IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON <~-i t. --- <-
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 72032-5-1 Respondent, DIVISION ONE V? v. CO
LARDELL COURTNEY, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant. FILED: February 17. 2015
Spearman, C.J. — After stealing two bottles of liquor from a Safeway
store, Lardell Courtney first fled, then fought with pursuing loss prevention
officers in the store parking lot. Courtney was apprehended and subsequently
convicted of one count of second degree robbery and one count of third degree
assault. The jury acquitted him of a second count of third degree assault. On
appeal, he claims: (1) the assault merged with the robbery; (2) the crimes were
the same criminal conduct; (3) the trial court's decision to entertain juror
challenges in writing at a sidebar conference violated the public trial right and his
right to be present at all critical stages; (4) insufficient evidence supports his
robbery conviction; and (5) ineffective assistance of counsel. We agree regarding
merger and vacate his assault conviction. We remand for resentencing without
reaching his same criminal conduct argument. We reject his remaining claims. No. 72032-5-1/2
FACTS
This case arises from a shoplifting incident that occurred on the evening of
September 6, 2012, at a Tacoma, Washington Safeway store. The facts
surrounding the incident were established at trial by the State's witnesses,
Safeway loss prevention officers, Nathaniel Duval-lgarta and Axel Engelhardt-
Parales. They are undisputed.
On the night in question, Lardell Courtney entered the Safeway store and
headed for the liquor aisle. Once there, he placed two bottles of Hpnotiq liquor
inside his pants and left the store without paying for them. Undercover loss
prevention officer Duval-lgarta had been watching Courtney and, as Courtney
exited the store, Duval-lgarta pursued him. When Duval-lgarta was within about
ten feet of Courtney, the officer held up his badge, identified himself, and ordered
Courtney to stop. Courtney fled and Duval-lgarta gave chase. A second loss
prevention officer, Engelardt-Parales, joined the pursuit.
When Duval-lgarta caught up to Courtney in the parking lot, Courtney
attempted, but failed, to punch him. Duval-lgarta used Courtney's forward
momentum to push him to the ground. As Courtney fell, the stolen bottles of
liquor, slipped from his pants. As Duval-lgarta and Courtney struggled on the
ground Courtney climbed on top of the officer and struck him in the face. A
moment later, Englehardt-Parales joined the fray and helped Duval-lgarta
subdue Courtney.
Courtney was subsequently charged with one count of second degree
robbery (count I) and two counts of third degree assault, one count each for No. 72032-5-1/3
Duval-lgarta (count II) and Englehardt-Parales (count III). On October 25, 2012,
the charging information was amended to add as an aggravating factor that
Courtney committed each offense shortly after being released from incarceration.
Prior to jury selection the trial court directed counsel to exercise for cause
challenges as follows:
COURT: Ifthere are any causes that arise, challenges for cause that arise while you're talking to jurors, I would ask that you just stop and we'll deal with that outside the presence of other jurors. Ifwe need to excuse them outside in the hallway, we can do that; otherwise, we can take them up at the end of the juror questioning and prior to you doing your peremptory challenges, executing any challenges for cause.
PROSECUTOR: Your Honor, just to clarify, the cause challenges you want us making at the time they arise?
COURT: I would just ask you call for a sidebar, and we can talk about it briefly and then figure out what we're going to do to deal with it formally on the record.
PROSECUTOR: Okay.
COURT: If it's an obvious one, I may, if you're doing the questioning and it's a fairly obvious challenge, then I'll ask Mr. Shaw if he has any objection to excusing that juror, just to move things along rather than setting it out. Any other procedural issues?
Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) (01-23-13) at 4-5. Neither party objected
to this procedure. After the prosecutor and defense counsel had questioned
prospective jurors, the trial court called both attorneys, but not Courtney, to a
sidebar conference. Later, the trial court indicated on the record that, during the
sidebar, the judge and attorneys had discussed dismissal of jurors 11 and 16 for
cause. The State had objected to dismissal of juror 11, who was removed No. 72032-5-1/4
because she worked for Safeway and, in the judge's opinion, was potentially
biased. Juror 16 was removed because the court questioned his ability to follow
the instructions and keep an open mind.
