WPCR Sei )nMMfڪXaNw=xu,OND>2 9]Ê!żٴE@]t.WO$8ﳔc%Z GXϱ0.ΊI@&wM]ͽq!7W̜h+T캻ǣF6sמUOCZѹv߳B'KsB~Ğ9q/k@e;P[[,/WPYW 6$i|5Q=ya? ?qfԍ\/ĕM`T'DTPէrk m;<8dĕm 9-4<^v42-E4 +.险bᆌaI2ɭ,e9nZ!Q-!4#]fF /$SMmks5i+_X#9A \-ɖTv>@Km(GIUNl % 0( U: w@" 4b v   0z% 0DV9}N}^U:{ B D3 0D################################################################################## AOg 0D| D/ B 0F (hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($,  AZ"Arial Regular +D,-D.E/0D1D2D34Ӏh&\3|x?Post Conviction  8 ' IB012R120IB012R12 .      (*(2$ !   `   0  (#$  0   L  $ `   1    Petitionersbriefcombinesastatementoffactsandissueswithinwhichit  identifiesnumerousissuesforappeal.However,themajorityoftheallegationsconstitutesubpartstoaclaimofineffectiveassistanceofcounsel.    s  $ `   2    Accordingtotrialcounsel,analibidefensewasnotpresentedbecausepetitioner  admittedbeinginthevictimshomethemorningofthecrimes.Furthermore,thisadmissionnegatedtheneedtopresenttestimonychallengingthefingerprintorexplainingitspresence.    s  $ `   2    Accordingtotrialcounsel,analibidefensewasnotpresentedbecausepetitioner  admittedbeinginthevictimshomethemorningofthecrimes.Furthermore,thisadmissionnegatedtheneedtopresenttestimonychallengingthefingerprintorexplainingitspresence. X)XXXXX)   Ad FILEDm   June4,1999  CecilCrowson,Jr. mAppellateCourt  Clerk ,cAZ"Arial Regular    d""""'dxd(3$ !  -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd6k$Triangle0  !  44X)XXX  TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T4r*<,(j 8 `@E tt0"Hrߛ4@  INTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @=='ATKNOXVILLE@$APRIL1999SESSIONLEONARDLEBRONROSS, @-)  ` @-) p NO.03C019802CR00077   L   ` Appellant,@-)  8  @-) p HAMILTONCOUNTY     VS. @-)   @-) p HON.STEPHENM.BEVIL,   STATEOFTENNESSEE, @-) p JUDGE    @-) ` Appellee.@-) p (PostConviction) d (  @(#(#( FORTHEAPPELLANT: L JOHNA.SHOAFIII 735BroadStreet,Suite606  Chattanooga,TN374021804   FORTHEAPPELLEE: L PAULG.SUMMERS  $ AttorneyGeneralandReporter ELLENH.POLLACK   AssistantAttorneyGeneralCordellHullBuilding,2ndFloor425FifthAvenueNorthNashville,TN372430493 WILLIAMH.COXIII   F# DistrictAttorneyGeneral MARKA.HOOTON  #& AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral600MarketStreet,Suite310Chattanooga,TN37402 f&!) (  @( OPINIONFILED:򀀀 -(/ AFFIRMEDJOEG.RILEY,JUDGE  5218 7VCXdXXd7r   rќr Pћ@qq* OPINION ӈ   ` Petitionerappealsthedenialofhispetitionforpostconvictionrelief.AHamiltonCountyjuryfoundhimguiltyofburglary,attemptedseconddegreemurder,andespeciallyaggravatedrobbery.Thetrialcourtsentencedpetitionertoaneffectivesentenceofthirtyfiveyears.Petitionernowclaimshereceivedineffectiveassistanceofcounsel.   #  1      ׀Uponacompletereviewoftherecord,weconcludethe   evidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthepostconvictioncourtsfindingsthatcounselwaseffective.Thus,weAFFIRMthedismissalofthepetition.@" I.PROCEDURALHISTORY   Ѐ ` InOctober1993,petitionerwenttotrialandwasconvictedofespeciallyaggravatedrobbery,attemptedseconddegreemurder,andburglary.Petitionerreceivedsentencesoftwentytwo,ten,andthreeyears,respectively.Thetrialcourtorderedallsentencestorunconsecutivelyforaneffectivetermofthirtyfiveyears. ` Ondirectappeal,apanelofthisCourtaffirmedtheconvictionsandsentencesimposedbythetrialcourt.SeeStatev.LeonardLebronRoss,C.C.A.  %p $ No.03C019404CR00153,HamiltonCounty(Tenn.Crim.App.filedJune15,1995,atKnoxville).TheTennesseeSupremeCourtgrantedpermissiontoappealandremandedthecausetothisCourtforreconsiderationofsentencinginlightof *%* Statev.Wilkerson,905S.W.2d933,939(Tenn.1995).Uponremand,thisCourt T,', againaffirmedthetrialcourtssentencingdecision.Statev.LeonardLebronRoss,  .p). C.C.A.No.03C019404CR00153,HamiltonCounty(Tenn.Crim.App.filedApril10,1996,refiledAugust15,1996,atKnoxville).  