ÿWPC …#†VU:Ü % 0(4DXg 0Jo 0T¹ 0^ 0hk 0rÓ 0|E 0†Á 0G 1u× U,L 0dx U,Ü U * B)2 DC[ Bž AM» 4U><fz D3àv~vÓ‘ 0@d AO¤Æó 0D¹ 0Dý D/A Bp˜IBM Proprinter X24ePROPRN24ÈÈ0®ØP ÿ=®—LRƒ P,@ ÐAZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡3x23|xú2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d####7Border 1dd d€-$Cþÿ << Gÿÿ *Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€"ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€"XÔÌÌò òJanuary€31,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€"ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ%%%%'ÿÿdxdPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA: T Monaco ÒÒ  BA: T Monaco Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€!!X„d&ÓÑ#€!!Xd#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÒ € ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÑ € ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€Ø„XdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€"ŠÔÓ` °‚X! ˜XÓÙ€€ÙßL€&'$;+'h|` Å `€€Lßà@ àÔ€"XÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINALÏAPPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€JACKSONÌÌà@ àNOVEMBER€1995€SESSIONÌÌÌÌBOBBY€ASHMORE,à àà àà à)à àNO.€02C01„9410„CR„00219Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àAppellantà àà àà à)à àHARDEMAN€COUNTYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌV.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.€JOSEPH€H.€WALKER€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àJUDGEÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à(Post„Conviction€„ÏAttemptedà àà àAppelleeà àà àà àà à)à à€€Rape€of€a€Child€„€OneÏCount;Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€€Sexual€Battery€„€2€Counts)ÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:à àà àà àà àòòFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:ÌÌJames€D.€Gassà àà àà àà àà àCharles€W.€BursonÌ203€South€Shannon,€Suite€100à àà àà àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌJackson,€Tennessee€38301à àà àà à450€James€Robertson€ParkwayÌ(Appeal€only)à àà àà àà àà àNashville,€Tennessee€37243„0493ÌÌJohn€C.€Mask,€Jr.à àà àà àà àà àChristina€S.€ShevalierÌP.O.€Box€611à àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Atty.€Gen.€&€ReporterÌBoliver,€Tennessee€38008à àà àà àà à450€James€Robertson€ParkwayÌ(Post„conviction€hearing€only)à àà àà àNashville,€Tennessee€37243„0493ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àElizabeth€RiceÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àJerry€NorwoodÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€€Attorney€GeneralÏà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSomerville,€Tennessee€38068ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóà àÌÌAFFIRMEDÌÌÌWilliam€M.€Barker,€JudgeÓÓÓ Ð Óà@ àòòOPINIONóóÌFollowing€an€evidentiary€hearing,€the€Circuit€Court€of€Hardeman€CountyÏdismissed€the€appellant's€petition€seeking€post„conviction€relief.€€In€his€appeal€as€ofÏright,€the€appellant€contends€that€the€evidence€adduced€at€the€post„convictionÏevidentiary€hearing€preponderated€in€favor€of€his€position€that€his€pleas€of€òònoloóóÏòòcontendereóó€were€not€knowingly€and€voluntarily€entered.€€Specifically,€the€appellantÏcontends€that€his€trial€counsel€placed€undue€pressure€upon€him€to€enter€pleasÏresulting€in€his€convictions,€and€further,€that€the€trial€court€did€not€correctly€advise€himÏof€his€rights€at€his€plea€submission€hearing.