ÿWPC : ÕM7ÏÙ@•¤,zU"eåÏŽA­*&LC1â:5VAh&_è½,!¹ˆ¥1ó^뺒9ÈÊËwÕ Aý‹Já@«ßX¶å"ärïh#gZÐÀ'’Ž•ƒÑOu¤bn!¹~LzàpØ÷˜@‘„Èá7²NAýµ³5õ[C&Àÿ5’OЦÖH)IíIªyc2¢$ÞÕ:&¦ÔS姃‹/rŸ^?êêÒÇ “Á ¼Áƒó‹ëUš9©PiúïAÒö’Il£}Ó”lã•`é!\©Ó‰ÍÅéð&”ñPöß_ÜüõÖø0±²óÐmÐ_dõ4ÜŒœ• ÷œÎº¥~dÎkv¾žZ5mö¹r²È?˜5ÓiÜcô¤:ÑÆk¤<»ï©F¹œK´Èó¥´œ ïùðïí·”·6Vèbn‚W‡ièüâ÷í[Ú¢qJ°3[QŒ–¾z<Ò„¿Ó5èvhêt3"@•#/x›ô‹°5™á¸W¥{OÂj;w=Ä' ¡þ:h¹ét±‹2r¯ýK„¼Ô6pÑŸùW’¼´&·»Ž*Rx’R­†9M å(¹„ï&¤ØËëœý€Gpƒ¤Ù#ò-0¸­Q6¼¦}Ûúf#Á” %U ^ [ 0ˆg U3Nï w= 4A zU ÒÏ ¡ ° m² É ÆÑ Æ— Æ] Æ#UFNéN7U >9 0UwEÌ 0éÎ 0æ· 0ã 0à€ 0Ý` 0Ú= 0× 0Ôî 0C 0× 0ÔÜ 0Ѱ 0Î 0ËO 0È 0Åâ 0À§ 0@g 0Ô§ 0Ñ{ 0ÎL 0Ë 0Èå b­! 0ŵ! 0Âz" 0½<# 00ù# 0<)$ 0¾e$ 0>#% 0va% 0`×% 0`7& 0`—& 0`÷& 0`W' 08·' 0Òï' 02Á( 0üó( 0:ï) 0Y)* 0_‚* 0 á* 0jë+ 0„U- B*Ù. D// 0„2/ D/¶0 0Îå0 06³1 0é1 0:ñ2 0^+3 0<‰3 AMÅ3U64 0ëH4U*3535 0D]5 B¡5¡5 0¤¾5 D5b6 D-—6 0KÄ6Ä6 AS7Æb7 0¤(8 0DÌ8 A«9999 0N»9˜HP LaserJet 4050ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»Ð{:-s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular3j1,¢Ø+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regularô\  `‹&Times New Roman*+ ÿÿ(_26Ô2ÔÔ3  Ôà..à*G+M ÿÿ(_25Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*D+M ÿÿ(_24Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*A+M ÿÿ(_23Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*>+M ÿÿ(_22Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*;+M ÿÿ(_21Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*8+M ÿÿ(_20Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*5+M ÿÿ(_19Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*2+M ÿÿ(_18Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó* ÿÿ(_17Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô€*GM ÿÿ(_16Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*DM ÿÿ(_15Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*AM ÿÿ(_14Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*>M ÿÿ(_13Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*;M ÿÿ(_12Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*8M ÿÿ(_11Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó*5M ÿÿ(_10Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó(2M ÿÿ&_9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó( ÿÿ&_8Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô(GM ÿÿ&_7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó(DM ÿÿ&_6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó(AM ÿÿ&_5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó(>M ÿÿ&_4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó(;M ÿÿ&_3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó- ù-(8M ÿÿ&_2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó(5M ÿÿ&_1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó&2M ÿÿ$_Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó0ÿÿ.Normal<ÿÿ:Definition T<AAÿÿ:Definition LÓ , ÓÓ5+Ü Ü` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5Ó8ÿÿ6Definitionòòóó(''ÿÿ&H1ò òÔ  ÔÔ‡°°°ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó óÔ  Ô(ÿÿ&H2ò òÔ‡„„„ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó(ÿÿ&H3ò òÔ‡¼¼¼ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó(ÿÿ&H4ò òÔ‡XXXÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó(ÿÿ&H5ò òÔ‡ôôôÔó óÔ‡ôôôÔ(ÿÿ&H6ò òÔ‡ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó2ÿÿ0Addressòòóó8MMÿÿ6BlockquoteÓ , ÓÓ , ÓÓ5+Ü Ü` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5Ó,ÿÿ*CITEòòóó,dlÿÿ*CODEÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡Q<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Emphasisòòóó6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ €€ ÔóóÔ  Ô4goÿÿ2Keyboardò òÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡Q<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔó ó<“›ÿÿ:PreformattedÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È %#/ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡Q<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È %#/Ó<š®ÿÿ:z©Bottom of Ó7€G(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ÔÔ?