Michael McConnell v. State

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
• Decided: December 1, 2010
• Docket: 01C01-9704-CC-00163
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT NASHVILLE FILED MARCH 1998 SESSION April 7, 1998

Cecil W. Crowson Appellate Court Clerk MICHAEL O'NEAL McCONNELL, ) ) NO. 01C01-9704-CC-00163 Appellant, ) ) LAWRENCE COUNTY VS. ) ) HON. WILLIAM B. CAIN, STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) JUDGE ) Appellee. ) (Post-Conviction)

FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:

CHARLES W. HOLT, JR. JOHN KNOX WALKUP 235 Waterloo Street Attorney General and Reporter P. O. Box 357 Lawrenceburg, TN 38464-0357 ELLEN H. POLLACK Assistant Attorney General Cordell Hull Building, 2nd Floor 425 Fifth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37243-0493

T. MICHAEL BOTTOMS District Attorney General

JAMES G. WHITE, II Assistant District Attorney General P. O. Box 279 Lawrenceburg, TN 38464-0279

OPINION FILED:

AFFIRMED

JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE OPINION

Petitioner, Michael O’Neal McConnell, appeals the denial of his petition for

post-conviction relief. Two (2) issues are presented for our review, namely: (1)

whether petitioner was deprived of effective assistance of counsel when he was

advised to give a statement to police authorities; and (2) whether the sentences

received by petitioner are illegal. Finding no error, we AFFIRM the judgment of the

trial court.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Petitioner was indicted for first degree murder and six (6) counts of robbery

by use of a deadly weapon, all alleged to have occurred in January 1989. The state

filed notice that it was seeking the death penalty for the first degree murder. On

November 20, 1990, petitioner entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement.

For the reduced offense of second degree murder, petitioner received a sentence

of 35 years; for five (5) offenses of robbery by use of a deadly weapon, he received

concurrent 10-year sentences; and for one (1) offense of robbery by use of a deadly

weapon, he was sentenced to 35 years to run consecutively to the 35-year sentence

for second degree murder. The effective sentence was a term of 70 years. All

sentence calculations were based upon the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of

1982 and not the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989.

On November 2, 1993, petitioner timely filed the present petition for post-

conviction relief. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-102 (1990). After an evidentiary

hearing, the trial court denied the petition. More specifically, the trial court found

that petitioner had not been deprived of effective assistance of counsel.

Furthermore, the trial court determined that sentencing under the 1982 Act was

proper. Petitioner challenges these findings in this appeal.

2 STANDARDS OF REVIEW

The trial court’s findings of fact are afforded the weight of a jury verdict, and

this Court is bound by the trial court’s findings unless the evidence in the record

preponderates against those findings. Henley v. State, S.W.2d (Tenn.

1997); Dixon v. State, 934 S.W.2d 69, 72 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). This Court may

not reweigh or reevaluate the evidence, nor substitute its inferences for those drawn

by the trial judge. Henley v. State, S.W.2d at ; Massey v. State, 929 S.W.2d

399, 403 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996); Black v. State, 794 S.W.2d 752, 755 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1990). Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses and the weight

and value to be given to their testimony are resolved by the trial court, not this court.

Henley v. State, S.W.2d at ; Black v. State, 794 S.W.2d at 755. The burden

of establishing that the evidence preponderates otherwise is on petitioner. Henley

v. State, S.W.2d at ; Black v. State, 794 S.W.2d at 755.

We are somewhat hampered by the failure of the trial court to file written

findings of fact and conclusions of law with regard to each ground presented in the

petition. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-118(b) (1990) (presently required by Tenn.

Code Ann. § 40-30-211(b) (1997)). Nevertheless, the oral findings pronounced from

the bench are sufficient in this instance to allow appropriate appellate review. State

v. Higgins, 729 S.W.2d 288, 290-91 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987).

INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

This Court reviews a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under the

standards of Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930 (Tenn. 1975), and Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). The petitioner

has the burden to prove that (1) the attorney’s performance was deficient, and (2)

the deficient performance resulted in prejudice to the defendant so as to deprive

him of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064;

3 Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 369 (Tenn. 1996); Overton v. State, 874 S.W.2d

6, 11 (Tenn. 1994); Butler v. State, 789 S.W.2d at 898, 899 (Tenn. 1990).

The test in Tennessee in determining whether counsel provided effective

assistance is whether his performance was within the range of competence

demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d at 936. The

petitioner must overcome the presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the

wide range of acceptable professional assistance. Strickland v. Washington, 466

U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065; State v. Williams, 929 S.W.2d 385, 389 (Tenn.

Crim. App. 1996). Therefore, in order to prove a deficiency, a petitioner must show

that counsel’s acts or omissions were so serious as to fall below an objective

standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms. Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2065; Henley v. State, S.W.2d at

___; Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d at 369.

In reviewing counsel's conduct, a "fair assessment . . . requires that every

effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the

circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from

counsel's perspective at the time." Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 689, 104

S.Ct. at 2065. The fact that a particular strategy or tactic failed or hurt the defense,

does not, standing alone, establish unreasonable representation. However,

deference to matters of strategy and tactical choices applies only if the choices are

informed ones based upon adequate preparation. Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d at

369; Hellard v. State, 629 S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982); Cooper v. State, 847 S.W.2d

521, 528 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992).

In Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 106 S.Ct. 366, 88 L.Ed.2d 203 (1985), the

Supreme Court applied the two-part Strickland standard to ineffective assistance of

counsel claims arising out of a guilty plea. The Court in Hill modified the prejudice

requirement by requiring a defendant to show that there is a reasonable probability

that, but for counsel's errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have

insisted on going to trial. 474 U.S. at 59, 106 S.Ct. at 370.

