Court Opinion

ID: 859834
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-26 22:31:36.076999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:02:14.835569
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
                                   NO. 93-KP-00632-SCT
EDDIE LEE TAYLOR, JR. A/K/A EDDIE TAYLOR A/K/A EDDIE L. TAYLOR, JR. A/K/A
TROY WILLIAMS
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                 5-7-93
TRIAL JUDGE:                                      HON. MELVIN KEITH STARRETT
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                        WALTHALL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                           EDDIE TAYLOR
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:                           OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                                  BY: CHARLES W. MARIS, JR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                                NA
NATURE OF THE CASE:                               CRIMINAL - POST CONVICTION RELIEF
DISPOSITION:                                      AFFIRMED - 10/3/96
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:                                   10/24/96

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

     ROBERTS, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1. Eddie Lee Taylor (Taylor) filed in the Circuit Court of Walthall County a "Petition for Post
Conviction Collateral Relief Act [sic]", in which he sought to have the court set aside his February 7,
1992, guilty pleas to the crimes of capital murder, conspiracy to commit capital murder and burglary,
as well as the subsequent sentences imposed for the commission of said crimes. The sentences were
life for the capital murder, plus twenty years for conspiracy to commit capital murder and five years
for the burglary. The court, Honorable Keith Starrett, presiding, denied said petition on May 7, 1993,
without an evidentiary hearing. The order was filed on May 11, 1993. Taylor, aggrieved by that
ruling, filed his notice of appeal and application for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis on
June 1, 1993. Judge Starrett granted Taylor's request to appeal in forma pauperis on July 9, 1993,
and the appeal was filed on July 12, 1993.

¶2. It is on this appeal that Taylor raises the following issues for this Court:

     I. WERE MR. TAYLOR'S PLEAS OF GUILTY INVOLUNTARY, AND
     UNINTELLIGENTLY ENTERED.
     II. WAS MR. TAYLOR DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

     III. DID THE TRIAL COURT ERROR [SIC] IN NOT GRANTING MR. TAYLOR AN
     EVIDENTIARY HEARING.

     IV. DID THE TRIAL COURT ERROR [SIC] IN DENYING MR. TAYLOR HIS
     RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF THIS PROCEEDING.

¶3. By filing this appeal to set aside the guilty pleas, Taylor subjects himself to a decision by this
Court that may require a new trial on the original charges of capital murder, conspiracy to commit
capital murder and burglary. Instead of facing a sentence of life plus twenty years to run
consecutively and five years to run concurrently, Taylor could be given a death sentence by a jury.
Myers v. State, 583 So. 2d 171, 178 (Miss. 1991). Taylor, claiming that his pleas were involuntary
and unintelligently entered, states to this Court that he lied to the circuit judge and thereby committed
perjury, for which a separate prosecution may lie. Id.

                                                FACTS

¶4. On January 6, 1992, Eddie Lee Taylor was indicted by the Grand Jury of Walthall County for one
count of murder of John Duncan, on August 11, 1991, while he, Taylor, was engaged in the
commission of the crime of robbery of Duncan. The second count of the indictment contained the
charge of conspiracy to commit capital murder. The conspiracy was to have taken place between
Taylor and James Gatlin on or before August 11, 1991.

¶5. Taylor was arrested in New Orleans and extradited to Walthall County on January 9, 1992, where
he was charged with the above stated crimes. He appeared before Judge Starrett on February 7,
1992, and entered his plea of guilty to the crimes of capital murder, conspiracy to commit capital
murder, and burglary. Taylor received sentences of life plus twenty years and five years, respectively,
in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The twenty year sentence was for
conspiracy to commit capital murder and was to run consecutively with the life sentence. The five
year sentence was for burglary and was to run concurrently with the life sentence. Taylor submitted
to the lower court his petition for post-conviction relief, where he alleged that his pleas were
involuntarily and unintelligently given, and he had received ineffective assistance of counsel. Judge
Starrett denied the petition without an evidentiary hearing on May 7, 1993. Both the petition and the
order denying said petition were filed on May 11, 1993.

