Jardine (Hector) v. State

CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedJune 12, 2014
Docket63267
StatusUnpublished

This text of Jardine (Hector) v. State (Jardine (Hector) v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jardine (Hector) v. State, (Neb. 2014).

Opinion

would entitle him to relief. Hargrove v. State, 100 Nev. 498, 502-03, 686 P.2d 222, 225 (1984). First, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a pretrial petition for a writ of habeas corpus arguing that the kidnapping charge was improper because the movement of the victim did not substantially increase the risk of harm. Appellant acknowledges counsel moved to dismiss the kidnapping charge prior to trial, but he argues that the proper procedure to challenge that charge was via a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Appellant fails to demonstrate that his trial counsel's performance was deficient or that he was prejudiced. "A separate charge of first degree kidnaping is proper if the movement of the victim is not merely incidental to the associated offense and it results in substantially increased risk of harm." Curtis D. v. State, 98 Nev. 272, 274, 646 P.2d 547, 548 (1982) (citing Wright v. State, 94 Nev. 415, 581 P.2d 442 (1978)). In this case, appellant took the victim at knifepoint upstairs to a bedroom, locked the bedroom door behind them, and then forced her to stay in that bedroom for a substantial period of time. Moving the victim to a more secluded room and locking her in that room substantially increased the risk of harm. Under these circumstances, appellant fails to demonstrate that reasonably diligent counsel would have filed a pretrial petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging the kidnapping charge or that a petition had a reasonable probability of altering the outcome of the proceedings as such a petition would have been futile. See Ennis v. State, 122 Nev. 694, 706, 137 P.3d 1095, 1103 (2006).

SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 2 (0) 1947A .)-19rOD Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim without conducting an evidentiary hearing. Second, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to obtain evidence from the Navy regarding false allegations of sexual misconduct the victim made while she served in the military. Appellant fails to demonstrate that he was prejudiced. Appellant fails to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel sought these records as appellant does not demonstrate that these records actually exist and that any records discussing the victim's sexual history would have been admissible at trial. See NRS 50.090; see also Miller v. State, 105 Nev. 497, 502, 779 P.2d 87, 90 (1989) (discussing that prior to admission of a victim's prior sexual abuse allegation, a defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the victim made an accusation, the accusation was false, and that the evidence is more probative than prejudicial). Appellant also fails to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel obtained these records as there was overwhelming evidence that appellant sexually assaulted the victim and attempted to murder her. Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim without conducting an evidentiary hearing. Third, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object when the State asked appellant during trial if other witnesses were lying. Appellant fails to demonstrate that he was prejudiced. The challenged questions were considered on direct appeal under a plain error standard and this court concluded that the questions

SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 3 (0) 1947A did not affect appellant's "substantial rights in light of the overwhelming evidence of his guilt." Jardine v. State, Docket Nos. 48736 and 48737 (Order of Affirmance, December 19, 2008). As there was overwhelming evidence of appellant's guilt presented at trial, appellant fails to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel objected to the State's questions regarding the veracity of the other witnesses. Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim without conducting an evidentiary hearing. Fourth, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to retain a medical expert to review the victim's wounds and testify that she was hurt by falling on a piece of glass, not by appellant's knife. Appellant fails to demonstrate that his trial counsel's performance was deficient or that he was prejudiced. The surgeon who operated on the victim testified that, while it was possible that a sharp piece of glass could have caused the victim's wounds, the jagged glass depicted in a photograph from the crime scene could not have been the cause. Appellant fails to demonstrate that reasonably diligent counsel could have discovered a medical expert that would have testified in a different manner or a reasonable probability of a different outcome had counsel retained a medical expert on appellant's behalf. Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim without conducting an evidentiary hearing. Fifth, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to discover that appellant had actually filed for divorce from his wife prior to the incident with the victim. Appellant fails to demonstrate

SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 4 (0) 1947A e that his trial counsel's performance was deficient or that he was prejudiced. Appellant testified that he hired a divorce attorney and that he believed thefl divorce process had been initiated. Appellant fails to demonstrate that reasonably diligent counsel would have sought further evidence to bolster this testimony as it did not provide a defense to appellant's actions with respect to the victim. Appellant fails to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel further investigated appellant's divorce proceedings as there was overwhelming evidence presented that appellant sexually assaulted the victim and attempted to murder her. Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim without conducting an evidentiary hearing. Sixth, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to obtain cell phone records to demonstrate that the victim called appellant on the day of the incident. Appellant fails to demonstrate that his trial counsel's performance was deficient or that he was prejudiced. Appellant testified that the victim called him and indicated that she wanted to discuss their relationship. Appellant fails to demonstrate that reasonably diligent counsel would have attempted to bolster this statement through cell phone records as those records would not have provided a defense for appellant's actions. Appellant fails to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel sought these records, as there was overwhelming evidence presented that appellant hid in the victim's apartment with a knife, sexually assaulted her when she returned home, and then stabbed her in

SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 5 (0) I947A clit449 the neck when she attempted to escape. Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim without conducing an evidentiary hearing. Seventh, appellant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately draft a motion for new trial. Appellant fails to demonstrate that his trial counsel's performance was deficient or that he was prejudiced.

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

Related

Miller v. State
779 P.2d 87 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1989)
Wright v. State
581 P.2d 442 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1978)
Hargrove v. State
686 P.2d 222 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1984)
Ennis v. State
137 P.3d 1095 (Nevada Supreme Court, 2006)
Curtis D. v. State
646 P.2d 547 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1982)
Byford v. State
156 P.3d 691 (Nevada Supreme Court, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Jardine (Hector) v. State, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jardine-hector-v-state-nev-2014.