4 COUNSEL’S ALLOWING PETITIONER TO GIVE STATEMENT

Petitioner contends his first appointed counsel was deficient in allowing the

petitioner to give a statement to the authorities without first securing a plea

agreement with the district attorney general’s office. The state, on the other hand,

contends this was a tactical decision by trial counsel and was reasonable in light of

the circumstances.

A.

The petitioner and others were arrested for committing a series of armed

robberies in January 1989. One of the co-defendants implicated the petitioner in

a homicide that was perpetrated during one of the armed robberies. Petitioner

denied being an actual perpetrator of the homicide. Petitioner’s trial counsel at that

time advised the petitioner that he should cooperate with the authorities and give

a truthful statement. Although petitioner in his statement denied being the actual

perpetrator of the stabbing leading to the victim’s death, the petitioner did concede

that he was present and involved in the robbery of the victim. Petitioner contends

his counsel was ineffective in allowing petitioner to give this statement.

B.

Based upon hindsight, one could certainly contend this statement did not

inure to the benefit of the petitioner. However, the advice given must be viewed at

the time it was given, not by hindsight. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 689,

104 S.Ct. at 2065. At the time of the statement the petitioner had apparently been

fingered by a co-defendant as participating in the homicide. Petitioner faced the

possibility of the death penalty if convicted of first degree murder and was further

facing numerous other armed robbery charges. Although the statement admitted

petitioner’s involvement in the robbery, there was a denial of his actual participation

5 in the homicide. This cooperation could reasonably have placed the petitioner in

a better position with the police and prosecutorial authorities. We are reluctant to

second-guess this tactical decision.

C.

In addition, petitioner bears the burden of demonstrating that he would not

have entered a plea of guilty had he not given this statement. See Hill v. Lockhart,

474 U.S. at 59, 106 S.Ct. at 320. Petitioner has failed to meet his burden of

establishing that he would not have entered into the plea agreement if he had not

given the statement.

The trial court found that petitioner had not been deprived of effective

assistance of counsel. This Court is bound by those findings unless the evidence

in the record preponderates against those findings. Henley v. State, ___ S.W.2d

at ___, Dixon v. State, 934 S.W.2d at 72. Petitioner has not met his burden of

establishing that the evidence preponderates against the findings of the trial court.

This issue is without merit.

LEGALITY OF THE SENTENCES

Under the plea agreement all sentences were established pursuant to the

Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1982. Since the offenses were committed after

July 1, 1982, and the defendant was sentenced after November 1, 1989, petitioner

could have been sentenced under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989.

See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-117(b). Petitioner, therefore, contends that his 35-

year second degree murder sentence and 35-year armed robbery sentence are

illegal since their length is not authorized under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act

of 1989. The state contends that the sentences, received pursuant to a plea

agreement, were appropriately imposed under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act

of 1982. We must agree with the state.

6 A.

Trial courts imposing sentences after the effective date of the 1989

Sentencing Act for crimes committed prior to its effective date must calculate the

appropriate sentences under both the 1982 Sentencing Act as well as the 1989

Sentencing Act. State v. Pearson, 858 S.W.2d 879, 884 (Tenn. 1993). After

making these calculations, the trial court must then impose the lesser sentence. Id.

Therefore, the mere fact that the petitioner was sentenced under the 1982

Sentencing Act, even though sentenced after the effective date of the 1989

Sentencing Act, does not itself indicate that the sentences are illegal.

Under the 1982 Sentencing Act the punishment for second degree murder

and robbery by use of a deadly weapon was not less than 10 years nor more than

life. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-2-212, 39-2-501 (1982). A Range I sentence for each

offense was not less than 10 years nor more than 35 years. See Tenn. Code Ann.

§ 40-35-109 (1982). Thus, a 35-year sentence for second degree murder and

robbery by use of a deadly weapon was authorized under the 1982 Sentencing Act.

Under the 1989 Sentencing Act the Range I punishment for second degree

murder is not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years. The Range I punishment

for robbery by use of a deadly weapon is not less than eight (8) years nor more than

12 years. Obviously, a Range I sentence of 35 years for either offense is not

authorized under the 1989 Sentencing Act.

It is necessary, however, to analyze petitioner’s plea based upon the

circumstances at the time. Had defendant not pled guilty and gone to trial, he faced

a first degree murder charge with the possibility of the death penalty or life

imprisonment under both Sentencing Acts. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-2-202(b)

(1982); 39-13-202 (b) (1991). Although the range of punishment for each offense

of robbery by use of a deadly weapon was eight (8) to twelve (12) years under the

7 1989 Act as opposed to 10 to 35 years under the 1982 Act, petitioner still faced the

possibility of consecutive sentencing. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-115 (1990).

In short, the defendant, even if convicted and sentenced under the 1989 Sentencing

Act, faced the possibility of the death penalty and/or confinement that exceeded the

70 years he secured in the plea agreement.

The record further reveals that trial counsel considered sentencing under

both the 1982 Sentencing Act and the 1989 Sentencing Act. The offer of the state

was a “package deal” for a total of 70 years. Under these circumstances the

sentences were not illegal, nor were they the result of ineffective assistance of

counsel.

Since we find no error after a careful review of the record, the judgment of

the trial court is affirmed.

________________________________ JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE

CONCUR:

________________________________ JOSEPH M. TIPTON, JUDGE

________________________________ DAVID H. WELLES, JUDGE