Gream v. State

90 S.W.3d 498, 2002 Mo. App. LEXIS 2205, 2002 WL 31454122
Missouri Court of Appeals·Decided November 5, 2002·No. ED 80437·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

CLIFFORD H. AHRENS, Judge.

Johnny Gream (“movant”) appeals the judgment of the motion court denying his motion for post-conviction relief pursuant *500 to Rule 24.035 on the merits without an evidentiary hearing. In his motion, mov-ant claims that he was denied effective assistance of counsel in that his attorney advised him not to speak with representatives of the Division of Probation and Parole until the issues involving his prior convictions were resolved, which prevented him from being considered for the 120-day drug treatment program or for long-term drug treatment following his guilty plea. Movant also alleges that he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his attorney promised him that if he pled guilty that he would be sentenced to either the 120-day or long-term drug treatment program with the possibility of early release if he completed either program successfully, and his guilty plea was entered involuntarily. We affirm in part and remand in part.

On November 13, 2000, movant pled guilty to the felony charges of tampering in the first degree (“Count I”) and property damage in the first degree (“Count II”). The trial court advised movant of his constitutional rights and of the range of punishment for these charges. Movant expressed his understanding that a guilty plea would waive his right to a jury trial. Though there was some confusion concerning his prior convictions, movant admitted to being a persistent offender. Movant expressed satisfaction with his defense counsel, and indicated that his counsel had done all that movant wanted him to do for the case. The trial court did not ask mov-ant if he had been promised anything or offered inducements in return for his guilty plea. The trial court ordered a pre-sentence investigation (“PSI”) and screening of movant for the 120-day drug treatment program and long-term treatment program.

Movant failed to respond to attempts by the Division of Probation and Parole (“Probation and Parole”) to contact him for an interview as part of its PSI and screening of movant. Movant also failed to appear for his December 20, 2000 court date when the PSI was due. On February 23, 2001, the trial court sentenced movant to thirteen years of imprisonment on Count I, and to ten years of imprisonment on Count II, to run concurrently. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court advised movant of his rights under Rule 24.035, and movant indicated that he understood those rights. The trial court also asked movant if he was satisfied with his plea counsel’s services, to which he responded that he was satisfied. The trial court did not ask movant at this sentencing hearing if he had been given any promises or offered inducements in return for his guilty plea.

Movant timely filed a pro se motion for post-conviction relief pursuant to Rule 24.035 on April 26, 2001 alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. Counsel was appointed for movant, and his attorney filed an amended motion for post-conviction relief on October 1, 2001. The motion court filed findings of fact and conclusions of law on October 15, in which it denied movant relief without an evidentiary hearing. Movant now appeals.

Appellate review of the denial of a motion for post-conviction, relief is not de novo. Wilson v. State, 813 S.W.2d 833, 835 (Mo. banc 1991). The motion court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law are presumptively correct. Id. Our review is limited to the determination of whether or not the motion court’s findings and conclusions are clearly erroneous. State v. Taylor, 929 S.W.2d 209, 224 (Mo. banc 1996), cert denied, 519 U.S. 1152, 117 S.Ct. 1088, 137 L.Ed.2d 222 (1997). This Court will find the motion court’s findings and conclusions clearly erroneous only if, after a review of the entire record, we are left with the firm and definite impression that

*501 a mistake has been made. Id. The movant has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the motion court clearly erred. Buckner v. State, 35 S.W.3d 417, 420 (Mo.App.2000).

In his first point on appeal, movant contends that the motion court clearly erred in denying his post-conviction motion without an evidentiary hearing because he alleged facts that were not refuted by the record, that if proven would entitle him to relief. Movant alleged that he was denied effective assistance of counsel in that his attorney advised him not to speak with representatives of the Division of Probation and Parole until the issues involving his prior convictions were resolved. Mov-ant alleges this prevented him from being recommended for drug treatment programs, thereby prejudicing movant, there being a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s inaction, the outcome of his sentencing would have been different.

An evidentiary hearing is not required for a post-conviction motion for relief if the motion court determines that the motion and the files and records of the case show conclusively that movant is not entitled to relief. Rule 24.035(h). To be entitled to an evidentiary hearing, movant must: (1) allege facts, not conclusions, which merit relief; (2) the facts alleged must raise matters not refuted by the files and records in the case; and (3) the matters must have resulted in prejudice to movant. Morrow v. State, 21 S.W.3d 819, 822 (Mo. banc 2000); Hall v. State, 16 S.W.3d 582, 585 (Mo. banc 2000). To warrant an evidentiary hearing on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, movant must allege facts unrefuted by the record that show that his attorney’s performance failed to conform to the degree of skill and diligence of a reasonably competent attorney, thereby prejudicing movant. Id. Prejudice requires a showing that but for counsel’s mistakes, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); Williams v. State, 8 S.W.3d 217, 219 (Mo.App.1999).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Gream v. State, 90 S.W.3d 498, 2002 Mo. App. LEXIS 2205, 2002 WL 31454122 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002).

90 S.W.3d 498 (Gream v. State) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Robin Lucas v. State of Missouri
451 S.W.3d 336 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2014)
Wright v. State
411 S.W.3d 381 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2013)
Hartman v. State
130 S.W.3d 727 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2004)
Morales v. State
104 S.W.3d 432 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2003)
White v. State
90 S.W.3d 498 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2002)