‡S%ä2¼A`‹Arial?ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ7€Z(€X7Ó&ÿÿ  d dF)1dxd<š®ÿÿ:z©Top of ForÓ7€I(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ÔÔ?‡S%ä2¼A`‹Arial?ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ7€Z(€X7ÓF)2dxd0KSÿÿ.SampleÔK‡Q<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ0ÿÿ.Strongò òó ó8dlÿÿ6TypewriterÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡Q<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Variableòòóó: ÿÿ8HTML MarkupÔB  ÔÔ ÿ ÔÔ  Ô2 ÿÿ0CommentÔB  ÔX[ZA<< cÿÿ<þ6X9`(‹Courier New(|G2ÂI$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E-»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãeò»»Ô%ä2¼A`‹Arial(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó d(|3w$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E-»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3w$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E-»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKK(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E-»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼E-»»»ÔÑ8€XXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡î^LE-ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼E-»îî^L #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àFebruary€26,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÌò òÔ#†¼E-»XX#ÔòòJERRY€BRITTóó€v.€òòóóSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEÔ‡XX»¼E-Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Ô_ÔHamblenÔ_Ô€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€97„CR„213€€€€€€James€Edward€Ô_ÔBecknerÔ_Ô,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½ ` AßÐ ¾   ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2001„00864„CCA„R3„PC€Ð ¹  ÐSeptember€26,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€Petitioner€was€charged€with€one€count€of€aggravated€sexual€battery;€five€counts€of€rape€of€aÐ ŒÜ  Ðchild;€two€counts€of€possession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€controlled€substance;€and€six€countsÐ xÈ  Ðof€the€delivery€of€a€controlled€substance.€€The€Petitioner€subsequently€pled€guilty€to€two€counts€ofÐ d´ Ðpossession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€controlled€substance€and€to€six€counts€of€the€delivery€ofÐ P  Ða€controlled€substance.€€He€also€entered€an€òòÔ_ÔAlfordÔ_Ôóó€plea€to€three€counts€of€attempted€rape€of€a€child.€Ð <Œ ÐPursuant€to€his€plea€agreement,€the€trial€court€sentenced€the€Petitioner€to€an€effective€sentence€ofÐ (x Ðforty„eight€years.€€The€Petitioner€subsequently€filed€a€timely€petition€for€post„conviction€relief€whichÐ d Ðwas€heard€and€denied€by€the€trial€court.€€In€this€post„conviction€appeal,€the€Petitioner€contends€thatÐ P Ðhe€received€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€when€he€entered€his€pleas;€that€his€counselððs€deficientÐ ì< Ðperformance€rendered€his€guilty€pleas€unknowing€and€involuntary;€and€that€he€should€be€grantedÐ Ø( Ðpost„conviction€relief€because€of€newly€discovered€evidence.€€Concluding€that€the€Petitioner€receivedÐ Ä Ðadequate€representation€when€he€entered€his€plea;€that€his€pleas€were€entered€knowingly,€voluntarily,Ð ° Ðand€intelligently;€and€that€the€Petitioner€is€not€entitled€to€post„conviction€relief€on€the€basis€of€newlyÐ œì Ðdiscovered€evidence,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌò òà@]]ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmedó óˆÐ `° ÐÌòòÔ#†¼E-»àXŠ#ÔÔ‡XX.¼E-ÔRobert€W.€Ô_ÔWedemeyerÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJerry€L.