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AOaư 0Dv D/º Bé<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXH.3|Xi «<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXxþ6X@ÉJQX@%ä2¼A`ArialTTt10cpiXXXä2¼P±ŠQXP((­À$¡¡ÒD°ÒÒ¦°ÒÓ  Ó©U!(D(3¾Á$¤¤Ý ƒ­À!ÝÒD°ÒÒ¦°ÒÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà œ àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó U V DW bX DY PZ E[ E\ E] ^ Ó€2 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`(Courier New< Œ 9p`(Arial d% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd€-&Cþÿ << Gÿÿ <Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÒ D ÒÒ ¦ ÒÝ  ÝÔ€#ÔÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€#XÔÌÌò òAugustÏ28,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€#ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@$$$$'ÿÿdxdStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€!!X„d&ÓÑ#€!!Xd#ÑÔ€"ÔÒ D ÒÒ ¦ ÒÝ  ÝÑ ` ÑÑ X ÑÑ7€wáXXdÈdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓ  ÓÔ€#ÔÙ€€ÙßL€'(&;+'h|` 81 `€€Lß›à àà àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINALÏAPPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEÌÌÓ  Óà@ àMAY€1996€SESSIONÌÌÌÌó óÌò òœJACQUES›€B.€BENNETT,à àà àœà à)ó ó›Ìà àà àœò òà àà àà àà à)ó ó›à àò òC.C.A.ÏNO.€œ03C01›„9512„CR„00391ó óÌà àà àAppellant,à àò ò€€€€€à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHAMILTON€COUNTYó óÌœVS›.à àà àà àà àà àà àò ò)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.ÏRUSSELL€C.€œHINSON›,ÌSTATE€OFÏTENNESSEE,à àà àà à)à àJUDGEÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àó óAppellee.ò òà àà àà à)à àó ó(Post„conviction)ò òÌó óÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANT:óóà àà àà à€€€€€òòà àFOR€THEÏAPPELLEE:óóÌÌÌò òA.€CHRISTIAN€œLANIER›,ÏIIIà àà àà àCHARLES€W.€BURSONÌó óSuite€150,€615€Lindsay€St.à àà àà àAttorneyÏGeneral€&€Reporterò òÌó óChattanooga,€TN€€€37403ò òÌó óà àà àà àà àò òà àà àà àTIMOTHYÏF.€œBEHAN›ó óÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAsst.ÏAttorney€GeneralÌ€€à àà àà àà àà àà àà à450€JamesÏRobertsonÏPkwy.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TN€€37243„0493Ìà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àò òà àà àà àWILLIAM€H.€COX,€IIIó óÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÌÌà àà àà àà àò òà àà àà àDAVID€DENNYó óÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAsst.€District€Attorney€GeneralÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCourts€œBldg.,›€€600€Market€St.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àChattanooga,€TN€€€37402Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àÌOPINION€FILED:____________________ÌÌÌÌò òAFFIRMEDó óÌÌÌò òJOHN€H.€PEAY,ó óÌJudgeÌÇœ›Ñ ° Ñà@ àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÌÌó óóóÌÓÓÓ  Óà àà àThe€petitioner€was€indicted€for€œfirst„degree›€murder€and€conspiracy€toÏcommit€œfirst„degree›€murder.€€The€State€filed€a€notice€of€intent€to€seek€the€deathÏpenalty.€€The€petitioner€pled€guilty€to€œfirst„degree›€murder€and€received€a€sentence€ofÏlife€imprisonment.€€He€took€no€appeal€as€of€right€but€filed€a€petition€for€post„convictionÏrelief.€€After€a€hearing,€the€lower€court€denied€the€petition.€€ÌÌà àà àThe€petitioner€now€appeals,€alleging€four€grounds€for€relief:ÌÓÓœÌÒ ô ÒÒ ¦ Ò1.›à àHis€guilty€plea€was€not€made€voluntarily€and€knowingly;ÌœÌ2.