Jury selection continued and, just before the parties exercised their
peremptory challenges, the trial court announced:
COURT: Folks, you can sit back and relax. The attorneys will be making their final selection here in writing and then when they're done, we will have folks take the jury box. You can talk quietly between yourselves over anything other than this case. Okay?
And [defense counsel], I'm going to turn off the headset. [Judicial assistant] if you would do that.
(Off the record while the attorneys are doing their peremptory challenges).
Supplemental (01/23/13) VRP at 47. The attorneys then exercised peremptory
challenges at sidebar resulting in the dismissal of jurors 3 and 10. Subsequently,
the court empanelled the jurors who had been selected to decide the case, plus
two alternates. After the sidebar conference, the court called the jurors who had
been selected to hear the case to the jury box and excused the remaining jurors.
The trial court did not announce which jurors had been excused due to the
exercise of peremptory challenges or which party had challenged them. Instead,
the court filed a document listing the name and number of each juror struck via a
peremptory challenge, the party exercising the challenge, and the order in which
the challenge was used. No. 72032-5-1/5
At the close of evidence, the jury convicted Courtney of robbery in the
second degree (count I) and assault in the third degree (count II). The jury
acquitted Courtney of assault in the third degree as charged in count III. The jury
also found, via special verdict, that Courtney had committed the crimes charged
in counts one and two shortly after being released from incarceration. Sentencing
occurred on February 1, 2013. The State argued that, based on Courtney's prior
criminal history, he had an offender score of 10. Courtney disagreed with this
calculation, arguing that his score was 9 because the current robbery and assault
involved the same criminal conduct and should be treated as a single offense for
purposes of his offender score. The trial court did not conduct a "same criminal
conduct" analysis on the record, but nevertheless concluded that Courtney's
offender score was "over ten." VRP at 170. The court imposed an exceptional
sentence of 96 months on the robbery conviction (comprised of a high end
standard range sentence of 84 months plus an additional 12 months confinement
based upon the aggravating factor) and a standard range sentence of 60 months
for the assault conviction, to be served concurrently. Courtney appeals.
DISCUSSION
Double Jeopardy
Courtney first challenges his convictions on double jeopardy grounds,
arguing that robbery in the second degree and assault in the third degree, as
charged and proved in this case, merge and his conviction for both crimes
violated the double jeopardy provisions of the federal and state constitutions. We
review this claim de novo. State v. Freeman. 153 Wn.2d 765, 770, 108 P.3d 753 No. 72032-5-1/6
(2005).
The double jeopardy provisions of the federal and state constitutions
"protect a defendant from being punished multiple times for the same offense."
State v. Allen, 150 Wn. App. 300, 312, 207 P. 3d 483 (2009) (citing State v. Adel,
136 Wn.2d 629, 632, 965 P.2d 1072 (1998)). When there are multiple
punishments for the same conduct, the primary question is whether the
legislature intended that multiple punishments be imposed. Freeman, 153 Wn.2d
at 771. The merger doctrine provides one basis for ascertaining legislative intent
not expressly stated or implicit from the language of the statute.1 Id. at 772-73;
State v. Vladovic. 99 Wn.2d 413, 422, 662 P.2d 853 (1983)).
As a general rule, the merger doctrine applies "where the Legislature has
clearly indicated that in order to prove a particular degree of crime (e.g., first
degree rape) the State must prove not only that a defendant committed that
crime (e.g., rape) but that the crime was accompanied by an act which is defined
as a crime elsewhere in the criminal statutes (e.g., assault or kidnapping)." State
v. Davis, 177 Wn. App. 454, 460-61, 311 P.3d 1278 (2013) review denied, 179
Wn. 2d 1025, 320 P.3d 719 (2014). In determining whether crimes merge, we do
not focus narrowly on the express designation of various degrees of a crime in
the criminal statutes. Rather, we inquire as to the "manner in which the offenses
1The State suggests that because second degree robbery and third degree assault constitute separate offenses under the "same evidence'VBIockburqer test, we need not consider merger doctrine in determining whether a double jeopardy violation exists. See, Blockburqer v. United States. 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932); State v. Calle. 125 Wn.2d 769, 777, 888 P.2d 155 (1995) ("same evidence" test). Because the "same evidence'VBIockburqer test is merely one of several means of determining legislative intent to impose multiple punishments for the same offense, the argument is not well taken. See, Freeman, 153 Wn.2d at 771. No. 72032-5-1/7
are charged and proved in a particular case and whether the State was required
to prove the act constituting the merging crime to elevate the other crime." jd. at
463.
