IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE FILED JUNE 1998 SESSION October 9, 1998
Cecil W. Crowson Appellate Court Clerk REGINALD HENDRIX, ) ) C.C.A. NO. 01C01-9708-CR-00343 Appellant, ) ) DAVIDSON COUNTY V. S ) ) HON. THOMAS SHRIVER, STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) JUDGE ) Appellee. ) (P onvic ost-C tion)
FORTHEAPPELLANT: F RT EA P L E : O H P EL E
JOHN B. BLAIR, III JOHN KNOX WALKUP 211UnionSt., Suite915 Attorney General &Reporter Nashville, TN37201 LISA A. NAYLOR Asst. Attorney General JohnSevierBldg. 425FifthAve., North Nashville, TN 37243-0493
VICTOR S. JOHNSON, III District Attorney General
MARY HAUSMAN Asst. District Attorney General 222SecondAve., North, Suite500 Nashville, TN37201-1649
OPINIONFILED:____________________
REVERSED
JOHN H. PEAY, Judge OPINION
Thepetitionerfiledapetitionfor post-convictionrelief, arguingthat but forhisattorney’sfailuretoadvisehim
of his rig toappeal after the sentencing hearing, he would have appealed fromthe sentence im ht posed and likely succeeded.
Following ahearing, thetrial court deniedthepetition, andthepetitionernowappeals. Aftera revie of thereco w agreew w rd, e ith
thepetitionerandreversetheactionofthetrial court.
Thepetitionerwaschargedwithandpledguiltytoseveralcountsofaggravatedassa t,aggravatedburglary, ul
andburglary. Foroneof theaggravatedburglary counts, thetrial court orderedthe petitionertosuccessfullycompletethe Lifeline
drug treatm programandim ent posedaone-yearsentenceof incarcerationtobeservedday-for-day. Byagreement, thetrial court
postponed se nc ontherem ingco ts, sta tha it wo se nc th p nte ing ain un ting t uld nte e e etition to concurrent sentences on the er
remainingcountsif hesuccessfullycompletedtheLifelineprogramandmaintaineda“goodinstitutional record.” At thetim ofthis e
hearing, thepetitionerwasrepresentedbyMr. DavidBaker ofthePublicDefender’sOfficeinNashville.
After the petitioner was released early from jail to the Comm Corrections program, and while his unity
sentencing hearing on the remaining charges wa still pending, the petitioner com itted other crim W the petitioner s m es. hen
appearedincourt forsentencingontherem ningcha 1 M r . P a u l N e w m a n , a l s o o f t h e P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ’ s ai rges,
O f f i c e in N a s h v ille , a p p e a r e d o n b e h a lf o f th e p e titio n e r b e c a u s e M r . B a k e r h a d b e e n
t r a n s f e r r e d t o a n o t h e r c o u r t . A t t h i s s e c o n d s e n t e n c in g h e a r i n g , t h e t r i a l c o u r t i m p o s e d
c o n s e c u tiv e s e n te n c e s o n t h e r e m a in in g c o u n ts . T h e d e f e n d a n t d id n o t a p p e a l f r o m
t h e s e s e n te n c e s , a n d t h e r e c o rd in t h is c a s e d o e s n o t c o n ta in a w r it t e n w a iv e r o f a p p e a l
p u r s u a n t to T e n n e s s e e R u le o f C r im in a l P r o c e d u re 3 7 ( d ) .
T h e p e titio n e r file d a p e titio n f o r p o s t- c o n v ic tio n r e lie f, w h ic h h a s
1 The petitioner was sentenced separately on the crimes he committed while released. These senten ces are not involve d in the insta nt petition for p ost-con viction relief.