›à àHe€received€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€in€conjunction€withÏà àhis€guilty€plea;ÌœÌ3.›à àThe€trial€court€violated€his€constitutional€rights€when€it€denied€hisÏà àð ðpetition€to€withdraw€guilty€pleaðð€and€his€ð ðmotion€to€vacate€or€setÏà àaside€plea€agreement;ðð€andÌœÌ4.›à àThe€trial€court€lacked€jurisdiction€to€accept€his€guilty€pleaÏœà àà àbecause›€œthe›€indictment€was€not€signed€by€the€grand€juryÏforeman.ÌœÌÌÒ D ÒÒ ¦ ÒÓÓAfter›€reviewing€the€record,€we€find€no€merit€in€any€of€the€petitionerððs€grounds€œand›Ïaffirm€the€lower€œcourt.›ÌÌà àà àWith€respect€to€his€first€issue,€the€petitioner€alleges€that€he€did€notÏunderstand€his€rights€or€what€the€trial€court€explained€to€him€at€the€time€he€enteredÏhis€guilty€plea.€€He€also€complains€that€he€pled€guilty€as€a€result€of€pressure€andÏcoercion€by€his€counsel,€the€prosecution€and€law€enforcement€authorities.€€As€part€ofÏhis€contention€that€he€was€coerced€and€pressured€into€pleading€guilty,€the€petitionerÏalleges€that€he€was€coerced€into€giving€a€confession.€€He€testified€at€his€hearing€thatÏthe€police€had€continued€to€interrogate€him€after€he€had€stated€that€he€had€nothing€toÏsay€and€wanted€an€attorney€and€that€they€had€harassed€him€into€giving€a€statementÏin€which€he€confessed€to€the€murder,€again€before€he€had€a€lawyer.€œ€He›€claimed€thatÏhe€would€not€have€given€this€statement€had€he€had€a€lawyer€with€him.€ÌÌà àà àHe€also€testified€that€the€police€had€given€him€some€pills€before€heÏgave€his€statement€and€that€these€pills€caused€him€to€feel€nauseated€and€ð ðnotÏhimself.ðð€€He€œsaid›€that€he€had€been€given€these€pills€after€he€had€complained€aboutÏð ða€lot€of€pressure€in€my€head€and€.€.€.€a€lot€of€tension.ðð€€The€petitioner€testified€that€heÏdid€not€know€what€these€pills€were.€€No€expert€testified€as€to€the€identity€of€thisÏmedication€or€any€possible€effects.€€€He€also€testified€that€one€of€the€prosecutingÏattorneys€told€him€while€he€was€without€counsel€that€if€he€didnððt€œplead,›€additionalÏcharges€would€be€added€and€that€he€could€receive€the€death€penalty.€€The€petitionerÏœfurther›€testified€that€his€own€defense€counsel€had€pressured€him€into€pleading€guilty.€ÍHe€admitted€during€cross„examination€that€he€had€signed€a€waiver€of€rights€prior€toÏgiving€his€statement€to€the€police.€€ÌÌà àà àHiram€G.€Hill,€one€of€two€public€defenders€that€acted€as€the€petitionerððsÏdefense€counsel,€testified€that€the€petitioner€had€ð ðnever€complained€to€[him]€aboutÏany€coercion€or€anything€else€regarding€[his]€statement.ðð€€He€also€testified€that€theÏpetitioner€had€not€previously€complained€that€the€police€had€continued€to€questionÏhim€after€he€had€asked€for€an€attorney.€€In€response€to€a€question€of€whether€theÏprosecution€had€made€any€threats,€Hill€responded,€ð ðNone€at€all.ðð€€Hill€also€testifiedÏthat€the€petitioner€had€never€said€anything€to€him€about€the€police€having€given€himÏany€medication€prior€to€his€giving€his€statement.€€He€testified€that€he€had€advised€hisÏclient€to€plead€guilty€because€of€the€significant€risk€of€the€death€penalty€beingÏimposed€if€he€went€to€trial.̛̜à àà àMyron€McClary,€the€petitionerððs€other€defense€lawyer,€also€testified€thatÏhe€did€not€recall€the€petitioner€ever€complaining€about€the€circumstancesÏsurrounding€his€statement,€nor€was€he€aware€of€any€threats€by€the€State€incidental€toÏthe€guilty€plea.