Davis is instructive. The case involved a double jeopardy challenge to
convictions for second degree kidnapping and second degree assault, arising
from an incident in which the defendant abducted two victims at gunpoint. \± at
460. The defendant in Davis argued that second degree assault merged with
second degree kidnapping because, as charged and proved by the State, the act
constituting the assault—Davis pointing a gun at his victims—was the same act
that constituted the threatened use of deadly force necessary to elevate unlawful
imprisonment under RCW 9A.40.040 to second degree kidnapping under RCW
9A.40.030. ]d, at 464. We agreed, holding that, though not specifically
designated by statute as a lesser degree of kidnapping, the crime of unlawful imprisonment should be considered as such for purposes of merger analysis. Id
at 461. Our rationale was based on the fact that the two criminal statutes were
codified in consecutive sections of the same chapter and, as charged and
proved, unlawful imprisonment was a lesser included offense of kidnapping. We
concluded that these factors indicated the legislature's intent not to impose
multiple punishments under the circumstances.
The present case is like Davis. It involves a crime—third degree theft—
not specifically designated as a lesser degree of the charged crime—second
degree robbery, but codified in the same chapter of the criminal code, chapter 9A.56 RCW. Also like Davis, in order to elevate one crime to a greater one— No. 72032-5-1/8
here, third degree theft to second degree robbery—the State had to prove
conduct that constituted a separate crime—assault. Accordingly, we conclude
that where a charge of assault elevates the crime of theft to the crime of robbery,
the merger doctrine may apply.
The State contends that even if the merger doctrine generally applies in
this circumstance, it is inapplicable on the facts of this case. The State argues
the robbery and the assault charge regarding Duval-lgarta are based on two
separate acts of force. According to the State, the swing-and-miss while
Courtney and Duval-lgarta were both still standing was committed in an effort to
retain the stolen bottles of liquor and thus supports the robbery charge, while the
successful punch was committed to evade lawful capture, and thus supports the
assault charge.2 Thus, the State contends it is evident that the jury's verdicts as
to each charge were based on separate acts. We disagree.
In order to withstand a double jeopardy claim, it must be manifestly
apparent that the jury based each conviction on a separate act. State v. Mutch,
171 Wn.2d 646, 664, 254 P.3d 803 (2011). "Considering the evidence,
arguments, and instructions, if it is not clear that it was 'manifestly apparent to
the jury that the State [was] not seeking to impose multiple punishments for the
same offense' and that each count was based on a separate act, there is a
double jeopardy violation. JU (quoting State v. Berg. 147 Wn. App. 923, 931, 198
P.3d 529 (2008).
2To convict Courtney of third degree assault the State bore the burden of proving that he assaulted a person with intent to prevent or resist lawful apprehension. RCW 9A.36.031(1)(a).
8 No. 72032-5-1/9
In this case, the jurors were instructed, in relevant part, as follows:
INSTRUCTION NO. 7
To convict the defendant of the crime of Robbery in the Second Degree as charged in Count I, each of the following elements of the crime must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about the 6th day of September, 2012; the defendant unlawfully took personal property from the person or in the presence of another; (2) That the defendant intended to commit theft of the property; (3) That the taking was against that person's will by the defendant's use or threatened use of immediate force, violence or fear of injury to that person or to that person's property or to the person or property of another;
INSTRUCTION NO. 12
To convict the defendant of the crime of Assault in the Third Degree as charged in Count II, each of the following elements of the crime must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about the 6th day of September, 2012, the defendant assaulted Nathaniel Duval;
INSTRUCTION NO. 18
An assault is an intentional touching or striking of another person that is harmful or offensive regardless of whether any physical injury is done to the person. A touching or striking is offensive ifthe touching or striking would offend an ordinary person who is not unduly sensitive.
An assault is also an act done with intent to inflict bodily injury upon another, tending but failing to accomplish it and accompanied with the apparent present ability to inflict the bodily injury if not prevented. It is not necessary that bodily injury be inflicted. No. 72032-5-1/10
An assault is also an act done with the intent to create in another apprehension and fear of bodily injury, and which in fact creates in another a reasonable apprehension and imminent fear of bodily injury even though the actor did not actually intend to inflict bodily injury.