€Smithóó€and€òòJamesÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÔ_ÔCurwoodÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWittÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð $"t! ÐÌP.€Richard€Ô_ÔTalleyÔ_Ô€and€S.€Douglas€Ô_ÔDrinnonÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔDandridgeÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Jerry€Britt.Ð ü#L# ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Elizabeth€B.€Ô_ÔMarneyÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð Ô%$!% ÐC.€Berkeley€Bell,€Jr.,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Christopher€Ô_ÔScruggsÔ_Ô,€Assistant€District€AttorneyÐ À&"& ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð ¬'ü"' ÐÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼E-»XXa #ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ԈР„)Ô$) ÐÌÔ‡XXXXÔÓ  ÓI.€€PROCEDURAL€HISTORYÐ \+¬&+ Ðâ âÐ H,˜',ý ÐÔ_ÔÓwÓà  àOn€July€1,€1996,€the€Hamblen€County€Grand€Jury€charged€the€Petitioner,€Jerry€Elmer€Britt,Ð ° Ðâ âin€an€eight€count€presentment€with€one€count€of€aggravated€sexual€battery;€five€counts€of€rape€of€aÐ œì Ðchild;€one€count€of€possession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€Schedule€II€controlled€substance;€andÐ ˆØ Ðone€count€of€possession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€Schedule€IV€controlled€substance.€€On€theÐ tÄ Ðsame€date,€the€Hamblen€County€Grand€Jury€also€charged€the€Petitioner€in€a€separate€presentmentÐ `° Ðwith€six€counts€of€the€delivery€of€a€Schedule€II€controlled€substance.€€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àOn€November€19,€1996,€pursuant€to€a€plea€agreement,€the€Petitioner€pleaded€guilty€to€oneÐ $ t Ðcount€of€possession€with€intent€to€sell€a€Schedule€II€controlled€substance€and€to€one€count€ofÐ  ` Ðpossession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€Schedule€IV€controlled€substance.€€The€Petitioner€alsoÐ ü L  Ðentered€an€òòAlfordóó€plea€to€three€counts€of€attempted€rape€of€a€child.€€òòSeeóó€òògenerallyóó€òòNorth€Carolina€v.Ð è 8  ÐAlfordóó,€400€U.S.€25€(1970).Ô#†XXXXX#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX"#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-Ô€€Additionally,€the€Petitioner€pleaded€guilty€to€the€six€counts€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðdelivery€of€a€Schedule€II€controlled€substance€that€were€the€subject€of€a€separate€presentment.Ð À  ÐÌà  àPursuant€to€the€Petitionerððs€plea€agreement,€the€trial€court€sentenced€the€Petitioner€as€a€RangeÐ ˜è  ÐI,€standard€offender€to€twelve€years€incarceration€for€each€conviction€for€attempted€rape€of€a€child;Ð „Ô  Ðto€six€years€incarceration€for€possession€with€intent€to€sell€a€Schedule€II€controlled€substance;€to€fourÐ pÀ Ðyears€incarceration€for€possession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€Schedule€IV€controlled€substance;Ð \¬ Ðand€to€six€years€incarceration€for€each€conviction€for€the€delivery€of€a€Schedule€II€controlledÐ H˜ Ðsubstance.€€The€court€ordered€that€the€three€sentences€for€attempted€rape€of€a€child€run€concurrentlyÐ 4„ Ðwith€each€other,€and€concurrently€with€the€sentences€for€possession€with€intent€to€sell€a€Schedule€IIÐ  p Ðcontrolled€substance€and€for€possession€with€intent€to€sell€or€deliver€a€Schedule€IV€controlledÐ  \ Ðsubstance.€€The€court€ordered€that€each€of€the€six€sentences€for€the€delivery€of€a€Schedule€IIÐ øH Ðcontrolled€substance€run€consecutively€to€each€other€and€consecutively€to€the€effective€sentence€ofÐ ä4 Ðtwelve€years€for€the€three€attempted€rape€of€a€child€convictions€and€the€other€drug€convictions.€€TheÐ Ð  ÐPetitioner€thus€received€concurrent€effective€sentences€of€twelve€years€followed€by€six€consecutiveÐ ¼  Ðsentences€of€six€years€each,€for€a€total€effective€sentence€of€forty„eight€years.