                                  DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES

     I. WERE MR. TAYLOR'S PLEAS OF GUILTY INVOLUNTARY, AND
     UNINTELLIGENTLY ENTERED.

¶6. Taylor comes before this Court asserting that his pleas were involuntary and unintelligently made
as a result of his counsel failing to inform him adequately as to his rights and the charges against him.
He claims that because he does not have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. he did not understand the
charges, nor did he understand the trial process. In fact, he goes on to say that had he understood the
charges and the trial processes, he would have not entered a plea of guilty. He would have insisted on
going to trial.

¶7. Here on appeal, Taylor, wishes to present new issues not raised below. Specifically, he contends,
without any showing or proof, that he "was placed in fear for his life..." Further, he proposes that the
conspiracy took place in Louisiana, not Mississippi, and since the charges against the co-conspirators
were dropped, he could not be guilty of conspiracy. This Court, in Gardner v. State, 531 So. 2d 805
(Miss. 1988), met the appellant's attempt to plow new ground on appeal on a post-conviction motion
with the following response:

      The issue regarding the constitutionality vel non of § 97-1-1, Miss. Code Ann (1972), was not
      raised in Gardner's motion for post-conviction relief and may not be raised now.

Id. Again, Taylor does not explain who placed him in fear of his life, nor does he show any signs of
this supposed fear in his guilty pleas. The transcript of the guilty plea hearing is quite clear as to
Taylor's belief as to the endangerment of his life. The court asked, "And has anyone threatened,
abused, or mistreated you in any way?" Taylor responded, "No, sir."

¶8. The charge of conspiracy against Taylor was answered by his pleading guilty. The question of his
actual guilt will not be litigated on appeal. This Court in Jefferson v. State, 556 So. 2d 1016, 1019
(Miss. 1989), held that," [a] guilty plea operates to waive the defendant's privilege against self-
incrimination, the right to confront and cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses, the right to a jury
trial and the right that the prosecution prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable
doubt." Taylor admitted his guilt after having the charge explained to him by the court.

¶9. Taylor claims that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the conspiracy because the agreement
allegedly took place in Louisiana, not in Walthall County, Mississippi. There was some conversation
between Mr. Lampton, District Attorney, and Judge Starrett that the agreement took place on the
way to Mississippi. Even if the agreement was made in Louisiana on the way to Mississippi, the
conspiracy continued up until the commission of the crime in Walthall county. This Court in Norman
v. State, 381 So. 2d 1024, 1029 (Miss. 1980), stated that

      [o]nce a defendant is established as being a conspirator, he remains a part of the conspiracy
      until he has extricated himself therefrom by making full disclosure to the law enforcement
      authorities of his involvement and cessation of activity therein, or by communicating his
      abandonment thereof in a manner reasonably expected to reach his co-conspirators. The burden
      establishing his withdrawal rests upon the defendant. Hyde v. U.S., 225 U.S. 347, 369, 32 S.
      Ct. 793, 803, 56 L. Ed. 1114, 1127 (1912); U.S. v. Borelli, 336 F.2d 376, 388 (2d Cir. 1964).

¶10. Thus, the crime of conspiracy was committed in whole or in part in Walthall County,
Mississippi. However, the record clearly shows by Taylor's own testimony that he and James Gatlin
agreed on the porch of the murder victim's home in Walthall County to rob him. Notwithstanding the
preclusion from raising a new issue on appeal, the argument that the lower court lacked jurisdiction is
without merit.

¶11. This Court in Wilson v. State, 577 So. 2d 394, 396-97 (Miss. 1991), held that "a guilty plea
must be made voluntarily in order to satisfy the defendant's constitutional rights." A plea is voluntary
if the defendant knows what the elements are in the charge against him, including an understanding of
the charge and its relation to him, the effect of the plea, and the possible sentence. Schmitt v. State,
560 So. 2d 148, 153 (Miss. 1990). Further, a complete record should be made of the plea proceeding
to ensure that the defendant's plea was entered voluntarily. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969)
.

¶12. The record of the guilty plea proceeding is replete with explanations by the trial judge of the
charges and the consequences of those charges to Taylor. All of this was done prior to accepting any
guilty pleas by Taylor. This Court holds that Taylor's argument that his pleas were involuntary and
unintelligently entered is without merit.

     II. WAS MR. TAYLOR DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

¶13. The standard of review for ineffective assistance of counsel is set out in Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). The Strickland standard was adopted by this Court in Gilliard v.
State, 462 So. 2d 710, 714 (Miss. 1985). The test to be applied is (1) whether counsel's overall
performance was deficient and (2) whether or not the deficient performance, if any, prejudiced the
defense. Cole v. State, 666 So. 2d 767, 775 (Miss. 1995).

