DeJuan McIntyre v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 19, 2016
• Docket: 49A02-1504-PC-256
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any Feb 19 2016, 9:39 am court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

APPELLANT PRO SE DeJuan McIntyre Michigan City, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

DeJuan McIntyre, February 19, 2016 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 49A02-1504-PC-256 v. Appeal from the Marion Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Kurt Eisgruber, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 49G01-1407-PC-37582 and 49G01- 0712-PC-259671

Altice, Judge.

Case Summary

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 1 of 11 [1] DeJuan McIntyre appeals from the denial of his petition for post-conviction

relief (PCR). On appeal, he asserts that the post-conviction court erred in

rejecting his claims of ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel.

[2] We affirm.

Facts & Procedural History

[3] The facts underlying McIntyre’s convictions were set forth by this court in an

unpublished memorandum decision on direct appeal as follows:

McIntyre and Amy Silva dated “[o]ff and on for about three and a half years.” The relationship ended on November 25, 2007. On November 28, 2007, McIntyre went to Silva’s workplace. McIntyre was angry and asked Silva if he could look in her car. Silva opened her trunk and told McIntyre that there was no need for him to be at her workplace. McIntyre told Silva that “everything was just going to be taken care of.” McIntyre then walked back to his vehicle, pulled back around, and yelled at Silva’s coworker, “you work with a crazy bitch and everything’s going to be taken care of, don’t worry about it....” Silva was afraid and went downtown to file a protective order.

On November 29, 2007, McIntyre called Silva’s cell phone multiple times while she was at work. Silva answered one of the calls, and McIntyre “started screaming and yelling” at her. McIntyre said, “Bitch, you think this is a fucking game. This is not a game. I’m going to kill you.” Silva called the police and reported the incident.

On the evening of November 30, 2007, Silva, Silva’s children, and John Gaines, a family friend, were in Silva’s apartment. Someone knocked on the door to the apartment, and Silva

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 2 of 11 looked through the peephole but did not see anyone. After another knock, Silva again looked through the peephole and saw McIntyre standing to the side. Silva called the “on-site sheriff.” McIntyre said that he was the police and knocked continuously on the door. McIntyre kicked the door and the door framing cracked. McIntyre kicked the door again and the door flew open.

McIntyre came into the apartment with a butcher knife and said that he wanted to talk to Silva. McIntyre was holding the knife with the blade facing outward. Gaines told McIntyre that he could talk to Silva but he did not need the knife. McIntyre set the knife down for a “split second” and then picked it up. McIntyre led Gaines and Silva’s son toward the back bedroom.

In a “split second,” McIntyre “lunged” forward toward Silva. Gaines then grabbed McIntyre, and Gaines and Silva’s son attempted to hold McIntyre back, but McIntyre struck Silva in the head with the blade of the knife. McIntyre and Gaines “tussled a little bit,” and McIntyre eventually left. Silva suffered a “laceration or a bleeding wound to her head,” and Gaines suffered a “very large laceration to the back of the scalp.”

McIntyre v. State, No. 49A05-0902-CR-56, slip op. at *1 (Dec. 8, 2009) (record

citations omitted). McIntyre was ultimately convicted of burglary as a class A

felony, two counts of battery as a class C felony (one count for battering Silva

and another for battering Gaines), and two counts of domestic battery as a class

D felony against Silva.

[4] On direct appeal, McIntyre challenged the sufficiency of the evidence

supporting his burglary conviction and his conviction for battering Gaines. He

also argued that his convictions violated the prohibition against double

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 3 of 11 jeopardy. This court concluded that the State presented sufficient evidence to

support the convictions, but that McIntyre’s convictions ran afoul of double

jeopardy protections. The court therefore vacated McIntyre’s convictions for

domestic battery and battery against Silva. McIntyre’s convictions for class A

felony burglary and class C felony battery against Gaines remained

undisturbed.

[5] McIntyre filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief (PCR) on September

17, 2010, which he amended on February 22, 2012, and May 13, 2013. In the

petition, McIntyre alleged that he received ineffective assistance of both trial

and appellate counsel. The post-conviction court held evidentiary hearings on

November 19, 2013, and February 25, 2014, after which the court took the

matter under advisement. On April 15, 2015, the post-conviction court issued

its order denying McIntyre’s PCR petition. McIntyre now appeals.

Discussion & Decision

[6] As an initial matter, we note that McIntyre is proceeding pro se on appeal.1 Pro

se litigants are held to the same standard as trained counsel and are required to

follow procedural rules. Smith v. State, 38 N.E.3d 218, 220 (Ind. Ct. App.