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àThe€following€events€then€took€place,€as€summarized€by€this€Court€in€a€prior€opinion:Ð €Ð Ðà8  àà ` àOn€August€26,€1997,€petitioner€filed€a€pro€se€petition€for€post„convictionÐ l¼ Ðrelief.€€On€August€28€the€District€Public€Defender€was€appointed€to€represent€theÐ X ¨ Ðappellant.€€The€matter€was€set€for€hearing€November€14.€€The€affidavit€of€Edward€H.Ð D!” ÐMoody,€assistant€public€defender,€reflects€that€by€letter€dated€October€27,€1997,Ð 0"€  Ðappellant€requested€an€enlargement€of€time,€or,€if€necessary,€the€right€to€dismiss€andÐ #l! Ðrefile€his€petition.€€By€order€dated€November€5,€1997,€the€court€dismissed€the€petitionÐ $X" Ðwithout€prejudice€to€a€timely€refiling.Ðô$D #Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àOn€November€10,€1997,€petitioner€filed€a€new€pro€se€petition€for€post„Ð à%0!$ Ðconviction€relief.€€On€€February€9,€1998,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€appointingÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€District€Public€Defender€to€represent€the€defendant.и'#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àOn€March€5,€1998,€defendant€wrote€a€letter€to€his€counsel€purporting€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdischarge€him€from€further€representation.€€On€March€20,€1998,€the€trial€courtÐ )à$( Ðrelieved€the€District€Public€Defender€from€further€representation.€€By€order€datedÐ |*Ì%) ÐMarch€30,€1998,€reflecting€a€hearing€date€of€March€27,€the€court€dismissed€theÐ h+¸&* Ðpetition€without€appointing€alternate€counsel€and€without€conducting€a€hearing.€€TheÐ ° Ðorder€reflects,€however,€that€the€court€did€consider€the€petition€for€post„convictionÐ œì Ðrelief,€the€answer€of€the€State,€and€the€transcript€of€the€guilty€plea€hearing€ofÐ ˆØ ÐNovember€19,€1996.ÐtÄÐ Ð  ÐòòJerry€E.€Britt€v.€Stateóó,€No.€03C01„9806„CR„00208,€1999€Tenn.€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€567,€at€**2„4Ð `° Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Knoxville,€June€4,€1999)€(citation€omitted).€€The€Petitioner€appealed€theÐ L œ Ðdismissal€of€his€petition€for€post„conviction€relief,€and€on€appeal,€this€Court€concluded€that€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐPetitioner€ð ðshould€have€new€counsel€appointed€and€should€be€given€an€evidentiary€hearing.ðð€€òòId.óó€atÐ $ t Ð*7.€€€This€Court€therefore€reversed€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€remanded€the€case€to€the€trialÐ  ` Ðcourt€for€further€proceedings.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óóÐ ü L  ÐÌà  àPursuant€to€the€order€of€this€Court,€the€trial€court€conducted€an€evidentiary€hearing€on€MarchÐ Ô$  Ð16,€2001.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€trial€court€again€denied€post„conviction€relief.€€It€isÐ À  Ðfrom€this€denial€of€relief€that€the€Petitioner€now€appeals.€€He€presents€three€arguments€for€ourÐ ¬ü  Ðreview:€€The€Petitioner€first€argues€that€he€was€denied€his€right€to€effective€assistance€of€counsel€atÐ ˜è  Ðhis€guilty€plea€proceedings.€€He€next€argues€that€his€ineffective€representation€rendered€his€pleaÐ „Ô  Ðinvoluntary€and€unknowing.€€Finally,€the€Petitioner€contends€that€he€is€entitled€to€relief€from€hisÐ pÀ Ðguilty€pleas€on€the€basis€of€newly€discovered€evidence.€€Having€reviewed€the€record€in€this€case,€weÐ \¬ Ðaffirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð H˜ ÐÌÓ  ÓII.€€EVIDENCE€PRESENTED€AT€THE€POST„CONVICTION€HEARINGÐ  p ÐÓÝ*ÓÌà  àThe€following€evidence€was€presented€at€the€evidentiary€hearing€on€the€Petitionerððs€petitionÐ øH Ðfor€post„conviction€relief.