2 s u b s e q u e n t l y b e e n a m e n d e d t o a l l e g e t h a t M r . N e w m a n w a s in e f f e c t i v e f o r f a i l i n g t o
in fo r m h im o f h is r ig h t to a p p e a l fro m th e c o n s e c u tiv e s e n te n c e s im p o s e d o n th e
r e m a i n i n g c h a r g e s . A p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n h e a r i n g w a s h e ld , a t w h i c h t h e p e t i t i o n e r t e s t i f i e d
t h a t M r . N e w m a n n e v e r in f o r m e d h im o f h is rig h t t o a p p e a l a n d th a t if h e h a d , h e w o u ld
h a v e a p p e a le d . M r . N e w m a n a ls o t e s tif ie d a t t h e h e a r in g . H e t e s tif ie d t h a t p r io r t o t h e
s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g , h e t o l d t h e p e t i t i o n e r t h a t h e w o u l d p r o b a b l y r e c e iv e c o n s e c u t i v e
s e n te n c e s a n d t h e p e t it io n e r r e s p o n d e d t h a t h e w a n t e d t o a p p e a l. T o t h a t , M r . N e w m a n
t o l d h im t h a t if h e w a n t e d t o a p p e a l, h e n e e d e d to c o n ta c t t o M r . B a k e r . A fte r th e
s e n t e n c in g h e a r i n g , M r . N e w m a n h a d n o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p e t i t i o n e r a t a l l , e v e n t h o u g h
h e a d m itte d th a t th e P u b lic D e f e n d e r ’s O ffic e w a s th e p e titio n e r ’s c o u r t - a p p o in t e d
a t t o r n e y a n d t h a t h e w a s a s s ig n e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’ s in t e r e s t s a t t h a t t i m e .
H o w e v e r, h e d id t a lk w it h M r . B a k e r, in f o r m in g M r . B a k e r o f w h a t h e t o ld t h e p e tit io n e r
a n d t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r w o u l d l i k e ly b e g e tt i n g i n t o u c h w i t h h i m . M r . B a k e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t
h e d i d n o t r e c a ll a d v is in g t h e p e t i t i o n e r o f h i s r i g h t t o a p p e a l o r t a l k in g t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r
a b o u t w h e t h e r h e w a n t e d t o a p p e a l. A f t e r h e a r in g t h i s t e s t im o n y , t h e t r ia l c o u r t f o u n d ,
in te r a lia , t h a t t h e p e tit io n e r w a s a w a r e o f h is rig h t t o a p p e a l a n d th a t h is fa ilu r e t o a p p e a l
w a s d u e to h is o w n n e g l e c t.
In r e v ie w i n g th e p e titio n e r ’s S ix th A m e n d m e n t c la i m o f in e ff e c tiv e
a s s i s t a n c e o f c o u n s e l , t h i s C o u r t m u s t d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e a d v ic e g iv e n o r s e r v ic e s
r e n d e r e d b y th e p e tit io n e r ’s a tt o r n e y , M r . N e w m a n , a r e w it h in t h e r a n g e o f c o m p e t e n c e
d e m a n d e d o f a tto r n e y s in c rim in a l c a s e s . B a x t e r v . R o s e , 5 2 3 S .W .2 d 9 3 0 , 9 3 6 ( T e n n .
1 9 7 5 ) . D e f e n s e c o u n s e l h a s a n a f f i r m a t i v e d u t y t o a d v is e h i s o r h e r c li e n t o f t h e r i g h t t o
a p p e a l a s e n te n c e , a n d t h e f a i l u r e t o d o s o c o n s t i t u t e s d e fi c ie n t p e r f o r m a n c e . G a r v i n
S h e p h e r d v . S t a t e , C . C . A . N o . 0 1 C 0 1 - 9 3 0 3 - C R - 0 0 0 8 0 , D a v id s o n C o u n t y ( T e n n . C r i m .
A p p . file d M a r c h 1 7 , 1 9 9 4 , a t N a s h v ille ) . M o r e o v e r, c o u n s e l fo r a d e fe n d a n t w ith a r ig h t
3 to a p p e a l fro m a ju d g m e n t o f c o n v ic tio n m u s t e it h e r t im e ly file a n o t ic e o f a p p e a l o r a
w r i t t e n w a i v e r o f a p p e a l s ig n e d b y th e d e f e n d a n t . T e n n e s s e e R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e
3 7 ( d ) . F a ilu r e to file a w r it t e n w a iv e r o f a p p e a l d o e s n o t r e n d e r a ju d g m e n t in v a lid if t h e
r e c o r d c le a r l y a n d u n a m b i g u o u s ly s h o w s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t k n e w o f h i s r i g h t t o a p p e a l
a n d in t e n d e d to w a iv e th a t r ig h t. S e e D a le M . J e n k in s v . S t a t e , C . C . A . N o . 0 1 C 0 1 - 9 4 0 5 -
C R - 0 0 1 5 6 , M o n tg o m e r y C o u n t y (T e n n . C r im . A p p . file d A p r il 1 3 , 1 9 9 5 , a t N a s h v ille ) ; s e e
a ls o R a in e r v . S t a te , 9 5 8 S . W . 2 d 3 5 6 ( T e n n . C r im . A p p . 1 9 9 7 ) .