¶14. The burden is on the defendant to prove both prongs. Id.; citing Edwards v. State, 615 So. 2d
590, 596 (Miss. 1993). The adequacy of counsel's performance, as to its deficiency and prejudicial
effect, should be measured by a "totality of the circumstances." Cole, 666 So. 2d at 775; citing
Frierson v. State, 606 So. 2d 604, 608 (Miss. 1992). This Court in Cole stated that the level of
scrutiny to be applied when measuring the performance of counsel against the deficiency and
prejudicial prongs of Strickland is to look at the "over-all" performance. Cole, 666 So. 2d at 775;
citing Nicolau v. State, 612 So. 2d 1080, 1086 (Miss. 1992). There is a strong, yet rebuttable,
presumption that the actions by the defense counsel were reasonable and strategic. Cole, supra;
(citations omitted).

¶15. According to the second prong, which is the prejudicial prong, the defendant must show that
there was a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result would have
been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Cole, 666 So. 2d at 775. Taylor has not shown this Court
anything in the record that would suggest his counsel's over-all performance was deficient or
prejudicial. Taylor pleaded guilty in order to avoid a trial by jury that would have subjected him to a
possible sentence of death. The only thing that might have been different if the case had gone to trial
is the sentence that Taylor received. In short, Taylor has failed to supply this Court with an adequate
record showing with specificity and detail any evidence which might rebut the strong presumption in
favor of counsel's performance being both adequate and reasonable. Therefore, we hold that Taylor
was not denied effective assistance of counsel.

     III. DID THE TRIAL COURT ERROR [SIC] IN NOT GRANTING MR. TAYLOR AN
     EVIDENTIARY HEARING

¶16. Taylor brings before this Court his grievance with the lower court for summarily dismissing,
without an evidentiary hearing, his motion for post conviction relief to vacate the plea of guilty and
the subsequent sentences imposed. In Harris v. State, 578 So. 2d 617, 620 (Miss. 1991), the Court
stated:
     In order for a contested fact to require an evidentiary hearing it must be material. Moreover,
     where an affidavit is belied by unimpeachable documentary evidence in the record such as, for
     example, a transcript or written statement to the affiant to the contrary, to the extent that the
     court can conclude that the affidavit is a sham, no hearing is required.

Taylor's claims in the affidavit filed with his appeal are totally contrary to his sworn testimony given
before the trial court at the time he entered his guilty plea. This blatant contradiction with the record
below renders the current documentation a "sham". King v. State, No. 07-KA-59203-SCT, 1996 WL
460021, at * 3 (Miss. Aug. 15, 1996).

¶17. In Smith v. State, 636 So. 2d 1220, 1224 (Miss. 1994), this Court stated:

     In contrast, Smith's current contentions and credibility are certainly suspect. When we compare
     his previous sworn testimony during his guilty plea with his current affidavit, the latter is
     practically rendered a "sham," thus allowing the summary dismissal of the petition to stand. See
     Harris v. State, 578 So. 2d 617, 620 (Miss. 1991). At one time or the other Smith has
     obviously committed perjury, which may warrant appropriate action by a grand jury. See
     Sanders v. State, 440 So. 2d 278, 289 (Miss. 1983) (Roy Noble Lee, J., specially concurring).

Id. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on testimony by a defendant in front of the judge when
entering a plea of guilty. King, supra at 4. In King, this Court cited Mowdy v. State, 638 So. 2d 738,
743 (Miss. 1994), where the Court had previously held:

     There should be a strong presumption of validity of anyone's statement under oath. However,
     we are now faced with one statement or the other not being the truth... "Where the petitioner's
     version is belied by previous sworn testimony, for example, as to render his affidavit a sham we
     will allow summary judgment to stand." If ever there was a sham, it is clearly within these
     allegations through which Mowdy and Scrivner attempt to get this Court to order an
     evidentiary hearing to set aside validly imposed sentences based upon what they both now claim
     were involuntary pleas.

¶18. The trial judge must explain to the defendant the charges against him, the possible sentences for
those charges, and the consequences of entering a plea of guilty. In order to ensure that guilty pleas
are knowingly, intellingently, and voluntarily made, the trial judge should make such an explanation
prior to accepting any such plea from a defendant. The record clearly shows that Judge Starrett
explained in full detail the charges to Taylor, the possible sentences for those charges and the
consequences of entering a plea of guilty to those charges.