€€The€Petitionerððs€attorney€testified€that€at€the€time€of€the€hearing,€he€wasÐ ä4 Ðserving€as€County€Executive€of€Hawkins€County,€but€that€prior€to€his€service€in€this€capacity,€heÐ Ð  Ðpracticed€criminal€defense€and€personal€injury€law€for€forty„one€years.€€He€also€stated€that€he€wasÐ ¼  Ðemployed€as€a€District€Attorney€General€for€seventeen€years.€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  à€€Counsel€testified€that€he€had€lost€his€file€concerning€the€Petitionerððs€case€and€that€heÐ €Ð Ðbelieved€that€the€Petitionerððs€case€had€been€dismissed.Ô#†XXXXâ#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX$#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-Ô€€He€therefore€testified€solely€from€his€memoryÐ l¼ Ðof€the€case.Ô#†¼E-»XX¤.#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXXb.#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔ€€Counsel€reported€that€he€was€retained€by€the€Petitioner€to€represent€him€on€charges€ofÐ X ¨ Ðfive€counts€of€rape€of€a€child,€one€count€of€sexual€battery,€and€two€counts€of€possession€of€drugs€withÐ D!” Ðintent€to€sell.€€Counsel€stated€that€at€the€time€he€was€retained€to€represent€the€Petitioner,€theÐ 0"€  ÐPetitioner€was€facing€a€potential€sentence€of€twenty„five€years€to€be€served€at€one€hundred€percentÐ #l! Ðfor€each€of€the€rape€of€a€child€charges.€€He€also€stated€that€the€Petitioner€was€facing€ð ðprobably€.€.€.Ð $X" Ðtwo€or€three€consecutive€sentencesðð€for€child€rape.€€He€testified€that€two€other€attorneys€in€his€officeÐ ô$D # Ðalso€worked€on€the€Petitionerððs€case€and€helped€him€investigate€ð ðlead[s]ðð€in€the€case.Ô#†XXXXx/#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX6/#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-Ô€€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àCounsel€stated€that€during€his€first€meeting€with€the€Petitioner,€he€discussed€with€theÐ ¸'#& ÐPetitioner€the€type€of€investigation€that€he€would€be€required€to€perform€in€order€to€defend€againstÐ ¤(ô#' Ða€rape€case.€€Counsel€recalled€that€he€investigated€an€alleged€prior€allegation€by€the€victim€of€theÐ )à$( Ðchild€rape€charges€that€her€natural€father€had€sexually€abused€her.€€However,€counsel€testified€thatÐ |*Ì%) Ðhe€found€nothing€to€indicate€that€such€an€allegation€was€ever€made.€€Counsel€reported€that€heÐ h+¸&* Ðnonetheless€filed€a€Rule€412€motion€to€ð ðestablish€.€.€.€[the€victimððs]€prior€sexual€behavior.ðð€€CounselÐ ° Ðstated€that€he€also€investigated€allegations€that€the€victim€of€the€child€rape€charges€had€engaged€inÐ œì Ðsexual€relations€with€two€juvenile€males.€€He€testified€that€an€investigator€whom€he€hired€contactedÐ ˆØ Ðthe€males,€but€was€unable€to€confirm€the€allegations.€€Finally,€he€stated€that€another€attorney€in€hisÐ tÄ Ðoffice€investigated€allegations€that€the€victim€told€three€girls€in€her€class€at€school€that€the€PetitionerÐ `° Ðhad€stabbed€her€with€a€butcher€knife,€but€counsel€was€unable€to€recall€whether€the€attorney€in€hisÐ L œ Ðoffice€actually€contacted€the€girls.€€Counsel€reported€that€he€kept€the€Petitioner€apprised€of€hisÐ 8 ˆ Ðinvestigation€of€the€case.Ô#†XXXXï2#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX13#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-Ô€€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àCounsel€testified€that€he€spoke€with€the€victimððs€mother€ð ðnumerous€timesðð€while€preparingÐ ü L  Ðthe€case,€and€he€stated€that€because€of€his€contact€with€the€victimððs€mother,€he€was€able€to€have€Ð è 8  Ðð ðtwo€child€rapes€dismissed,€.€.€.€a€sexual€assault€dismissed,€and€[that€he€was€able€to€obtain]€a€pleaÐ Ô$  Ðreducing€three€rape€charges€to€an€attempt,€and€concurrent€sentences€of€twelve€years.ðð€€Ô#†XXXX[9#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX9#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔCounsel€statedÐ À  Ðthat€he€never€spoke€with€the€victim€in€this€case.