€€ÌFollowing€a€review€of€the€record€in€this€case,€the€briefs€and€arguments€ofÏcounsel,€we€affirm€the€trial€court.€€ÌThe€appellant€was€originally€charged€in€a€thirteen„count€indictment€with€sixÏcounts€of€rape€of€a€child,€six€counts€of€aggravated€sexual€battery,€and€one€count€ofÏattempted€rape€of€a€child.€€The€victims€in€the€cases€were€three€female€children,€allÏunder€the€age€of€thirteen€years.€€ÌThe€appellant€proceeded€to€trial€on€the€thirteen„count€indictment,€but€afterÏseveral€days€into€the€trial,€for€reasons€not€apparent€in€this€record,€a€mistrial€wasÏdeclared€during€the€presentation€of€the€State's€evidence.€€Following€the€mistrial,€pleaÏnegotiations€between€the€prosecution€and€counsel€for€the€appellant€resulted€in€anÏagreement€whereby€the€underlying€thirteen„count€indictment€against€the€appellantÏwould€be€dismissed€upon€his€plea€of€guilty€to€an€agreed„upon€criminal€informationÏcharging€the€appellant€with€one€count€of€attempted€rape€of€a€child€and€two€counts€ofÏsexual€battery.€€The€agreement€provided€that€the€appellant€would€be€sentenced€toÏeight€years€upon€his€conviction€for€attempted€rape€and€one€year€for€each€convictionÏof€sexual€battery,€all€sentences€to€be€served€concurrently€by€the€appellant€as€aÏRange€Ô€(ÔIÔ€"Ô€standard€offender.€€ÌEventually€the€negotiations€for€a€plea€agreement€resulted€in€the€appellantÏentering€pleas€of€òònoloóó€òòcontendereóó€to€the€three„count€criminal€information€describedÏabove€and€a€dismissal€of€the€original€thirteen„count€indictment.€€As€agreed,€the€trialÏcourt€sentenced€the€appellant€to€an€effective€sentence€of€eight€years.ÌAt€his€post„conviction€hearing,€the€appellant€testified€that€he€agreed€to€theÏplea€bargain€only€because€his€attorney€was€abusive€toward€him€and€his€parents,Ïadvised€him€that€he€could€receive€a€maximum€penalty€of€ninety€years€on€the€thirteenÏcounts€of€the€indictment€if€convicted,€and€that€his€trial€counsel€told€the€appellant€thatÏhe€was€not€prepared€for€trial.€€The€appellant€admitted€that€one€of€his€reasons€forÏentering€his€pleas€was€to€receive€a€lighter€sentence.€€ÌThe€appellant€also€testified€that€his€trial€counsel€told€his€parents€that€heÏwould€get€one€hundred€and€ninety€years€in€the€penitentiary€if€he€did€not€plead€guiltyÏand€that€his€counsel€cursed€him€and€his€family€and€told€him€that€if€he€did€not€agree€toÏthe€plea,€he€would€be€worth€nothing€the€rest€of€his€life.€€Further,€the€appellant€testifiedÏthat€his€trial€counsel€advised€the€appellant€that€if€he€agreed€to€the€plea€bargain,€theÏappellant€would€be€"guaranteed"€probation€or€house€arrest€and€treatment.€€TheÏappellant€testified€that€since€his€incarceration€he€has€received€no€treatment.ÌThe€appellant€further€testified€that€at€his€plea€submission€hearing,€he€wasÏafraid€to€tell€the€judge€that€he€was€unhappy€with€the€representation€afforded€to€him€byÏhis€trial€counsel.€€Likewise,€he€testified€that€he€was€afraid€to€advise€the€trial€court€thatÏhe€had€been€coerced€into€entering€the€negotiated€pleas.€€ÌThomas€Ashmore,€father€of€the€appellant,€testified€that€his€son's€appointedÏcounsel€advised€him€that€the€appellant€could€get€fifteen€years€for€each€count€ifÍconvicted€as€charged,€and€that€no€parole€was€possible.€€Mr.€Ashmore€further€testifiedÏthat€his€son's€trial€counsel€"acted€like€a€man€that€wants€to€be€in€charge."€€Ñ€)ÑÇThe€appellant's€mother€testified€that€the€appellant's€trial€counsel€did€not€treatÏher€"very€good,"€and€that€he€admitted€to€her€that€he€had€a€reputation€for€harassingÏwomen.