¶19. As the procedure by Judge Starrett was a good one and because of the importance of such an
explanation, excerpts are included in this opinion.

     BY THE COURT: ...and in this Indictment, you're indicted with the offense of capital murder
     as Count 1 and conspiracy to commit capital murder as Count 2.

     Capital murder is willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, and with malice aforethoughtkilling another
     human being by deliberate design while committing another offense. In this case, it is alleged to
     be that of robbery. And it's alleged to have resulted in the death of John Duncan on or about the
11th day of August, 1991.

Do you understand the nature of that charge?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: Do you have any question that you want to ask about it?

BY THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.

                                           ***

BY THE COURT: Do you understand the nature of the charge, that of capital murder? Do you
have any question you want to ask about it?

BY THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.

BY THE COURT: That is, the murder of a human being while committing another felony, in
this case alleged to be a robbery. To that charge how do you want to plead?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.

BY THE COURT: And in Count 2 of the Indictment, you are charged with conspiracy. That is
when two or more people conspire and agree to do, in this case, an unlawful act of capital
murder. That would be conspiracy. Do you understand?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: And to that charge, how do you want to plead?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.

BY THE COURT: Before the Court can accept your plea of guilty, I want to make sure that
you understand the nature of the charge and that you understand the possible penalty involved
and that you understand your rights. Conspiracy to murder is an offense that's punishable by a
sentence of up to 20 years, and the capital murder itself is punishable by a sentence of death by
lethal injection or life in the penitentiary, to be fixed by a jury. Do you understand?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: The jury first would determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant, and
then if the jury found the defendant guilty of capital murder, there would be another hearing, at
which each the plaintiff -- I mean the State and the defense would be given an opportunity to
present evidence to show any matter in aggravation or mitigation of the offense so the jury
could determine whether the sentence should be death by lethal injection or life in the
penitentiary. Do you understand?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
BY THE COURT: And all persons charged with any criminal offense are entitled to certain
Constitutional and statutory rights, including, of course, the right to have an attorney at all
stages of the proceeding. And you've had a good attorney, haven't you?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: Have you told him the truth concerning all of these matters?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: And has he advised you with reference to the law involved and the
procedure that would be followed in a trial of your case?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: Do you understand that you have a right to a trial by jury?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: That you have a right to challenge the composition of the Grand Jury that
indicted you and the Petit Jury that would try your case?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: If there's any part of this you don't understand, please ask me about it. All
right?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: You have a right to not testify yourself and not take the stand and testify.
You have a right to not give any evidence against yourself, and no one would cause you to do
so, but if you wanted to testify at your trial, you have a right to do that. But the decision as to
whether you testified or did not testify in your trial would be entirely up to you, the defendant.
Do you understand?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: The defendant is presumed not guilty, and the defendant does not have to
prove anything. The burden of proof in all criminal cases is upon the State to prove by credible
evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. And all twelve jurors would
have to unanimously agree that they believed from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that
the defendant was guilty before the jury would be justified or authorized to return a verdict of
guilty. Do you understand?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: And in the event you were found guilty of capital murder, then the jury
would have to then decide as to the punishment by unanimous verdict. Do you understand?

BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
     BY THE COURT: Even if you were found guilty by the jury, you have a right to an appeal to
     the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Do you understand that you have these rights?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

     BY THE COURT: And that by entering a plea of guilty, you are -- in effect, you would be
     giving up or waiving these rights and telling the Court that you do not desire to have a jury trial,
     that you are guilty of the charge, and that you're placing yourself in a position that you can then
     be sentenced by the Court as provided by law? Do you understand?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

     BY THE COURT: Anything about this, now, Mr. Taylor, that you do not understand? Or if
     you have any question about it, ask me, please.

     BY THE DEFENDANT: I don't have nothing to ask.

                                                 ***

     BY THE COURT: And has anyone threatened, abused, or mistreated you in any way?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.

     BY THE COURT: Has anyone promised you anything to cause you to wish to plead guilty?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.