€€He€could€not€recall€whether€he€asked€to€speak€toÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€victim,€but€was€refused€access€to€her.€€Although€he€could€not€clearly€recall,€he€believed€that€theÐ ˜è  Ðvictimððs€mother€did€not€want€him€to€speak€to€the€victim.€€He€acknowledged€that€the€State€spoke€withÐ „Ô  Ðthe€victim€in€preparing€the€case,€but€he€maintained€that€the€victim€was€ð ðbeing€very€difficultðð€withÐ pÀ Ðthe€attorney€general€who€prepared€the€case€for€the€State.€€Furthermore,€according€to€counsel,€theÐ \¬ Ðvictimððs€mother€ð ðquestioned€.€.€.€her€daughterððs€veracity.ðð€€Counsel€reported€that€the€victimððs€motherÐ H˜ Ðtold€him€that€during€a€juvenile€court€hearing,€the€victim€made€statements€that€could€be€interpretedÐ 4„ Ðas€a€recantation€of€her€accusations€against€the€Petitioner.€€Counsel€testified€that€the€victimððs€motherÐ  p Ðmore€specifically€told€him€that€the€victim€ð ðmade€the€statement€that€nothing€happened.ðð€€However,Ð  \ Ðcounsel€testified€that€the€victimððs€mother€ð ðnever€told€[him]€that€her€daughter€was€going€.€.€.€toÐ øH Ðrecant,ðð€and€he€stated€that€he€later€learned€that€the€victim€did€not€recant.€€Counsel€maintained€thatÐ ä4 Ðhe€informed€the€Petitioner€of€every€conversation€that€counsel€had€with€the€victimððs€mother.€€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àCounsel€further€testified€that€he€reviewed€the€victimððs€medical€records,€and€he€reported€thatÐ ¨ø Ðhe€discussed€every€aspect€of€the€medical€records€with€the€Petitioner.€€Ô#†¼E-»XX <#ÔÔ#†¼E-»»¼E-Ë;#ÔÔ‡¼E-»»¼E-ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔIncluded€in€the€records€was€aÐ ”ä Ðstatement€by€a€physician€who€examined€the€victim.€€According€to€counsel,€this€physician€would€haveÐ €Ð Ðtestified€that€it€was€possible€that€the€victim€could€have€engaged€in€sexual€intercourse€with€an€adultÐ l¼ Ðmale.€€Counsel€testified€that€he€filed€a€motion€based€on€a€doctorððs€statement,€stating,€ð ðI€was€.€.€.Ð X ¨ Ðhoping€to€show€that€[the€Petitioner]€was€not€the€only€person€that€the€[victim]€had€allegedly€had€sexÐ D!” Ðwith.ðð€€Ô#†XXXX+C#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XXJC#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔHowever,€counsel€admitted€that€he€did€not€speak€to€the€physician€or€nurse€who€examined€theÐ 0"€  Ðvictim.€€Ô#†XXXX²E#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XXôE#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔIn€addition,€counsel€testified€that€he€learned,€probably€from€the€Petitioner€himself,€that€theÐ #l! Ðvictim€was€a€carrier€of€Hepatitis€C.€€To€the€best€of€counselððs€recollection,€no€DNA€evidenceÐ $X" Ðconnected€the€Petitioner€to€the€crimes€in€this€case.€Ô#†¼E-»XXðF#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXX®F#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÐ ô$D # ÐÌà  àCounsel€also€recalled€that€the€victimððs€medical€records€indicated€that€she€had€madeÐ Ì&"% Ðconflicting€statements€to€doctors€and€to€Department€of€Human€Services€employees.€€He€testified€thatÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€victim€ð ðwasnððt€the€most€truthful€witness.ðð€€Counsel€reported€that€he€was€ultimately€unable€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðascertain€whether€the€victim€would€have€testified€against€the€Petitioner€at€trial,€but€he€stated€that€theÐ )à$( Ðvictimððs€mother€told€him€that€the€victim€planned€to€testify€regarding€the€statements€that€she€hadÐ |*Ì%) Ðmade.€€Counsel€admitted,€ð ðThere€was€a€lot€of€information€.€.€.€to€cross€examine€[the€victim]€on,ðð€andÐ h+¸&* Ðhe€reported€that€he€was€prepared€to€cross„examine€the€victim€regarding€her€conflicting€statements.€Ð ° ÐHe€also€reported€that€the€Petitioner€was€aware€of€the€statements.