€€He€stated€that€the€petitioner€had€mentioned€to€him€that€he€had€takenÏsome€pills€during€his€interrogation€after€he€had€complained€about€a€headache.€€HeÏalso€testified€that€he€had€advised€his€client€that,€if€he€went€to€trial,€the€best€they€couldÍhope€for€was€what€was€being€offered€by€the€State€in€the€plea€bargain.€€McClary€alsoÏtestified€that€the€petitioner€had€not€expressed€any€reservations€about€or€problemsÏwith€the€plea€on€the€day€he€entered€it€and€for€the€few€days€preceding€the€plea.€€TheÏpetitionerððs€ð ðprimary€concern,ðð€according€to€McClary,€was€ð ðgetting€out€of€HamiltonÏCounty€[jail]€as€quickly€as€possible€so€he€would€be€able€to€build€time€to€get€theÏprivileges€to€be€with€his€children,€.€.€.€œand›€also€to€get€these€other€benefits€that€you€getÏin€the€penitentiary€that€you€canððt€get€in€the€jail.ðð€ÌÌà àà àGary€Allen€œLegg,›€of€the€œdistrict›€attorneyððs€œoffice,›€testified€that€he€and€twoÏother€attorneys€from€the€office€had€met€with€the€petitioner€at€McClaryððs€request.€€AtÏthis€meeting,€at€which€McClary€was€present,€the€petitioner€told€them€that€he€hadÏcommitted€the€murder.€€Legg€testified€that€the€purpose€of€the€meeting€had€been€toÏdetermine€if€there€was€evidence€to€be€used€against€another€œsuspect›€and€that€theÏpetitioner€had€not€indicated€that€he€wanted€a€trial.€€Legg€further€testified€that€he€hadÏno€recollection€of€any€of€the€prosecuting€attorneys€threatening€the€petitioner€withÏadditional€charges€or€an€enhanced€penalty€if€he€did€not€cooperate.ÌÌà àà àWilliam€H.€Cox,€III,€the€lead€prosecuting€attorney,€testified€that€the€StateÏhad€ð ðoverwhelmingðð€evidence€against€the€petitioner,€including€substantial€evidenceÏwhich€independently€corroborated€the€petitionerððs€confession.€€Cox€also€testified€thatÍhe€had€felt€the€case€was€ð ða€strong€death€penalty€caseðð€because€ð ð[œi]t›€was€apparentÏthat€it€was€a€contract€killing.ðð€€Cox€further€testified€that€he€had€not€threatened€theÏpetitioner€with€additional€charges€or€with€anything€other€than€prosecution€of€the€case.ÌÌà àà àœ"In›€post„conviction€relief€proceedings€the€peti‚tioner€has€the€burden€ofÏproving€the€allegations€in€his€[or€her]€petition€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence."€ÏòòœMcBee›€v.€Stateóó,€655€S.W.2d€191,€195€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1983).€€Fur‚thermore,€theÏfactual€findings€of€the€trial€court€in€hearings€"are€conclusive€on€appeal€unless€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€the€judgment."€€òòState€v.€œBuford›óó,€666€S.W.2d€473,Ï475€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1983).ÌÌà àà àWith€respect€to€whether€the€petitioner€understood€his€rights€and€theÏstatements€of€the€trial€court€in€conjunction€with€entering€his€guilty€plea,€the€courtÏbelow€found€that€ð ðthe€[petitionerððs]€understanding€of€those€rights€that€he€was€askingÏto€give€up€was€very€goodðð€and€that€ð ðthe€plea€of€guilty€was€voluntary€andÏunderstanding€and€knowing,€in€other€words,€that€it€was€an€effective€waiver.ðð€€UponÏour€review€of€the€record,€it€is€clear€that€the€trial€court€fully€advised€the€defendant€of€hisÏrights€and€the€significance€and€ramifications€of€pleading€guilty.€€It€is€equally€clear€thatÏthe€defendant€listened€to€the€trial€court€and€understood€what€he€was€being€told.