McGuirk v. State

749 S.W.2d 707, 1988 Mo. App. LEXIS 613, 1988 WL 37973
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 26, 1988
DocketNo. 15232
StatusPublished

This text of 749 S.W.2d 707 (McGuirk v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McGuirk v. State, 749 S.W.2d 707, 1988 Mo. App. LEXIS 613, 1988 WL 37973 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

GREENE, Presiding Judge.

James Ronald McGuirk appeals from the denial of his Rule 27.261 motion to vacate, set aside or correct his conviction and sentences he received after entering pleas of guilty to two counts of sodomy. § 566.060.2 McGuirk received consecutive sentences of 15 years’ imprisonment for the crimes.

In his 27.26 motion, McGuirk alleged (1) ineffective assistance of trial counsel, (2) that his constitutional rights were violated during his in-custody interrogation, and (3) that the trial judge had an erroneous impression that § 558.026(1) mandated consecutive sentences in cases of this type. An evidentiary hearing was held, and after evidence was heard, the motion court made written findings of fact and conclusions of law, and denied relief.

On appeal, McGuirk reasserts the three allegations raised in his motion to vacate. We have a duty to uphold the findings, conclusions and judgment of the motion court unless they are clearly erroneous. [708]*708Rule 27.26(j). McGuirk has the burden of establishing his grounds for relief by a preponderance of the evidence. Rule 27.-26(f).

We first examine the ineffective assistance of counsel allegation. The first count of the information filed against McGuirk charged that on September 30, 1985, he committed the offense of sodomy, § 566.060, by having deviate sexual intercourse with C.B.S. to whom McGuirk was not married, and who was less than 14 years of age. The second count of the information was identical to count one, except that it alleged that the offense occurred on October 2, 1985. The victim was a four year-old female child.

The ineffective assistance of counsel charged by McGuirk was that his trial attorney (1) failed to challenge the weight, sufficiency, and credibility of the testimony of the child, (2) elected to waive McGuirk’s preliminary hearing, thereby precluding his right to confront and cross-examine the child, (3) failed to depose the child, or determine her ability to recall facts and testify in a truthful manner, (4) failed to contact witnesses or depose potential witnesses, and (5) failed to adduce any evidence on McGuirk’s motion to suppress the use of his confession to the crimes as evidence.

On this issue, the motion court found as follows:

5. Subparagraph B of paragraph 7 of Movant’s Motion, alleges that Movant’s trial attorney rendered ineffective assistance of counsel for various reasons. Many of the allegations contained in sub-paragraph B are not germane, since this cause was a plea and not a trial. Complaints about ineffective assistance of counsel are immaterial to allegations in post conviction relief.
6. The allegations that ineffectiveness of counsel effected the voluntariness, knowledge and intelligence with which a guilty plea was made were expressly and directly contradicted by defendant’s testimony at the guilty plea proceeding. Allegations that the trial attorney failed to challenge the weight, sufficiency and credibility of the complaining witness, failed to interview all the State’s witnesses, failed to investigate the circumstances of defendant’s incriminating statements to police, were all waived by entry of defendant’s guilty plea. Oerly v. State of Missouri, 658 SW 2nd 894 (Mo.App.1983). Regarding the allegations of paragraph 7, subpara-graph B (2), this Court finds that regarding the preliminary hearing, the defendant was sworn in open court, and filed a written plea waiving his right to preliminary hearing and that the Movant’s waiver was knowing[ly] and intelligently entered. This Court finds that the Movant’s plea of guilty was voluntary, knowingly and intelligently entered. The Movant has not met his burden in this matter.

In order to prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, McGuirk has the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that his guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily given because of ineffective assistance of counsel. Wiles v. State, 689 S.W.2d 786, 787 (Mo.App.1985). He has not done so. There is conclusive evidence in the record to support the findings of the motion court that McGuirk’s guilty pleas were knowingly and voluntarily given. McGuirk executed a written waiver to a preliminary hearing in which he stated that he understood the nature of the charges against him, had discussed the matter with his lawyer, and knew he had the right to question any witness called by the state at a preliminary hearing, and to call witnesses on his own behalf.

On the day set for trial, which was almost four months after waiving his preliminary hearing, McGuirk advised the trial court he wished to withdraw his not guilty plea and to enter pleas of guilty. The trial judge questioned McGuirk at length about his understanding and voluntariness of the proposed pleas. McGuirk not only admitted his deviate sexual behavior, but also related to the trial judge the acts that had led to the charges being filed against him. McGuirk stated he was aware of his right to a jury trial, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, the right to pro[709]*709duce witnesses in his own behalf, his right to counsel, and all other constitutional rights he could exercise in the event he chose to plead not guilty.

Prior to accepting the guilty pleas, the trial court made the following inquiry regarding McGuirk’s representation by his trial counsel, Mr. Carter:

Q. Are you satisfied with Mr. Carter as your attorney?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Has he done everything that you have asked him to do in preparing your case for trial?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Has he failed or refused to do anything that you have asked him to do in getting your case ready for trial?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you have any complaints whatsoever about Mr. Carter’s representation of you?
A. No, sir.
Q. You are completely satisfied with his representation of you in this case?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You and Mr. Carter have conferred on many occasions about this case, is that correct?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How many hours, roughly, would you say that you and Mr. Carter have spent together talking about this case?
A. Oh, I don’t know, I would say fifteen, twenty something.
Q. Hours?
A. Yeah.
Q. All right. Mr. Carter, have you discussed all of the defendant’s legal rights in the defense of this case with him?
Mr. Carter: Yes, sir.
Q. Have you discussed with him the evidence which he has provided you and evidence which you have been able to obtain from the Prosecuting Attorney and other sources?
Mr. Carter: Yes, sir.
Q. Do you believe the Prosecuting Attorney has provided you with all the evidence or leads to all the evidence which he has?
Mr. Carter: Yes, sir.

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Related

State v. Lytle
715 S.W.2d 910 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1986)
Oerly v. State
658 S.W.2d 894 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1983)
Wiles v. State
689 S.W.2d 786 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1985)
State v. W_F. W
721 S.W.2d 145 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1986)
Browning v. State
735 S.W.2d 210 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1987)

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Bluebook (online)
749 S.W.2d 707, 1988 Mo. App. LEXIS 613, 1988 WL 37973, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcguirk-v-state-moctapp-1988.