2015). McIntyre’s appellate brief is littered with misquotations of the record,

1 We also note that the State has not filed a brief in this matter. Accordingly, McIntyre will prevail on appeal if he makes a prima facie case of error. See Sims v. State, 771 N.E.2d 734, 737 n.1 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied. “However, this circumstance in no way relieves us of our obligation to decide the law as applied to the facts in the record in order to determine whether reversal is required.” Id.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 4 of 11 and McIntyre repeatedly omits portions of quotations without noting the

alteration. Moreover, McIntyre attributes quotes to his appellate counsel that

do not appear anywhere in the record.2 McIntyre’s pro se status does not

excuse his multiple mischaracterizations of the record.

[7] Turning now to the merits of McIntyre’s appeal, we note that in a post-

conviction proceeding, the petitioner bears the burden of establishing grounds

for relief by a preponderance of the evidence. Bethea v. State, 983 N.E.2d 1134,

1138 (Ind. 2013). “When appealing the denial of post-conviction relief, the

petitioner stands in the position of one appealing from a negative judgment.”

Id. (quoting Fisher v. State, 810 N.E.2d 674, 679 (Ind. 2004)). In order to

prevail, the petitioner must demonstrate that the evidence as a whole leads

unerringly and unmistakably to a conclusion opposite the post-conviction

court’s conclusion. Id. Although we do not defer to a post-conviction court’s

legal conclusions, we will reverse its findings and judgment only upon a

showing of clear error, i.e., “that which leaves us with a definite and firm

conviction that a mistake has been made.” Id. (quoting Ben-Yisrayl v. State, 729

N.E.2d 102, 106 (Ind. 2000)).

1. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel

2 According to McIntyre, when asked whether she had read a specific case, appellate counsel testified that she “was not aware of that case when preparing the brief[.]” Appellant’s Brief at 15. Appellate counsel said no such thing. Instead, she testified that she had no specific recollection of whether she read the case, but “if the case was available, [she] probably read it[.]” PCR Transcript at 39.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 5 of 11 [8] A petitioner will prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel only

upon a showing that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness and that the deficient performance prejudiced the petitioner.

Bethea, 983 N.E.2d at 1138. To satisfy the first element, the petitioner must

demonstrate deficient performance, which is “representation that fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness, committing errors so serious that the

defendant did not have the ‘counsel’ guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.” Id.

(quoting McCary v. State, 761 N.E.2d 389, 392 (Ind. 2002)). To satisfy the

second element, the petitioner must show prejudice, which is “a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would

have been different.” Id. at 1139. “A reasonable probability is one that is

sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Kubsch v. State, 934

N.E.2d 1138, 1147 (Ind. 2010) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,

694 (1984)). Because a petitioner must prove both deficient performance and

prejudice in order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the

failure to prove either element defeats such a claim. See Young v. State, 746

N.E.2d 920, 927 (Ind. 2001) (holding that because the two elements of

Strickland are separate and independent inquiries, the court may dispose of the

claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice if it is easier).

[9] McIntyre first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to

the introduction of evidence prohibited under Ind. Evidence Rule 404(b).

However, our review of the record reveals that trial counsel did object to the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 6 of 11 introduction of this evidence on that basis at both a pretrial hearing and during

trial. McIntyre’s argument in this regard is therefore meritless.

[10] Next, McIntyre argues that his first, privately-hired trial counsel was ineffective

for withdrawing due to McIntyre’s failure to fulfill his financial obligations.

McIntyre’s private counsel filed his motion to withdraw nearly eight months

before the case was tried, and the trial court appointed the Public Defender

Agency to represent McIntyre on the same day it granted private counsel’s

motion to withdraw. McIntyre has made no attempt to explain any prejudice

he suffered as a result of private counsel’s withdrawal. Accordingly, he has not

established trial counsel ineffectiveness on this basis.

[11] McIntyre also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

communicate a plea offer to him. The post-conviction court rejected this claim,

finding that McIntyre had failed to produce any evidence that a plea offer was

made. The only evidence in the record supporting McIntyre’s claim that a plea

offer was made is a statement of the prosecuting attorney at a pretrial hearing,

at which McIntyre was present, that she had emailed defense counsel a plea

offer the previous day. At the time of the PCR hearing, defense counsel could

not recall whether he had received a plea offer.

[12] Even if we assume that the State made a plea offer and that defense counsel

failed to communicate that offer to McIntyre, we still conclude that McIntyre

has not established that trial counsel was ineffective. In Dew v. State, this court

held that defense attorneys have a duty to inform their clients of proffered plea

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 7 of 11 agreements, and failure to do so constitutes ineffective assistance of trial

counsel if the defendant can establish “that counsel acted unreasonably by

failing to inform him of the plea offer and that, but for counsel’s actions, there

was a reasonable probability that he would have accepted the plea offer.” 843

N.E.2d 556, 569 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied. McIntyre has wholly failed

to introduce any evidence establishing a reasonable probability that he would

have accepted the plea offer had he been aware of it. Indeed, he has not even

introduced evidence concerning the substance of the purported plea offer.