€ÏTherefore,€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€lower€courtððs€finding€thatÍthe€defendant€effectively€waived€his€rights.€€ÌÌà àà àWith€respect€to€whether€the€plea€was€entered€because€of€a€coercedÏconfession€and€other€improper€pressures,€the€court€below€found€that€ð ð[œa]ll›€theÏevidence€around€the€taking€of€the€confession€indicates€and€the€Court€finds€that€it€wasÏvoluntary€and€that€the€defendant€was€adequately€advised€of€his€rights€before€theÏstatements€were€taken.ðð€€These€findings€will€not€be€disturbed€on€review€unless€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€them.€€òòState€v.€Kellyóó,€603€S.W.2d€726,€728„29Ï(Tenn.€1980).€€The€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€these€findings.€ÏAccordingly,€we€find€the€petitionerððs€first€issue€to€be€without€merit.ÌÌà àà àIn€his€second€issue,€the€petitioner€complains€that€his€defense€lawyersÏwere€ineffective.€€Specifically,€he€complains€that€they€did€not€fully€advise€him€ofÏvarious€constitutional€rights€prior€to€his€guilty€plea;€they€did€not€try€to€suppress€hisÏconfession;€they€did€not€attempt€to€dismiss€the€indictment€against€him;€they€did€notÏobject€to€alleged€threats€by€the€prosecution;€and€they€did€not€try€to€suppressÏevidence€arising€from€the€victimððs€body€which€the€petitioner€claims€was€moved€andÏthen€returned€to€the€murder€scene.€ÌÌà àà àœIn›€reviewing€the€petitioner's€Sixth€Amendment€claim€of€ineffectiveÍassistance€of€counsel,€this€Court€must€deter‚mine€whether€the€advice€given€orÏservices€rendered€by€the€attorney€are€within€the€range€of€competence€demanded€ofÏattorneys€in€criminal€cases.€€òòBaxter€v.€Roseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975).€€ToÏprevail€on€a€claim€of€inef‚fective€counsel,€a€petitioner€"must€show€that€counsel'sÏrepresenta‚tion€fell€below€an€objective€standard€of€reason‚ableness"€and€that€thisÏperformance€prejudiced€the€defense.€€There€must€be€a€reasonable€probability€thatÏbut€for€coun‚sel's€error€the€result€of€the€proceeding€would€have€been€different.€ÏòòœStrickland›€v.€Washingtonóó,€466€U.S.€668,€687„88,€692,€694€(1984);€òòBest€v.€Stateóó,€708ÏS.W.2d€421,€422€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1985).ÌÌà àà àTo€satisfy€the€requirement€of€prejudice,€the€petitioner€must€demonstrateÏa€reasonable€probability€that,€but€for€coun‚sel's€errors,€he€would€not€have€pled€guiltyÏand€would€have€insisted€on€going€to€trial.€€òòSeeóó€òòHill€v.€œLockart›óó,€474€U.S.€52,€59Ï(1985);€òòœÔ% € ÔBankston›€v.€Stateóó,€815€S.W.2d€213,€215€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1991).ÌÌà àà à€With€respect€to€the€first€of€the€petitionerððs€claims€of€ineffectiveÏassistance,€the€trial€court€adequately€advised€the€petitioner€of€his€rights€and€theÏsignificance€of€his€waiver€of€those€rights€at€the€time€the€guilty€plea€was€entered.€ÏTherefore,€the€petitioner€suffered€no€prejudice€even€if,€as€alleged,€his€attorneys€didÏnot€fully€advise€him€of€these€rights€at€an€earlier€time.€€The€petitionerððs€contention€thatÍhis€lawyers€should€have€œmoved€to€suppress›€his€confession€is€likewise€without€merit.€ÏAs€set€forth€above,€both€of€the€petitionerððs€lawyers€testified€that€he€had€notÏcomplained€to€them€about€the€circumstances€surrounding€his€interrogation€andÏconfession.€€Accordingly,€they€had€been€given€no€information€on€which€to€base€aÏmotion€to€suppress.