CP at 23, 28, 34 (emphasis added).
As charged in this case, both the robbery and assault charges could be
proved by evidence that Courtney either used or threatened to use force. The
State offered evidence that he did both, i.e., the successful punch and the swing-
and-miss. Because the jury instructions did not limit the jurors concerning which
act related to which crime, they could have considered either the swing-and-miss
or the successful punch in support of either. More importantly for our merger
analysis, given the ambiguity in the instructions, the jurors could have based both
convictions on only one of the two acts. Under the latter circumstances,
conviction for both crimes violates double jeopardy.
The State argues that Instruction No. 2 resolves this problem. Instruction
No. 2 provides:
[a] separate crime is charged in each count. You must decide each count separately. Your verdict on one count should not control your verdict on any other count.
CP at 18. The State contends that this instruction sufficiently informed the jury
that each crime required proof of a different act. But our Supreme Court struck
down this argument with regard to an identical instruction in Mutch, 171 Wn.2d at
662-63 (agreeing with this court that, where jury instructions "fail[ ] to include
sufficiently distinctive 'to convict' instructions or an instruction that each count
must be based on a separate and distinct criminal act," an instruction identical to
10 No. 72032-5-1/11
Instruction No. 2 here "is not saving [because] it still fails to [ ]inform[ ] the jury
that each 'crime' required proof of a different act.").
The State also argues that any potential violation was cured by its closing
argument, during which the prosecutor asserted a distinction between the
robbery and assault charges in this case based on the moment Courtney lost
possession of the stolen bottles of liquor. He argued, "[w]e had the robbery that
occurred while the defendant still had the bottles, and then we had two assaults
that occurred after the bottles skidded across the pavement." VRP at 124. The
State claims the prosecutor made a clear election of which act supported each
charge, as is allowed in a multiple acts case. We disagree.
The prosecutor acknowledged that the struggle between Courtney and the
officers "happened in the span of movements, not several minutes." VRP at 125.
This fact seriously undermines any attempt to separate the events of this case
from one ongoing crime and pursuit to three singular acts with discrete intents.
Additionally, we cannot consider the prosecution's election at closing in isolation.
Mutch, 171 Wn.2d at 664; State v. Kier, 164 Wn.2d 798, 813, 194 P.3d 212,
(2008). The evidence presented to the jury regarding Courtney's intent after he
lost the bottles was, at best, ambiguous. The jury could reasonably infer from the
evidence that both his attempted and successful punches were committed with
intent to retain stolen property or overcome resistance to the taking of it, i.e., in
furtherance of the robbery. And, as previously discussed, the jury instructions did
not specify which act of force related to which crime. While the prosecutor
attempted to require this finding at the close of the trial, the jury was properly
11 No. 72032-5-1/12
instructed to base its verdict on the evidence and instructions and not on the
arguments of counsel.
Based on the totality of the record, we find that no clear election was
made in this case. We, therefore, vacate Courtney's conviction for assault in the
second degree and remand for resentencing. See, State v. Weber, 159 Wn.2d
252, 269, 149 P.3d 646 (2006) (usual remedy for double jeopardy violation is to
vacate the offense carrying the lesser sentence).
Public Trial Right
Courtney also claims for the first time on appeal that the trial court's
decision to entertain juror challenges in writing at a sidebar conference violated
his right to a public trial. The alleged error has not been preserved for review.
Under RAP 2.5(a)(3), appellate courts will review an alleged manifest error
affecting a constitutional right even if not raised in the trial court. Sublett, 176 Wn.
2d at 78. Generally, for relief to be granted, a defendant must show actual
prejudice resulting from the error. Id. However, "[violation of the public trial right,
even when not preserved by objection, is presumed prejudicial to the defendant
on direct appeal." State v. Wise, 176Wn.2d 1, 16, 288 P.3d 1113 (2012). Thus,
the dispositive inquiry is whether the procedure adopted by the trial court here
impinged the public trial right.
