State v. Henry

898 P.2d 1195, 271 Mont. 491, 52 State Rptr. 516, 1995 Mont. LEXIS 112
CourtMontana Supreme Court
DecidedJune 20, 1995
Docket94-400
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 898 P.2d 1195 (State v. Henry) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Henry, 898 P.2d 1195, 271 Mont. 491, 52 State Rptr. 516, 1995 Mont. LEXIS 112 (Mo. 1995).

Opinion

JUSTICE GRAY

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

Steven J. Henry (Henry) appeals from a jury verdict in the Twenty-First Judicial District Court, Ravalli County, finding him guilty of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs pursuant to § 61-8-401, MCA, and from that portion of the District Court’s judgment requiring him to pay legal fees incurred by the Town of Darby. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

On August 25, 1993, Darby police officer Larry Rose (Rose) received two calls from the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Department reporting that Henry had been observed driving on U.S. Highway 93 south of Darby and that he might be intoxicated. Rose patrolled the general area and, while parked on the side of Highway 93, observed Henry’s car being driven in an erratic manner. Rose pursued Henry and turned on his emergency flashers just as Henry pulled into a convenience store parking lot. Upon approaching Henry’s car, Rose smelled *494 alcohol and observed that Henry appeared intoxicated. Rose requested that Henry perform field sobriety maneuvers; Henry refused to perform two of the maneuvers and could not perform the third. Rose arrested Henry for driving under the influence and transported him to the Ravalli County Jail.

A jury trial was held in Darby City Court on February 16, 1994; the jury found Henry guilty of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The court sentenced Henry to sixty days in jail with thirty days suspended, assessed fines and costs totalling $1,773.32, and required Henry to complete Ravalli County’s alcohol information and treatment program. Henry appealed to the District Court for a trial de novo.

Ajury trial held in the District Court on June 30, and July 1,1994, resulted in another guilty verdict. Following a sentencing hearing, the District Court entered a judgment sentencing Henry to sixty days in the Ravalli County jail with thirty days suspended on certain conditions. Among other things, the conditions required Henry to complete the alcohol program and to pay various fees and penalties, including legal fees incurred by Darby in the prosecution of Henry’s case in both the Darby City Court and the District Court. The legal fees total $10,550. Henry appeals. Additional facts are included as necessary in our discussion of the issues.

1. Was Henry denied his right to counsel in the Darby City Court proceedings?

Henry asserts that the Darby City Court erred in determining that William Roche (Roche), a friend of Henry’s family, could not represent Henry in criminal proceedings. He argues that §§ 25-31-601 and 37-61-210, MCA, required the court to permit Roche to act as counsel and that its failure to do so violated his right to counsel. We decline to address the merits of Henry’s argument because the trial de novo on appeal to the District Court, during which Henry was represented by counsel, cured any prejudice which may have resulted from the City Court’s decision regarding representation by Roche. See City of Billings v. McCarvel (1993), 262 Mont. 96, 101, 863 P.2d 441, 445.

2. Was Henry denied the effective assistance of counsel in the District Court proceedings?

Henry advances various allegations of improper representation by his defense counsel dining trial in the District Court. He argues that defense counsel, who allegedly is “fraternally and religiously linked” to the prosecutor, aided the prosecution by failing to: 1) present Henry’s claim of erroneous denial of counsel by the City Court; 2) *495 introduce certain evidence and call certain witnesses; 3) object to the presence of a particular person in the courtroom; and 4) present arguments that Rose exceeded his jurisdiction by arresting Henry in the convenience store parking lot, and that Henry was neither intoxicated nor driving or in physical control of an automobile at the time of the arrest. Henry’s arguments, which we construe as a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, are without merit.

This Court evaluates ineffective assistance of counsel claims under the two-prong test set forth in Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674. State v. Bradley (1993), 262 Mont. 194, 197, 864 P.2d 787, 789. Under the first Strickland prong, “the defendant must prove that counsel’s performance was deficient by establishing that it fell below the range of competence reasonably demanded of attorneys in light of the Sixth Amendment.” Bradley, 864 P.2d at 789. “The second prong requires the defendant to demonstrate that counsel’s deficiency was so prejudicial that it denied the defendant a fair trial.” Bradley, 864 P.2d at 789. Both Strickland prongs must be established before we will conclude that a defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Hildreth (1994), 267 Mont. 423, 431-32, 884 P.2d 771, 776.

First, we address whether counsel’s failure to raise Henry’s claim of erroneous denial of counsel by the City Court on appeal to the District Court constituted deficient performance. A district court does not sit as a court of review on appeal from city court proceedings. See City of Billings, 863 P.2d at 445. Thus, counsel had no legal basis on which to present this claim of error by the City Court to the District Court; absent a legal basis, counsel’s failure to present such an argument cannot constitute deficient performance. See Bradley, 864 P.2d at 790.

Nor are we persuaded by Henry’s argument regarding counsel’s failure to use a videotape and photographs of city limits and to call certain witnesses. Decisions relating to presentation of the case, including whether to introduce certain evidence or to present witnesses, generally are matters of trial tactics and strategy. See, e.g., State v. Johnstone (1990), 244 Mont. 450, 464-65, 798 P.2d 978, 987. We will not find error supporting an ineffective assistance of counsel claim in counsel’s tactical decisions. State v. Sheppard (1995), [270 Mont. 122], 890 P.2d 754, 757.

Henry also contends that counsel’s performance was deficient because he failed to object to the presence, and alleged prejudicial effect, of a particular person in the courtroom. Here, we need observe *496 only that the record before us is devoid of any reference to the presence of the person about whom Henry complains; Henry’s contention is supported only by affidavits which are not part of the record on appeal. This Court’s review of allegations on direct appeal is confined to the record. Section 46-20-701, MCA; Bradley, 864 P.2d at 791. Thus, we decline to address this portion of Henry’s argument.

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Bluebook (online)
898 P.2d 1195, 271 Mont. 491, 52 State Rptr. 516, 1995 Mont. LEXIS 112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-henry-mont-1995.