€€Mrs.€Ashmore€said€that€counsel€advised€her€that€her€son€could€get€fifteenÏyears€for€each€of€the€thirteen€counts€against€him.€€However,€she€did€not€rememberÏany€pressure€placed€upon€her€to€advise€her€son€to€plead€guilty,€and€she€did€not€sit€inÏon€any€talks€between€her€son€and€his€attorney.€€Further,€Mrs.€Ashmore€testified€thatÏshe€did€not€recall€either€her€son€or€his€lawyer€mentioning€the€possibility€of€probationÏor€house€arrest€before€her€son€pled€òònoloóó€òòcontendereóó.ÌTestifying€on€behalf€of€the€State€at€the€post„conviction€hearing€was€theÏappellant's€trial€counsel.€€He€testified€that€he€was€an€assistant€public€defender€for€theÏTwenty„fifth€Judicial€District€and€had€been€appointed€by€the€trial€court€to€representÏthe€appellant€at€trial.€€In€addition€to€meeting€with€the€appellant€and€his€parents€onÏnumerous€occasions€in€effort€to€obtain€background€information,€names€of€potentialÏwitnesses,€and€evidence€which€might€prove€favorable€to€the€appellant€in€the€event€ofÏcriminal€sentencing,€appellant's€trial€counsel€arranged€for€the€appellant€to€be€seenÏand€examined€by€a€Dr.€Nichols.€€Following€an€examination€of€the€appellant,€Dr.ÏNichols,€apparently€a€psychiatrist€or€psychologist,€testified€in€a€hearing€on€a€pretrialÏmotion€that€the€appellant,€although€nineteen€years€of€age,€had€the€personality€of€anÏimmature€thirteen„year€old.€€The€appellant's€trial€counsel€also€testified€that€in€hisÏdealings€with€the€appellant,€the€appellant€exhibited€a€great€amount€of€immaturity€andÍhad€difficulty€understanding€and€appreciating€the€seriousness€of€his€situation.€ÏNevertheless,€trial€counsel€was€confident€that€the€appellant€did€finally€understand€theÏprecarious€nature€of€the€situation€he€faced€and€the€possibility€of€a€long€term€in€theÏpenitentiary.€€ÌAppellant's€trial€counsel€testified€that€prior€to€and€during€the€aborted€trial,Ïseveral€motions€were€heard€and€ruled€upon€by€the€trial€court.€€Chief€among€theseÏwas€a€defense€motion€to€be€permitted€to€present€evidence€of€the€victims'€consent€toÏthe€sexual€conduct€of€the€appellant.€€The€trial€court€ruled€that€the€appellant€would€notÏbe€permitted€to€introduce€evidence€of€consent€by€any€of€the€young€victims.ÌAppellant's€trial€counsel€testified€that€once€the€defense€of€consent€wasÏdisallowed€by€the€trial€court,€he€advised€the€appellant€and€his€parents€that,€in€hisÏjudgment,€in€all€probability€the€jury€would€return€verdicts€of€guilty€on€at€least€some€ofÏthe€Class€A€child€rape€offenses,€and€that€in€all€likelihood€the€jury€would€also€find€theÏappellant€guilty€on€at€least€some€of€the€Class€B€aggravated€sexual€battery€charges.€€ÌAppellant's€trial€counsel€denied€that€he€was€unprepared€for€trial,€and€to€theÏcontrary,€testified€that€he€was€eager€for€a€trial.€€However,€appellant's€trial€counsel€wasÏconvinced€that€the€appellant€would€not€be€acquitted€of€all€charges€by€the€jury,€andÏthat€the€appellant€would€then€be€faced€with€an€uncertain€and€lengthy€appellateÏprocess.€€He€testified€that€he€advised€the€appellant€and€his€parents€that€the€appellateÍprocess€would€consume€approximately€three€years,€and,€if€successful€on€appeal,€theÏappellant's€only€relief€would€be€a€new€trial.€€ÌFurther,€trial€counsel€advised€the€appellant€and€his€parents€that€if€convictedÏof€a€Class€A€felony€and€sentenced€as€a€standard€Range€Ô€(ÔIÔ€"Ô€offender,€the€appellant'sÏminimum€sentence€for€each€conviction€would€be€fifteen€years.