It is well settled that the public trial right encompasses "'the 'voir dire' of
prospective jurors who form the venire (comprising those who respond to the
court's initial jury summons and who are not subsequently excused
administratively).'" State v. Slert. 181 Wn.2d 598, 605, 334 P.3d 1088, 1091
12 No. 72032-5-1/13
(2014) (quoting State v. Wilson. 174 Wn. App. 328, 338, 298 P.3d 148 (2013));
see also, Preslev v. Georgia, 558 U.S. 209, 213-214, 130 S.Ct. 721, 175 L.Ed.2d
675 (2010); Wise, 176 Wn.2d at 11. But our Supreme Court's public trial right
cases regarding jury selection have involved the actual questioning of jurors.
E.g., Wise, 176 Wn.2d at 11 -12; State v. Paumier, 176 Wn.2d 29, 35, 288 P.3d
1126 (2012). No Supreme Court case has held that the public trial right applies to
the dismissal of jurors after questioning is over. Divisions II and III of this court
have held that it does not. State v. Marks, Wn. App. _, 339 P.3d 196, 199
(2014) ("the exercise of peremptory challenges is not part of voir dire"); State v.
Dunn, 180 Wn. App. 570, 575, 321 P.3d 1283 (2014) rev, denied, 340 P.3d 223
(2015): State v. Love, 176 Wn. App. 911, 920, 309 P.3d 1209 (2013) (holding
that public trial right does not attach to the exercise of for cause and peremptory
challenges during jury selection), rev. granted, Wn.2d , 340 P.3d 228
(2015). And we recently cited Marks, Dunn, and Love with approval in State v.
Filitaula, Wn. App. , 339 P.3d 221 (2015), affirming a challenge procedure
virtually identical3 to the one used here, holding that the exercise of peremptory
challenges in writing as opposed to orally did not constitute a courtroom closure
where "[t]he written form on which the attorneys wrote down their peremptory
challenges was kept and filed in the court record at the end of the case. It
contained] the names and numbers of the prospective jurors who were removed
3Although Filitaula involved challenges for cause rather than peremptory challenges, we see no basis to distinguish the procedures used in each case based on the type of challenge at issue. In each case, the public and the defendant had the same right to scrutinize the jury selection process.
13 No. 72032-5-1/14
by peremptory challenge, listfed] the order in which the challenges were made,
and identified] the party who made them." ]d_, at 223.
Based on this authority, we hold that the trial court's decision to conduct
peremptory challenges at sidebar was not a courtroom closure that implicated
the public trial right. Courtney cannot establish there was a manifest error
affecting the public trial right and, consequently, he may not raise the issue for
the first time in this court. Sublett, 176 Wn.2d at 77; RAP 2.5(a)(3).
Right to Be Present
Courtney also claims for the first time on appeal that the trial court's
peremptory challenge procedure violated his due process right to be present for
all critical stages of trial. Because Courtney fails to establish manifest
constitutional error, the issue has not been preserved for review. Sublett, 176
Wn.2d at 78; RAP 2.5(a)(3).
Courtney fails to establish that the trial court excluded him from a critical
stage of the proceedings. Despite Courtney's arguments to the contrary, the
courtroom was not closed during the sidebar conferences and Courtney was
undisputedly present in the courtroom at the time. Courtney argues that to be
"present" means to stand beside counsel during the sidebar conferences, but he
offers no authority to support the argument. Moreover, even assuming,
arguendo, that the trial court improperly excluded Courtney from the sidebar
conferences, he fails to establish that the alleged error was manifest because he
has not shown that he was prejudiced by the process. Love, 176 Wn. App. at
920-21, is instructive. The case involved a juror challenge procedure nearly
14 No. 72032-5-1/15
identical to the one at issue here. Like Courtney, the defendant in Love
challenged the procedure based on his due process right to be present. We
affirmed, noting that the defendant had been present beside his attorney during
the information gathering phase of voir dire and had apparent opportunity to
consult with counsel and provide input on whether to challenge any of the
prospective jurors. ]d_. at 921. We also noted that, because the defendant had
succeeded in his cause challenges at the sidebar conference, "he simply [could
not] show how he was prejudiced by the procedure. His due process claim
therefore [was] not manifest error." Id.
Like the defendant in Love, Courtney was present in the courtroom during
voir dire and, presumably, had ample opportunity to discuss the relative
qualification and desirability of each juror. Defense counsel participated in the
discussion regarding for cause challenges and exercised peremptory challenges
at sidebar conferences following voir dire. Each of counsel's asserted challenges
was successful.4 Like the defendant in Love, Courtney cannot show that he was
prejudiced by the challenge procedure in this case.