H e r e , t h e e v id e n c e s h o w s t h a t M r . N e w m a n t a l k e d t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r p r i o r t o
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IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE FILED JUNE 1998 SESSION October 9, 1998
Cecil W. Crowson Appellate Court Clerk REGINALD HENDRIX, ) ) C.C.A. NO. 01C01-9708-CR-00343 Appellant, ) ) DAVIDSON COUNTY V. S ) ) HON. THOMAS SHRIVER, STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) JUDGE ) Appellee. ) (P onvic ost-C tion)
FORTHEAPPELLANT: F RT EA P L E : O H P EL E
JOHN B. BLAIR, III JOHN KNOX WALKUP 211UnionSt., Suite915 Attorney General &Reporter Nashville, TN37201 LISA A. NAYLOR Asst. Attorney General JohnSevierBldg. 425FifthAve., North Nashville, TN 37243-0493
VICTOR S. JOHNSON, III District Attorney General
MARY HAUSMAN Asst. District Attorney General 222SecondAve., North, Suite500 Nashville, TN37201-1649
OPINIONFILED:____________________
REVERSED
JOHN H. PEAY, Judge OPINION
Thepetitionerfiledapetitionfor post-convictionrelief, arguingthat but forhisattorney’sfailuretoadvisehim
of his rig toappeal after the sentencing hearing, he would have appealed fromthe sentence im ht posed and likely succeeded.
Following ahearing, thetrial court deniedthepetition, andthepetitionernowappeals. Aftera revie of thereco w agreew w rd, e ith
thepetitionerandreversetheactionofthetrial court.
Thepetitionerwaschargedwithandpledguiltytoseveralcountsofaggravatedassa t,aggravatedburglary, ul
andburglary. Foroneof theaggravatedburglary counts, thetrial court orderedthe petitionertosuccessfullycompletethe Lifeline
drug treatm programandim ent posedaone-yearsentenceof incarcerationtobeservedday-for-day. Byagreement, thetrial court
postponed se nc ontherem ingco ts, sta tha it wo se nc th p nte ing ain un ting t uld nte e e etition to concurrent sentences on the er
remainingcountsif hesuccessfullycompletedtheLifelineprogramandmaintaineda“goodinstitutional record.” At thetim ofthis e
hearing, thepetitionerwasrepresentedbyMr. DavidBaker ofthePublicDefender’sOfficeinNashville.
After the petitioner was released early from jail to the Comm Corrections program, and while his unity
sentencing hearing on the remaining charges wa still pending, the petitioner com itted other crim W the petitioner s m es. hen
appearedincourt forsentencingontherem ningcha 1 M r . P a u l N e w m a n , a l s o o f t h e P u b l i c D e f e n d e r ’ s ai rges,
O f f i c e in N a s h v ille , a p p e a r e d o n b e h a lf o f th e p e titio n e r b e c a u s e M r . B a k e r h a d b e e n
t r a n s f e r r e d t o a n o t h e r c o u r t . A t t h i s s e c o n d s e n t e n c in g h e a r i n g , t h e t r i a l c o u r t i m p o s e d
c o n s e c u tiv e s e n te n c e s o n t h e r e m a in in g c o u n ts . T h e d e f e n d a n t d id n o t a p p e a l f r o m
t h e s e s e n te n c e s , a n d t h e r e c o rd in t h is c a s e d o e s n o t c o n ta in a w r it t e n w a iv e r o f a p p e a l
p u r s u a n t to T e n n e s s e e R u le o f C r im in a l P r o c e d u re 3 7 ( d ) .
T h e p e titio n e r file d a p e titio n f o r p o s t- c o n v ic tio n r e lie f, w h ic h h a s
1 The petitioner was sentenced separately on the crimes he committed while released. These senten ces are not involve d in the insta nt petition for p ost-con viction relief.