€€Likewise,€if€convictedÏof€a€Class€B€felony€and€sentenced€as€a€Range€Ô€(ÔIÔ€"Ô€offender,€the€minimum€sentenceÏwould€be€eight€years.€€Counsel€further€advised€the€appellant€and€his€parents€that€ifÏconvicted€of€the€sex€crimes€charged,€he€would€not€be€eligible€for€probation€or€anyÏform€of€alternative€sentencing.€€ÌAppellant's€trial€counsel€denied€that€he€cursed€the€appellant€or€his€family,€butÏhe€did€admit€that€he€probably€used€profanity€for€emphasis€in€order€to€convince€theÏappellant€that€the€proposed€plea€bargain€agreement€was€in€his€best€interest.€ÏLikewise,€counsel€for€the€appellant€denied€that€he€advised€either€the€appellant€or€hisÏparents€that€the€appellant€would€be€granted€probation,€house€arrest€or€any€form€ofÏalternative€sentencing€if€he€accepted€the€plea€bargain€agreement.€€He€admitted€thatÏhe€did€probably€advise€the€appellant€that€he€would€serve€approximately€twenty„eightÏmonths€if€he€accepted€the€plea€bargain€agreement€for€an€effective€sentence€of€eightÏyears.€€He€calculated€that€thirty€percent€of€eight€years€was€approximately€twenty„eightÏmonths.ÌFollowing€the€evidentiary€hearing,€the€trial€court€concluded€that€the€appellantÏhad€been€adequately€defended€and€represented€by€his€trial€counsel,€that€his€trialÏcounsel€had€advised€the€appellant€of€the€possible€punishment€that€he€might€receiveÏif€found€guilty€of€any€of€the€sex€offenses€charged€in€the€underlying€indictment,€andÏthat€the€appellant€voluntarily€and€knowingly€entered€his€pleas€of€òònoloóó€òòcontendereóó€toÏavoid€the€possibility€of€a€greater€sentence.€€€The€trial€court€further€concluded€thatÏthere€was€no€evidence€of€coercion,€fraud,€duress€or€mistake.Ì"In€post„conviction€relief€proceedings€the€petitioner€has€the€burden€of€provingÏthe€allegations€in€his€[or€her]€petition€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence."€€òòMcBee€v.ÏStateóó,€655€S.W.2d€191,€195€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1983).€€Furthermore,€the€factualÏfindings€of€the€trial€court€in€hearings€"are€conclusive€on€appeal€unless€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€judgment."€€òòState€v.€Burfordóó,€666€S.W.2d€473,€475€(Tenn.ÏCrim.€App.€1983).€€ÌIn€reviewing€the€appellant's€sixth„amendment€claim€of€ineffective€assistanceÏof€counsel,€this€Court€must€determine€whether€the€advice€given€or€services€renderedÏby€the€attorney€are€within€the€range€of€competence€demanded€of€attorneys€inÏcriminal€cases.€€òòBaxter€v.€Roseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975).€€To€prevail€on€aÏclaim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel,€a€petitioner€"must€show€that€counsel'sÏrepresentation€fell€below€an€objective€standard€of€reasonableness"€and€that€thisÏperformance€prejudiced€the€defense.€€òòId.óó€€To€satisfy€the€requirement€of€prejudice,€theÍappellant€must€demonstrate€a€reasonable€probability€that,€but€for€counsel's€errors,€heÏwould€not€have€entered€pleas€of€òònoloóó€òòcontendereóó€and€would€have€insisted€on€goingÏto€trial.€€òòSeeóó€òòHill€v.€Lockartóó,€474€U.S.€52,€59,€106€S.€Ct.€366,€370,€88€L.€Ed.€2d€203Ï(1985);€òòBankston€v.€Stateóó,€815€S.W.2d€213,€215€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1991).€€ÌBased€upon€the€foregoing,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€does€notÏpreponderate€against€the€trial€court's€finding€that€the€appellant€failed€to€establish€thatÏhe€received€the€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel.€€ÌAs€his€second€ground€for€post„conviction€relief,€the€appellant€complains€thatÏthe€trial€court,€at€the€plea€submission€hearing,€failed€to€properly€advise€him€regardingÏhis€right€to€a€jury€trial.€€In€the€judge's€inquiry€during€the€appellant's€plea€hearing,€heÏinitially€advised€the€appellant€that€he€had€a€right€to€a€jury€trial€on€the€three„countÏinformation€to€which€he€was€pleading.€€However,€later€in€the€colloquy€between€theÏtrial€court€and€the€appellant,€the€trial€court€corrected€itself€during€the€followingÏexchange:ÌÓÓà8 àQ€€€€€But€the€Court€„„„€But€let€me€explain€further:€€that€if€youÏpursue€a€jury€trial€on€these€charges€that€the€Court€willÏallow€the€State€to€withdraw€this€information,€but€as€part€ofÏthis€agreement€to€be€prosecuted€only€on€these€threeÏcharges,€the€State€is€dismissing€the€indictment,€whichÏcharges€you€in€13€counts?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€Yes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àQ€€€€€So,€you€really€have€your€choice.€€You€can€proceed€toÏbe€tried€on€the€13„count€indictment,€or€agree€to€beÏprosecuted€on€this€charge.€€Do€you€understand€that?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€Yes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àQ€€€€€But,€regardless,€which€one€you€chose€to€do,€you€haveÏa€right€to€a€jury€trial.€€Do€you€understand€that?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€Yes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àQ€€€€€You€have€a€right€not€to€incriminate€yourself.€€Do€youÏunderstand€that?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€Yes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àQ€€€€€Do€you€voluntarily€waive€or€give€up€your€right€to€a€trialÏby€jury?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€(Hesitating.)€€No,€sir,€I€want€to€go€with€this,€the€threeÏcharges.ÌÌà8 àQ€€€€€The€three€charges?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€Yes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àQ€€€€€Therefore,€do€you€understand€that€in€order€to€go€with,Ïor€to€be€prosecuted€on€these€three€charges,€you€must€giveÏup€your€right€to€a€trial€by€jury?ÌÌà8 àA€€€€€Yes,€sir.ÌÌÓÓFollowing€the€evidentiary€hearing€on€the€appellant's€post„conviction€petition,Ïthe€trial€court€found€that€there€was€no€evidence€indicating€that€the€appellant€wasÍmisinformed€regarding€his€right€to€trial€versus€his€decision€to€accept€the€plea€bargain,Ïor€any€evidence€supporting€his€position€that€the€plea€was€not€voluntarily€entered.€€€ÌHaving€reviewed€the€entire€record€of€the€plea€submission€hearing,€weÏconclude€that€despite€some€confusion,€€the€transcript€of€the€plea€submission€hearingÏfully€supports€the€trial€court's€finding€that€the€appellant€clearly€understood€that€he€hadÏthe€option€of€proceeding€to€trial€upon€the€original€thirteen„count€presentment€orÏentering€pleas€of€guilty€or€òònoloóó€òòcontendereóó€to€the€proposed€three„count€information.€ÏThus,€the€appellant€has€failed€to€prove€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that€hisÏpleas€were€involuntarily€or€not€knowingly€entered€based€upon€any€comments€orÏaction€of€the€trial€court.€€ÌBased€upon€the€foregoing,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà à__________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€M.€BARKER,€JUDGEÌÌÓ  ÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌ____________________________ÌPAUL€G.€SUMMERS,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌ____________________________ÌDAVID€H.€WELLES,€JUDGE