3.4  ` OnJuly1,1996,petitionerfiledaprosepetitionforpostconvictionrelief   primarilyallegingineffectiveassistanceofcounselbothattrialandonappeal.Afteranevidentiaryhearing,thepostconvictioncourtfoundtheallegationstobewithoutmeritandenteredanorderdenyingpostconvictionrelief.Thisappealfollowed.@??( II.))FACTS  `  ))@) A.Trial  @   ` ))At))trial,thestatepresentedevidencethatpetitionerandtwocodefendantsenteredthehomeofMarySanders,aseventynineyearoldgreatgrandmother,beatherwithahammer,androbbedherofhertelevisioninordertobuycrackcocaine.The))physical))evidenceplacingpetitioneratthescenewasalatentfingerprintonawatch))caseinthevictimsbedroom.))))Furthermore,thecodefendantstestifiedagainstpetitioner.@aa# B.PostConviction  @  ` Petitionersbriefpresentsnumerousallegationsinsupportofhisclaimforpostconvictionrelief.Mostofthoseallegationsrelatetoineffectiveassistanceofcounsel,andcanbeconsolidatedintothefollowing: ` (1)8 Trialcounselfailedtoproduceexperttestimonyrelatingtothe p&!$ accuracyoflatentfingerprints,ortointroduceothertestimonyshowingpetitionerhadbeeninthevictimsresidencemanytimes;    ` (2)8 Trialcounselfailedtoobtaininformationfromthestate  +p&) regardingpetitionersstatementstolawenforcement;    ` (3)8 Trialcounselfailedtoobjecttotherepetitiveexaminationof -@), certainwitnesses;    ` (4)8 TrialcounselfailedtoobjecttocodefendantOwens 0,/ speculationaboutpetitionersmotiveforhandingherapillow;    ` (5)8 Trialcounselfailedtoemphasizeinclosingargumentthatco 3.2 defendantOwenswasanadmittedliar;    ` (6)8 Trialcounselfailedtoobjecttotheassistantdistrictattorneys `615 useofoverlyinflammatorystatementsinclosingargument;    ` (7)8 Trialcounselfailedtofileapetitionforrehearingregarding 0948 thisCourtsopinionondirectappeal; :p59   r     ` (8)8 Trialcounselfailedtochallengethetrialcourtsdenialofa  continuanceinhismotionfornewtrial;    ` (9)8 Trialcounselfailedtointerviewpetitionerscodefendantsin  anticipationthattheymighttestifyagainstpetitioner;    ` (10)8 Trialcounselfailedtoattackthestatesfailuretoarraign P  petitionerwithinseventytwohoursofhisarrest;and    ` (11)8 Trialcounselfailedtoofferindividualizedinstructions  p  concerningnonstatutorymitigatingcircumstances.   Allegationsrelatingtopreviouslydeterminedissuesinclude: ` (1)8 Thetrialcourterredbyadmittingpetitionersfirststatementinto   evidence;    ` (2)8 Thetrialcourterredbyitsimpositionofconsecutivesentences;  and    ` (3)8 Thetrialcourterredbyitsimpositionofagreatereffective p sentencethanreceivedbycodefendantOwenswhoactuallyhitthevictimintheheadwithahammer.;././    ` Thepostconvictioncourtconductedanevidentiaryhearingandreceivedtestimonyfrompetitionerandtrialcounsel.Petitionergenerallytestifiedthathedidnotbelievehewasprovenguiltyandcomplainedthattrialcounselfailedtoprotecthisconstitutionalrights.Petitionercomplainedthatcounselfailedtopointoutinconsistencyintheproofandtoemphasizethecodefendantsconflictingstories. ` Trialcounselwasanexperiencedcriminaldefenseattorney.Hisrecollectionoftrialpreparationinthiscaseincludedseveralmeetingswithpetitionerandpetitionersactiveparticipationinthetactical,decisionmakingprocess. ` Counselobtainedthepreliminaryhearingtranscript,informationaboutorcopiesofpetitionersstatementstoinvestigators,andtalkedtothedistrictattorneyregardingthefingerprintevidencewhichputpetitionerinthevictimshome.Ingeneral,heassuredthattheevidencewasproperandfiledanunsuccessfulmotiontosuppressthestatementspetitionergavetopolice. 