2 s u b s e q u e n t l y b e e n a m e n d e d t o a l l e g e t h a t M r . N e w m a n w a s in e f f e c t i v e f o r f a i l i n g t o
in fo r m h im o f h is r ig h t to a p p e a l fro m th e c o n s e c u tiv e s e n te n c e s im p o s e d o n th e
r e m a i n i n g c h a r g e s . A p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n h e a r i n g w a s h e ld , a t w h i c h t h e p e t i t i o n e r t e s t i f i e d
t h a t M r . N e w m a n n e v e r in f o r m e d h im o f h is rig h t t o a p p e a l a n d th a t if h e h a d , h e w o u ld
h a v e a p p e a le d . M r . N e w m a n a ls o t e s tif ie d a t t h e h e a r in g . H e t e s tif ie d t h a t p r io r t o t h e
s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g , h e t o l d t h e p e t i t i o n e r t h a t h e w o u l d p r o b a b l y r e c e iv e c o n s e c u t i v e
s e n te n c e s a n d t h e p e t it io n e r r e s p o n d e d t h a t h e w a n t e d t o a p p e a l. T o t h a t , M r . N e w m a n
t o l d h im t h a t if h e w a n t e d t o a p p e a l, h e n e e d e d to c o n ta c t t o M r . B a k e r . A fte r th e
s e n t e n c in g h e a r i n g , M r . N e w m a n h a d n o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p e t i t i o n e r a t a l l , e v e n t h o u g h
h e a d m itte d th a t th e P u b lic D e f e n d e r ’s O ffic e w a s th e p e titio n e r ’s c o u r t - a p p o in t e d
a t t o r n e y a n d t h a t h e w a s a s s ig n e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’ s in t e r e s t s a t t h a t t i m e .
H o w e v e r, h e d id t a lk w it h M r . B a k e r, in f o r m in g M r . B a k e r o f w h a t h e t o ld t h e p e tit io n e r
a n d t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r w o u l d l i k e ly b e g e tt i n g i n t o u c h w i t h h i m . M r . B a k e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t
h e d i d n o t r e c a ll a d v is in g t h e p e t i t i o n e r o f h i s r i g h t t o a p p e a l o r t a l k in g t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r
a b o u t w h e t h e r h e w a n t e d t o a p p e a l. A f t e r h e a r in g t h i s t e s t im o n y , t h e t r ia l c o u r t f o u n d ,
in te r a lia , t h a t t h e p e tit io n e r w a s a w a r e o f h is rig h t t o a p p e a l a n d th a t h is fa ilu r e t o a p p e a l
w a s d u e to h is o w n n e g l e c t.
In r e v ie w i n g th e p e titio n e r ’s S ix th A m e n d m e n t c la i m o f in e ff e c tiv e
a s s i s t a n c e o f c o u n s e l , t h i s C o u r t m u s t d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e a d v ic e g iv e n o r s e r v ic e s
r e n d e r e d b y th e p e tit io n e r ’s a tt o r n e y , M r . N e w m a n , a r e w it h in t h e r a n g e o f c o m p e t e n c e
d e m a n d e d o f a tto r n e y s in c rim in a l c a s e s . B a x t e r v . R o s e , 5 2 3 S .W .2 d 9 3 0 , 9 3 6 ( T e n n .
1 9 7 5 ) . D e f e n s e c o u n s e l h a s a n a f f i r m a t i v e d u t y t o a d v is e h i s o r h e r c li e n t o f t h e r i g h t t o
a p p e a l a s e n te n c e , a n d t h e f a i l u r e t o d o s o c o n s t i t u t e s d e fi c ie n t p e r f o r m a n c e . G a r v i n
S h e p h e r d v . S t a t e , C . C . A . N o . 0 1 C 0 1 - 9 3 0 3 - C R - 0 0 0 8 0 , D a v id s o n C o u n t y ( T e n n . C r i m .