Accordingly, McIntyre has not made the requisite showing of prejudice.

[13] McIntyre also argues that trial counsel was ineffective for inadequately

impeaching one of the State’s witnesses. Specifically, McIntyre asserts that

counsel should have introduced Gaines’s pretrial deposition into evidence. Our

review of the record reveals defense counsel sought to admit the deposition into

evidence as a prior inconsistent statement, but the trial court concluded that the

deposition itself was inadmissible. Defense counsel was allowed to use the

deposition to refresh Gaines’s recollection and to impeach his testimony. On

appeal, McIntyre argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to lay a proper

foundation for the admission of the deposition. McIntyre has not explained

how the deposition was admissible or what was required to establish a proper

foundation. Nor has he included the deposition in the record or made any

attempt to explain how the substance of the deposition would have aided his

defense or further undermined Gaines’s credibility. Consequently, McIntyre

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 8 of 11 has failed to establish either deficient performance or prejudice resulting from

the exclusion of the deposition.

2. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel

[14] McIntyre also argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to cite

certain authority in support of the double jeopardy argument presented on

direct appeal. “The standard by which we review claims of ineffective

assistance of appellate counsel is the same standard applicable to claims of trial

counsel ineffectiveness.” Wright v. State, 881 N.E.2d 1018, 1022 (Ind. Ct. App.

2008), trans. denied. Our supreme court has recognized three types of ineffective

assistance of appellate counsel: (1) denial of access to appeal; (2) failure to raise

issues that should have been raised; and (3) failure to present issues well.

Wrinkles v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1179, 1203 (Ind. 2001). McIntyre’s claim falls into

the third category. Our Supreme Court has noted that “claims of inadequate

presentation of certain issues, as contrasted with the denial of access to an

appeal or waiver of issues, are the most difficult for defendants to advance and

for reviewing tribunals to support.” Holowell v. State, 19 N.E.3d 263, 270 (Ind.

2014). This is the case because such claims require the reviewing court to

reexamine specific issues on which it has already ruled to determine “whether

the new record citations, case references, or arguments would have had any

marginal effect on their previous decision.” Bieghler v. State, 690 N.E.2d 188,

195 (Ind. 1997). Additionally, Indiana’s appellate courts are not limited to the

cases cited and arguments made by appellate counsel, and “[w]e commonly

review relevant portions of the record, perform separate legal research, and

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 9 of 11 often decide cases based on legal arguments and reasoning not advanced by

either party.” Id.

[15] McIntyre’s argument is difficult to fully understand, but it appears to turn on a

claim that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to cite Campbell v.

State, 622 N.E.2d 495 (Ind. 1993), abrogated in part by Richardson v. State, 717

N.E.2d 32 (Ind. 1999). We note that McIntyre’s appellate counsel successfully

raised a double jeopardy argument, resulting in three of McIntyre’s five

convictions being vacated. Moreover, although appellate counsel did not cite

Campbell, this court cited that case in its memorandum decision on McIntyre’s

direct appeal. See McIntyre, No. 49A05-0902-CR-56, slip op. at *5 n.8. Because

this court clearly considered Campbell, we cannot conclude that appellate

counsel’s citation of that case would have had an impact on the outcome of

McIntyre’s direct appeal.

[16] In any event, Campbell is clearly distinguishable from the case at hand and

would not compel the reversal of McIntyre’s remaining battery conviction. In

Campbell, the defendant was sentenced for class A felony burglary and class C

felony battery after he broke into a home where his ex-girlfriend was staying the

night and slashed her face with a sharp object. 622 N.E.2d at 497. Our

Supreme Court concluded that the defendant was improperly sentenced for

class C felony battery because “the enhanced felony level of both crimes was

based upon the same injurious consequences,” i.e., the slashing of the victim’s

face. Id. at 500.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1504-PC-256 | February 19, 2016 Page 10 of 11 [17] In this case, however, McIntyre inflicted two separate injuries on two separate

victims. In keeping with double jeopardy principles, McIntyre’s domestic

battery convictions and the class C felony battery conviction based on the injury

he inflicted on Silva were vacated. See McIntyre, No. 49A05-0902-CR-56, slip

op. at *5 (explaining that “the very same act, i.e., McIntyre’s touching of Silva,

formed the basis of both of the domestic battery convictions . . . , one of the

battery convictions . . . , and the enhancement of the burglary conviction to a

class A felony”). McIntyre is not entitled to also have his class C felony battery

conviction based on the injury he inflicted on Gaines vacated. For all of these

reasons, McIntyre has not established that his appellate counsel was ineffective.

[18] Judgment affirmed.

[19] Robb, J., and Barnes, J., concur.

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