0948  ` Accordingtotrialcounsel,therewereanumberofpossibledefensesbaseduponwhatpetitionertoldhimhappenedthatnight.Hereviewedeachwithpetitionerandletpetitionermakethefinaldecisionregardingwhichtouseattrial.))))  #  2      ׀However, p thecodefendantstestimonyagainstpetitionercompletelycontrovertedhisclaimthathewentbacktothehousetohelpthevictimaftercodefendantOwenscommittedtheoffenses. ` Thepostconvictioncourtdeterminedthatthepetitionerfailedtoprovehisallegationsandenteredanorderofdismissal. @!IV.STANDARDSOFREVIEW  p @}}$ A.PostConviction  P  `  Thetrialjudge'sfindingsoffactonpostconvictionhearingsareconclusiveonappealunlesstheevidencepreponderatesotherwise.Butlerv.State, ` 789S.W.2d898,899(Tenn.1990);Adkinsv.State,911S.W.2d334,341(Tenn. @ Crim.App.1995).Thetrialcourtsfindingsoffactareaffordedtheweightofajuryverdict,andthisCourtisboundbythetrialcourtsfindingsunlesstheevidenceintherecordpreponderatesagainstthosefindings.Henleyv.State,960S.W.2d572, $" 578(Tenn.1997);Alleyv.State,958S.W.2d138,147(Tenn.Crim.App.1997); p&!$ Dixonv.State,934S.W.2d69,72(Tenn.Crim.App.1996). P(#& @== B.IneffectiveAssistanceofCounsel  ,`'*  ` ThisCourtreviewsaclaimofineffectiveassistanceofcounselunderthestandardsofBaxterv.Rose,523S.W.2d930(Tenn.1975),andStricklandv. / +. Washington,466U.S.668,104S.Ct.2052,80L.Ed.2d674(1984).Thepetitioner 1-0 hastheburdentoprovethat(1)theattorneysperformancewasdeficient,and(2) 3.2 thedeficientperformanceresultedinprejudicetothedefendantsoastodeprivehimofafairtrial.Strickland,466U.S.at687,104S.Ct.at2064;Goadv.State,938  S.W.2d363,369(Tenn.1996);Overtonv.State,874S.W.2d6,11(Tenn.1994); p Butler,789S.W.2dat899. P   ` ThetestinTennesseeindeterminingwhethercounselprovidedeffectiveassistanceiswhetherhisperformancewaswithintherangeofcompetencedemandedofattorneysincriminalcases.Baxter,523S.W.2dat936.The   petitionermustovercomethepresumptionthatcounselsconductfallswithinthewiderangeofacceptableprofessionalassistance.Strickland,466U.S.at689,104  S.Ct.at2065;Alley,958S.W.2dat149;Hicksv.State,983S.W.2d240,246(Tenn. p Crim.App.1998).Therefore,inordertoproveadeficiency,apetitionermustshowthatcounselsactsoromissionsweresoseriousastofallbelowanobjectivestandardofreasonablenessunderprevailingprofessionalnorms.Strickland,466 ` U.S.at688,104S.Ct.at2065;Henley,960S.W.2dat579;Goad,938S.W.2dat @ 369. @ V.DISPOSITIONOFPETITIONERSCLAIMS  $"  ` WebeginbynotingthethreeallegationsrelatingtoerrorsbythetrialcourthavebeenpreviouslydeterminedbythisCourtondirectappeal.SeeStatev. 0*%( LeonardLebronRoss,C.C.A.No.03C019404CR00153,HamiltonCounty(Tenn. ,`'* Crim.App.filedApril10,1996,refiledAugust15,1996,atKnoxville).Theymaynotberevisitedinapostconvictionproceeding.Tenn.CodeAnn.4030206(h). ` Wenowaddresseachoftheotherelevenallegationsraisedwithregardtoineffectiveassistanceofcounsel:@, (1)  p504  ` Petitionercontendstrialcounselshouldhavepresentedexperttestimonytochallengetheaccuracyoflatentfingerprints,ortestimonywhichofferedan 0948 r    *r    *)r    )alternativeexplanationforthepresenceofhisfingerprintinthevictimshome.Inhisstatementtolawenforcementthepetitionersaidhewentinthehouseafteracodefendantcommittedthecrimes.Underthesecircumstances,therewasnoneedtochallengetheaccuracyofthefingerprint0s0orofferfurtherevidenceexplainingthefingerprint.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (2)  @   ` Petitionerclaimstrialcounselfailedtoobtaininformationregardinghisstatementstothepolice.However,trialcounseltestifiedheknewaboutthestatementsandfiledamotiontosuppress.Thus,thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (3)  P  ` Petitionerarguesthattrialcounselwasdeficientforfailingtoobjecttorepetitivequestioningofwitnesses.Trialcounseltestifiedhedidnotobjectunlessoruntilsuchquestioningbecameexcessive.Petitionerhasfailedtoshowwhatbenefitwouldbederivedfromsuchobjection,orwhatprejudicewassufferedbysuchfailure.