     BY THE COURT: Do you understand and realize that no one wants you to plead guilty unless
     you are guilty in truth and in fact?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

     BY THE COURT: Very well. Realizing now the nature of the charge, the possible penalty
     involved, and realizing your rights in the matter, how do you wish to plead to Count 1 of the
     Indictment, that of capital murder?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.

     BY THE COURT: And how do you wish to plead to Count 2 of the Indictment, that of
     conspiracy to commit capital murder?

     BY THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.

                                                 ***

¶20. The court below then went on to explain the charge of burglary in the same manner as above,
and the defendant entered a plea of guilty to that charge as well. The court went on the record to
state its summation of the facts and accepted Taylor's pleas of guilty.
     BY THE COURT: The Court hereby adjudicates, finds, and determines that this defendant is
     obviously competent, that he has had his rights adequately explained to him, and I feel he's
     made a knowing, informed waiver of his right to a trial by jury and has voluntarily entered a
     plea of guilty to Count 1, capital murder; Count 2, conspiracy to commit capital murder in
     Cause Number 1951, and in Cause Number 1949, he has entered a plea of guilty to the charge
     of burglary of a building, store building. And I accept your pleas of guilty.

¶21. Judge Starrett made his findings of fact based on the conversation he had with Taylor explaining
the guilty plea proceeding and the rights that the defendant would be waiving if he did in fact plead
guilty. Therefore, the holding in Turner v. State, 590 So. 2d 871, 874 (Miss. 1991), controls where
this Court stated:

     [w]e adhere to the principle that a post-conviction collateral relief petition which meets basic
     pleading requirements is sufficient to mandate an evidentiary hearing unless it appears beyond a
     doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him
     to relief.

Id.; (citations omitted). The record is clear as to the facts presented to the trial court before the guilty
pleas were accepted as knowing and intelligently made. There is nothing in the record that is
consistent with Taylor's claims in his later affidavit. This Court finds the latter document to be
nothing more than a "sham" when viewing the record as a whole. Thus, Taylor was rightfully denied
an evidentiary hearing on his claim for post-conviction relief.

     IV. DID THE TRIAL COURT ERROR [SIC] IN DENYING MR. TAYLOR HIS
     RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF THIS PROCEEDING?

¶22. Taylor contends that the lower court committed error in refusing to grant his request for a
transcript of the hearing at which he pleaded guilty. The State filed a motion with this Court to
supplement the appellate record with the transcript of the plea proceedings of the lower court. On
April 13, 1994, that matter was remanded to the lower court to determine whether it had relied on
the transcript when denying post-conviction relief. Pursuant to that order, if the lower court relied on
the transcript, the transcript should be made part of the appellate record. Upon remand, the lower
court did amend the record to include the transcript. On July 12, 1994, the motion by the State for
supplementation of the appellate record was dismissed as the requested relief had been granted by the
lower court amending the record to include the transcript.

¶23. Upon examining the transcript, the Court holds that Taylor could not have been prejudiced in his
defense on appeal. The contentions that he makes in his latter affidavit are wholly inconsistent with
the transcript of the proceedings in which he entered guilty pleas to capital murder, conspiracy to
commit capital murder, and burglary. Because Taylor cannot show this Court that he has been
prejudiced by not having had prior access to the transcript, his claim must therefore fail. Ruffin v.
State, 481 So. 2d 312, 315 (Miss. 1985); Cf. Britt v. North Carolina, 404 U.S. 226 (1971).

                                             CONCLUSION

¶24. This Court holds that Taylor's claims on appeal are without merit. His pleas of guilty were not
involuntary or unintelligently made when viewed with the conversation the trial judge had with him.
Taylor was not denied effective assistance of counsel. His counsel's actions were reasonable under
the circumstances, and Taylor has failed to the meet the two prongs of the Strickland test. The trial
court did not commit reversible error by denying Taylor an evidentiary hearing on his motion for
post-conviction relief. There were no material factual issues in the transcript at the time he entered
his guilty pleas. Lastly, Taylor was not prejudiced in any way by the tardiness of the transcript being
made part of the record. Therefore, we hold that the denial of Taylor's post-conviction relief was
justified and should be affirmed.

¶25. LOWER COURT'S DENIAL OF POST CONVICTION RELIEF AFFIRMED.

LEE, C.J., PRATHER AND SULLIVAN, P.JJ., PITTMAN, BANKS, McRAE, SMITH AND
MILLS, JJ., CONCUR.