court would have ordered that referral. See Eddington v. State,
162 Idaho 812, 823, 405 P.3d 597, 608 (Ct. App. 2017).
       Third, Brown’s claim that had a current mental health evaluation and his mental health
records been presented to the trial court, the court would have imposed a probation sentence is
clearly disproven by the record of the criminal proceedings. Before imposing the sentence, the
trial court reviewed Brown’s PSI, which included information about Brown’s mental health
history, and heard from Brown who disclosed that he had schizophrenia and contemplated suicide
on at least one occasion. Yet, after being presented with this information, the trial court found that
the facts of the case justified a unified sentence of fifteen years, with four years determinate.
Moreover, during the subsequent Rule 35 hearing, the trial court specifically found that the facts
underlying Brown’s conviction required the imposition of a prison sentence and even if Brown
had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, the diagnosis would not warrant a change in the original
sentence. The trial court stated:

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                If [Brown’s] claims of schizophrenia are to be believed, he’s an
        unmedicated schizophrenic. There’s no evidence he ever sought treatment. He still
        poses a risk of danger to the public as the overriding and overarching consideration.
                ....
                I have considered but rejected a retained jurisdiction or a reduction in the
        fixed penalty. I thought it was appropriate at the time. I see nothing to change my
        mind at this point.
        Because Brown did not demonstrate that the results of his sentencing would have been
different had his trial counsel obtained a mental health evaluation and Brown’s mental health
records, Brown cannot establish a genuine issue of material fact that he was prejudiced by trial
counsel’s alleged deficient performance. Accordingly, Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief
failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact regarding his claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel.
                                                 IV.
                                          CONCLUSION
        Brown did not demonstrate that he was prejudiced by his trial counsel’s failure to obtain a
current mental health evaluation and his mental health records prior to sentencing. Accordingly,
Brown’s petition for post-conviction relief failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact regarding
his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, and the district court did not err by summarily
dismissing the petition. The judgment summarily dismissing Brown’s petition for post-conviction
relief is affirmed.
        Chief Judge LORELLO and Judge GRATTON CONCUR.

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