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (4)  p&!$  ` PetitionercontendstrialcounselwasdeficientforfailingtoobjecttospeculationbycodefendantOwensregardingthepillowpetitionerhandedhertosmotherthevictim.Attheevidentiaryhearing,trialcounselofferedatacticalexplanationfornotmakinganobjection.Furthermore,petitionerhasfailedtoshowthatsuchobjectionwouldhavebeensustainedbythetrialcourt.Thisissueiswithoutmerit. ` @, (5)  p504  ` PetitionerclaimstrialcounselshouldhaveemphasizedcodefendantOwensuntruthfulnesstopolice.Petitionerhasfailedtoshowareasonableprobabilitythat 0948  P    1 P     P    10 P    01failure 0948 Л P    to 0948 1221 P    1emphasiz2e23ing3񛀜th+e+00,is,-untruthfulness-incounselsclosingargumentwouldhavechangedtheoutcomeoftheproceeding.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (6)  P   ` Petitionerchargestrialcounselwithfailuretoobjecttothestatesuseofoverlyinflammatorystatementsinitsclosingargument.Petitionerhasfailedtodemonstrateanyprejudiceasaresultofthecomments.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (7)    ` PetitionerclaimsthattrialcounselwasdeficientfornotfilingapetitiontorehearregardingthisCourtsopinionissuedinApril1996.ThereisnorequirementthatappellatecounselfilesuchamotionuponanadversedecisionbythisCourt.Furthermore,therehasbeennoshowingthatsuchapetitionwouldlikelyhavebeengranted.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (8)     ` Petitionerclaimsthattrialcounselfailedtochallengethetrialcourtsdenialofacontinuanceafterthestateaddedpetitionerscodefendantsaswitnessesonthemorningoftrial.Whileitistruethattrialcounseldidnotraisetheissueinhismotionfornewtrial,itwasraisedonappealanddeterminedonthemeritsbythisCourt.Clearly,counselsfailuredidnotprejudicepetitioner.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@, (9)  / +.  ` Petitionerfurthercontendsthattrialcounselfailedtointerviewthecodefendantsinanticipationoftheirtestimonyagainstpetitionerattrial.Trialcounselwasgivenafullopportunitytocrossexaminethecodefendantsattrial. Furthermore,petitionerhasfailedtoproduceevidenceshowingthatsuchinterviews P726 wouldhavechangedcounselsstrategyattrial,orchangedtheoutcome.Thisissueiswithoutmerit. @ff+ (10)  P   ` Petitionerchargestrialcounselshouldhaveattackedthestatesfailuretoarraignpetitionerwithinseventytwohoursofhisarrest.Thisissuewasnotpursuedatthepostconvictionhearing.TherecordbeforethisCourtdoesnotestablishanydeficiencybytrialcounselinthisregard.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@ff+ (11)    ` Petitionerchallengestrialcounselsfailuretoofferindividualizedinstructionsconcerningnonstatutorymitigatingcircumstances.Thisallegationrelatestothepresentationofmitigatingcircumstancesinthepenaltyphaseofafirstdegreemurdertrialwherethejurydeterminesthesentence.Ithasnoapplicationtothecaseatbar.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.@& VI.CONCLUSION  "   ` Petitionerhasfailedtodemonstratethatanyoftheallegeddeficienciescausedhimprejudice;nordoestherecordpreponderateagainstthepostconvictioncourtsfindingsthattrialcounselinthiscasewaseffective.Basedupontheforegoing,weAFFIRMthejudgmentofthecourtbelow.  :p59 r     ̜((̛(1(#__________________________*(# JOEG.RILEY,JUDGE  0   CONCUR: 0   __________________________   JERRYL.SMITH,JUDGE   __________________________ 0  NORMAMcGEEOGLE,JUDGE