A p p . file d M a r c h 1 7 , 1 9 9 4 , a t N a s h v ille ) . M o r e o v e r, c o u n s e l fo r a d e fe n d a n t w ith a r ig h t
3 to a p p e a l fro m a ju d g m e n t o f c o n v ic tio n m u s t e it h e r t im e ly file a n o t ic e o f a p p e a l o r a
w r i t t e n w a i v e r o f a p p e a l s ig n e d b y th e d e f e n d a n t . T e n n e s s e e R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e
3 7 ( d ) . F a ilu r e to file a w r it t e n w a iv e r o f a p p e a l d o e s n o t r e n d e r a ju d g m e n t in v a lid if t h e
r e c o r d c le a r l y a n d u n a m b i g u o u s ly s h o w s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t k n e w o f h i s r i g h t t o a p p e a l
a n d in t e n d e d to w a iv e th a t r ig h t. S e e D a le M . J e n k in s v . S t a t e , C . C . A . N o . 0 1 C 0 1 - 9 4 0 5 -
C R - 0 0 1 5 6 , M o n tg o m e r y C o u n t y (T e n n . C r im . A p p . file d A p r il 1 3 , 1 9 9 5 , a t N a s h v ille ) ; s e e
a ls o R a in e r v . S t a te , 9 5 8 S . W . 2 d 3 5 6 ( T e n n . C r im . A p p . 1 9 9 7 ) .
H e r e , t h e e v id e n c e s h o w s t h a t M r . N e w m a n t a l k e d t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r p r i o r t o
t h e s e n t e n c in g h e a r i n g a b o u t h i s r i g h t t o a p p e a l a n d t h a t h e k n e w t h e p e t i t i o n e r w a n t e d
t o a p p e a l h i s s e n t e n c e if h e r e c e iv e d c o n s e c u t i v e s e n t e n c e s . H o w e v e r , a f t e r t h e t r i a l
c o u rt im p o s e d c o n s e c u t iv e s e n t e n c e s , M r . N e w m a n fa ile d to d is c u s s w it h t h e p e tit io n e r
w h e t h e r h e h a d c h a n g e d h is m in d o r w h e t h e r h e s till w a n t e d t o a p p e a l h is s e n te n c e , e v e n
t h o u g h h e w a s t h e a t t o r n e y a s s ig n e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’ s in t e r e s t s . I n s t e a d , M r .
N e w m a n i n e x p li c a b ly r e f e r r e d t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o M r . B a k e r , w h o w a s n o l o n g e r a s s i g n e d
t o r e p r e s e n t t h e p e tit io n e r . M r . N e w m a n n e v e r c o m m u n ic a te d w it h th e p e tit io n e r a f t e r t h e
s e n t e n c in g h e a r i n g a n d n o w r i t t e n w a i v e r o f a p p e a l a p p e a r s in t h e r e c o r d . U n d e r t h e s e
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e p e t i t i o n e r s h o u ld h a v e b e e n g r a n t e d a d e l a y e d a p p e a l . S e e , e . g . ,
C h a r le s H a r r ill v . S ta te , C .C .A . N o . 0 3 C 0 1 - 9 6 0 5 - C C - 0 0 1 8 5 , B lo u n t C o u n ty (T e n n . C r im .
A p p . f ile d J u n e 1 8 , 1 9 9 7 , a t K n o x v ille ) ; M a r k W . R a w lin g s v . S t a t e , C . C . A . N o . 0 2 C 0 1 -
9 5 0 4 - C R - 0 0 1 1 2 , S h e lb y C o u n t y (T e n n . C r im . A p p . f ile d A p r il 1 7 , 1 9 9 6 , a t J a c k s o n ) . T h e
p e t it io n e r n e e d n o t s h o w p r e ju d ic e b e f o r e b e in g g r a n t e d s u c h r e lie f . S t a t e v . L e s te r D .
H e r r o n , C . C . A . N o . 0 3 C 0 1 - 9 1 0 9 - C R - 0 0 2 8 4 , H a w k in s C o u n t y ( T e n n . C r i m . A p p . f i le d
M a r c h 1 0 , 1 9 9 2 , a t K n o x v ille ) . T h e r e fo r e , o f c o u rs e , in n o w a y d o w e a d d r e s s th e m e r its
o f s u c h a p p e a l b e fo r e g r a n tin g th is re lie f. S e e , e .g ., id . ; P in k s t o n v . S t a t e , 6 6 8 S . W . 2 d
6 7 6 ( T e n n . C r i m . A p p . 1 9 8 4 ) . T h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e n ia l o f t h e p e t i t i o n f o r p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n
4 r e lie f is r e v e r s e d a n d t h e p e t it io n e r is g r a n t e d a d e la y e d a p p e a l o f t h e s e n te n c e s
im p o s e d .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ J O H N H . P E A Y , J u d g e
C O N C U R :
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ J O S E P H M . T IP T O N , J u d g e
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D A V ID G . H A Y E S , J u d g e