€€The€petitionerððs€allegations€with€respect€to€his€indictment€areÏaddressed€below.€€As€to€his€lawyersðð€ð ðfailureðð€to€object€to€alleged€threats€by€theÏprosecution,€again,€both€lawyers€testified€that€they€were€unaware€of€any€such€threats.€€ÏTherefore,€no€motion€on€such€a€basis€was€possible.€€The€petitionerððs€contention€thatÏhis€lawyers€were€ineffective€because€they€failed€to€suppress€certain€evidenceÏconcerning€the€victimððs€body€and€its€movement€is€also€without€merit.€€The€petitionerÏhas€made€no€showing€that€such€a€motion,€if€made,€would€have€been€successful€andÏthat€he€would€not€have€pled€guilty€had€such€a€motion€been€made.€€Thus,€theÏpetitioner€has€shown€no€prejudice€resulting€from€this€ð ðfailure.ððÌÌà àà àThe€court€below€found€that€ð ðMr.€Hill€made€adequate€preparation€andÏwould€have€been€ready€for€trial€or€was€ready€for€trial€and€had€done€everything€thatÏwas€necessary€at€that€time.ðð€€The€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€thisÏfinding€by€the€court€below.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.ÌÌà àà àThe€defendant€next€complains€that€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€deniedÍhis€ð ðpetition€to€withdraw€guilty€plea€and€proceed€to€trialðð€and€subsequent€ð ðmotion€toÏvacate€or€set€aside€plea€agreement.ðð€€Both€of€these€pleadings€were€filed€more€thanÏthirty€days€after€judgment€became€final.ÌÌà àà àThe€petitioner€raises€this€issue€for€the€first€time€on€this€appeal.€ÏAccordingly,€it€is€waived.€œ€T.C.A.›€ðð€40„30„112€(1990).€€Furthermore,€because€theÏpetitionerððs€motions€were€filed€more€than€thirty€days€after€his€judgment€became€final,Ïthe€trial€court€was€without€jurisdiction€to€set€aside€the€petitionerððs€plea.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.ÏLockóó,€839€S.W.2d€436,€440€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1992)€(ð ðOnce€the€judgment€is€final,€theÏtrial€court€generally€loses€jurisdiction€to€amend€it.ðð)ÌÌà àà àIn€his€final€issue,€the€defendant€contends€that€the€trial€court€was€withoutÏjurisdiction€to€impose€judgment€upon€him€because€the€grand€jury€foreman€did€notÏsign€the€indictment.€€Like€the€immediately€preceding€issue,€the€petitioner€raises€thisÏconcern€for€the€first€time€on€this€appeal.€€Accordingly,€it€is€waived.€€T.C.A.€ðð€40„30„112.€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòApplewhite€v.€Stateóó,€597€S.W.2d€328€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1979).€ÏMoreover,€the€defect€complained€of€by€the€petitioner€did€not€deprive€the€trial€court€ofÏjurisdiction.€€òòApplewhiteóó,€597€S.W.2d€at€330.€€The€petitionerððs€conviction€is€thereforeÏvalid.€€ÌÌà àà àSince€the€petitioner€did€not€raise€this€issue€below,€the€record€containsÏno€evidence€on€which€the€lower€court€could€have€found€ineffective€assistance€ofÏcounsel€in€this€respect.€€We€are€likewise€disabled€from€making€any€such€finding.€€TheÏpetitionerððs€contention€that€his€lawyers€were€ineffective€for€failing€to€attack€hisÏindictment€is€therefore€without€merit.ÌÌœ›à àà àThe€ruling€of€the€court€below€is€affirmed.ÌÓÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àœà à______________________________›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àœà àJOHN›€H.€PEAY,€JudgeÌÌÌœÌCONCUR:›ÌÌÌÌœ______________________________›ÌJERRY€L.€SMITH,€JudgeÌÌÌÌœ______________________________›ÌœJOHN›€K.€BYERS,€Senior€Judge