Courtney contends that the mere opportunity to consult with counsel
regarding the dismissal of jurors is insufficient to cure a violation of his right to be
present. He cites our Supreme Court's language in State v. Irbv that "[e]ven if '[djefense counsel had time to...consult him regarding excusing some of the jurors if they chose to do so," as the State suggests...'where...personal presence
4We also note that, although initiated by the judge, one of the cause challenges was favorable to Courtney and over the objection of the State and the other was not objected to by either party.
15 No. 72032-5-1/16
is necessary in point of law, the record must show the fact.'" 170 Wn.2d 874,
884, 246 P.3d 796 (2011) (quoting Lewis v. United States, 146 U.S. 370, 372, 13
S.Ct. 136, 36 L.Ed. 1011 (1892)). But Irbv is distinguishable. The case involved
an e-mail exchange between the trial judge and counsel, during which the parties
discussed, among other things, the dismissal for cause of four jurors. Id. Our
Supreme Court expressly noted that the timing of the emails made it unlikely that
defense counsel consulted with Irby regarding their contents:
As noted above, Irby was not present during this discussion because he was in his jail cell. Furthermore, because the trial judge sent his initial e-mail at 1:02 p.m., and Irby's attorneys replied at 1:53 p.m., it is unlikely that the attorneys spoke to Irby about the email in the interim.
\±
In contrast, here, the relevant communications occurred in open court
immediately following voir dire, during which Courtney was presumably seated
next to his attorney at counsel table, observing questioning of prospective jurors
and listening to the trial judge announce his chosen method for taking juror
challenges. Under these circumstances, it is highly unlikely that Courtney did not
consult with his attorney regarding possible challenges prior to the sidebar
conference. Thus, the present case is unlike Irby.
Because Courtney's due process claim is not based on manifest error, he
cannot pursue itfor the first time in this court. Sublett, 176 Wn.2d at 78; RAP
2.5(a)(3).
16 No. 72032-5-1/17
Statement of Additional Grounds
In a statement of additional grounds, Courtney challenges the sufficiency
of the evidence supporting his robbery conviction. We review insufficient
evidence claims for whether, when viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Yarbrough,
151 Wn. App. 66, 96, 210 P.3d 1029 (2009). Sufficiency challenges admit the
truth of the State's evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn from it. Id.
To prove robbery in the second degree, the State had to establish beyond
a reasonable doubt that Courtney used or threatened the use of immediate force,
violence, or fear of injury and that the force or fear was used to obtain or retain
possession of the property or to prevent or overcome resistance to the taking.
RCW 9A.56.190, .210. Taken in the light most favorable to the State, the
testimony of loss prevention officers Duval-lgarta and Engelhardt-Parales was
more than sufficient to allow the jury to reasonably conclude that, while fleeing
the store with two stolen liquor bottles, Courtney swung his closed fist at Duval-
lgarta in an attempt to retain possession of the stolen property. This evidence is
sufficient to support the challenged element of Courtney's robbery conviction.
Courtney also claims he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial.
We review this claim de novo. State v. Cross, 156 Wn.2d 580, 605, 132 P.3d 80
(2006). To establish ineffective assistance he must show that (1) counsel's
performance was objectively unreasonable; and (2) the deficient performance
prejudiced the defense. State v. Jeffries, 105 Wn.2d 398, 418, 717 P.2d 722,
17 No. 72032-5-1/18
(1986) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80
L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)). Courtney bears the burden of proving both prongs and
failure to establish either defeats the ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Id.
at 418.
With respect to the first prong, Courtney notes that trial counsel did not
interview any of the loss prevention officers, police officers, or store employees
involved in this case and, consequently, "could not put on any kind of meaningful
defense as to what took place outside the store." Statement of additional grounds
at 6. But because the extent of defense counsel's pretrial investigation concerns
matters outside the record, we decline to consider the issue on direct appeal.
Courtney also argues that trial counsel was deficient in failing to move for
dismissal based on speedy trial violations. But there is nothing in the record to
support Courtney's claims that his right to a speedy trial was violated. Absent any
objectionable basis, trial counsel's alleged failure to object cannot be deemed
deficient performance. Accordingly, we reject Courtney's ineffective assistance of
counsel claim.
Reversed and remanded.
Aft-PsoJM\