Daniels v. State

312 N.E.2d 890, 160 Ind. App. 582, 1974 Ind. App. LEXIS 1085
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 27, 1974
Docket2-873A174
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 312 N.E.2d 890 (Daniels v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Daniels v. State, 312 N.E.2d 890, 160 Ind. App. 582, 1974 Ind. App. LEXIS 1085 (Ind. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinions

Sullivan, P.J.

— In appealing from denial of post conviction relief, Daniels asserts that his 1969 robbery conviction was erroneous in that he was not adequately represented by competent counsel. It is Daniels’ appellate position that trial counsel failed to expend adequate time and effort in investigation and preparation for trial in that his attorney consulted with him only briefly before trial. The record reflects as per Daniels’ testimony in the post conviction proceedings that his [584]*584attorney spoke with him just prior to arraignment, albeit very briefly and just prior to trial. The post conviction hearing process extended over three separate hearing days between November 1972 and March 1973. At no time was Daniels’ trial attorney present to offer his testimony with respect to the extent of his trial preparation or his consultation with the client.

It is the contention of Daniels that the lack of consultation resulted in his attorney’s failure to adequately challenge allegedly improper identification of Daniels as a participant in the robbery.

In denying post conviction relief, the court below found insofar as pertinent:

“6. Petitioner has not shown by a preponderance of the evidence that counsel representing Petitioner at trial incompetently or inadequately represented him at any time during the trial or the prior proceedings.
* * *
“8. Court further finds that the defendant had an attorney at all stages of the proceedings and never informed the attorney of the matters he raises in his Petition for Post Conviction Relief.
* * *
“10. Court further finds that the evidence of the joint trial of the defendants Daniels and Cowherd and the matters contained in their appeal was decided in the cases of the State of Indiana vs. Cowherd in the Indiana Supreme Court which affirmed this Court.”

With respect to the latter findings, Daniels points out that he was not a party to the appeal of his co-defendant Cowherd and that the Supreme Court decision in that matter is not determinative of the issues herein presented.

It is readily apparent that testimony from Daniels’ trial counsel could well have enlightened the entire post-conviction process. Counsel, however, did not testify at any of the post conviction hearings despite the fact that the trial court specifically alluded to the desirability of such testimony. Although [585]*585the court, in its remarks at the first hearing conducted November 6, 1972, erroneously appeared to place the burden of bringing forth such testimony upon the Public Defender, the fact remains that the Prosecutor was clearly apprised of the strong desirability of having such evidence presented from Daniels’ trial counsel.1 Furthermore, the prosecutor had more than ample opportunity to secure such evidence since on February 23, 1973 the court granted a new trial upon Daniels’ post conviction petition and the matter was resubmitted for hearing and evidence on March 16, 1973. At that time, after the petitioner Daniels rested his case in chief, the prosecutor stated: “State has nothing to offer.” Thus, in neither of the evidentiary hearings conducted did the prosecutor offer any evidence in rebuttal of Daniels’ claim.

We cannot surmise what Daniels’ trial counsel might have said if called to testify. We cannot assume that he would controvert Daniels’ testimony with respect to the virtual absence of consultation or discussion concerning Daniels’ defense. We have access only to the self-serving, but unrebutted testimony of Daniels as to those facts.

[586]*586[585]*585The issue for our determination is then, whether the evi[586]*586dence as to the minimal consultation between Daniels and his trial counsel overcomes the presumption that counsel has adequately represented his client. It is established that such presumption can be overcome only if it be shown that what the attorney did or did not do “reduced the trial to a mockery, sham or a farce.” Robbins v. State (1971), 257 Ind. 273, 274 N.E.2d 255, 258. In this respect, the post conviction petitioner bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. Hoskins v. State (1973), 261 Ind. 291, 302 N.E.2d 499; Hughley v. State (1974), 159 Ind. App. 466, 307 N.E.2d 521.

Daniels contends that he has carried such burden and relies upon Thomas v. State (1969), 251 Ind. 546, 242 N.E.2d 919, 924 as follows:

“ * * * we hold only that he (the public defender) must conduct a proper investigation of the defense as a basis on which to predicate his decision. It is in the combination of the inadequacy of the investigation and the failure to present the requested defense that we can and must find inadequate representation. Since the investigation was not sufficient, we are constrained to hold that the defense was more ‘perfunctory’ than actual.” (Emphasis supplied.)

Minimal consultation with the client does not of itself render the representation merely perfunctory. Each case must be judged upon its own facts. Payne v. State (1973), 261 Ind. 221, 301 N.E.2d 514. Here, just as in Tibbs v. State (1973), 158 Ind. App. 485, 303 N.E.2d 294, there was no post conviction evidence of any specific defense which could be interposed nor of any witnesses which could be called to exonerate the defendant. The Thomas case is therefore of no aid to the assertion of Daniels.

The sole prejudice alleged by Daniels to have been occasioned by the minimal pre-trial contact between himself and his attorney is with respect to an identification of Daniels as a participant in the robbery and more particularly as to a pre-trial line-up identification procedure at which Daniels was not represented by counsel.

[587]*587We first note that the pre-trial identification procedure complained of took place the morning after Daniels’ arrest and before formal charges had been made against him. Daniels asserts that he requested that counsel be present. It is clear that the line-up took place before the formal criminal process had begun and that therefore the right to counsel had not yet attached. Kirby v. Illinois (1972), 406 U.S. 682, 92 S. Ct. 1877, 32 L. Ed. 2d 411; McGowan v. State (1973), 156 Ind. App. 344, 296 N.E.2d 667 (transfer denied).

More to the point, we are unable to say that the vague and unsupported allegation of Daniels as to erroneous pre-trial identification procedures, even if meritorious, would have affected the outcome of the trial. As stated in Fulks v. State (1970), 255 Ind. 81, 262 N.E.2d 651, 653, reversal is not required:

“. . .

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Daniels v. State
312 N.E.2d 890 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1974)

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Bluebook (online)
312 N.E.2d 890, 160 Ind. App. 582, 1974 Ind. App. LEXIS 1085, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/daniels-v-state-indctapp-1974.