Ð œì ÐÌà  àCounsel€testified€that€a€telephone€conversation€between€the€victim€and€the€Petitioner€hadÐ tÄ Ðbeen€audiotaped€and€that€the€State€read€into€evidence€a€transcript€of€the€taped€telephone€conversationÐ `° Ðat€the€guilty€plea€proceeding.€€Counsel€stated€that€although€some€portions€of€the€tape€were€inaudible,Ð L œ Ðother€portions€could€be€understood.Ô#†XXXXH#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XXNH#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-Ô€€During€the€conversation,€the€victim€asked€the€Petitioner,Ð 8 ˆ Ðð ðRemember€when€you€and€me€had€sex,€you€know,€could€you€have€shot€that€stuff€up€in€me?ðð€Ð $ t ÐAccording€to€the€State,€the€Petitioner€answered,€ð ðUh„huh,ðð€the€victim€then€asked,€ð ðYou€could?ðð€andÐ  ` Ðthe€Petitioner€again€answered,€ð ðUh„huh.ðð€€Ô#†XXXX/N#ÔÔ#†¼E-»XXqN#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔThe€actual€transcript€of€the€conversation,€which€isÐ ü L  Ðincluded€in€the€record,€indicates€that€the€Petitioner€responded,€ð ðHuh„uhðð€to€both€questions.Ô#†¼E-»XXKP#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ‡XXXXԀРè 8  ÐHowever,€counsel€maintained€that€the€Petitioner€actually€answered,€ð ðHuh,€not€huh„uh,€but€huhðð€toÐ Ô$  Ðboth€questions.€€He€explained€that€he€believed€other€discrepancies€existed€between€a€transcript€ofÐ À  Ðthe€taped€conversation€made€by€his€office€and€that€made€by€the€court€reporter.€€He€stated,€ð ð[W]hatÐ ¬ü  Ðwe€could€hear€on€the€tape€was€a€bit€different€than€what€the€court€reporter€.€.€.€heard€.€.€.€.ðð€€Ô#†XXXXVQ#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX7Q#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔCounselÐ ˜è  Ðmaintained,€however,€that€his€ð ðimpression€of€the€audiotape€was€that€it€was€very€damaging.ðð€€HeÐ „Ô  Ðtherefore€filed€a€motion€to€suppress€the€tape,€which€the€trial€court€denied.Ð pÀ Ѐ€Ð \¬ Ðà  àCounsel€testified€that€in€his€statement€to€police,€the€Petitioner€admitted€that€he€had€been€inÐ H˜ Ðbed€nude€with€the€victim€when€she€was€eleven€or€twelve€years€old.€€Counsel€clarified,€however,€thatÐ 4„ Ðthe€Petitioner€did€not€actually€confess€to€the€crimes€charged.€€Counsel€reported€that€he€discussed€thisÐ  p Ðstatement€with€the€Petitioner.€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àWith€regard€to€the€drug€charges€against€the€Petitioner,€counsel€testified€that€he€was€neverÐ ä4 Ðinformed€that€any€of€the€drugs€had€been€planted€in€the€Petitionerððs€apartment.€€Counsel€testified€thatÐ Ð  Ðbased€on€the€evidence€against€the€Petitioner,€he€believed€the€State€ð ðhad€a€lock€onðð€the€Petitioner€withÐ ¼  Ðregard€to€the€drug€charges.€€Counsel€also€stated€that€he€was€ð ðmuch€more€concerned€about€the€fiveÐ ¨ø Ðcharges€of€child€rape.ðð€Ð ”ä ЀÔ#†¼E-»XXÀS#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXX~S#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÐ €Ð Ðà  àCounsel€reported€that€based€upon€all€of€the€aforementioned€evidenceÔ#†¼E-»XXÜX#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXXY#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔ,€he€recommended€thatÐ l¼ Ðthe€Petitioner€accept€a€plea€agreement€of€forty„eight€years€to€be€served€at€thirty€percent.€€He€statedÐ X ¨ Ðthat€otherwise,€the€Petitioner€was€facing€a€sentence€of€twenty„five€to€seventy„five€years€to€be€servedÐ D!” Ðat€one€hundred€percent.€€He€testified€that€the€trial€judge€informed€the€Petitioner€that€the€TennesseeÐ 0"€  ÐDepartment€of€Correction€typically€requires€an€inmate€to€serve€one€hundred€percent€of€a€convictionÐ #l! Ðfor€attempted€rape€of€a€child,€and€he€reported€that€he€informed€the€Petitioner€that€ð ðif€he€wereÐ $X" Ðconvicted€of€child€rape,€there€was€no€opportunity€for€parole.ðð€€Counsel€testified€that€he€discussedÐ ô$D # Ðthese€possibilities€ð ða€number€of€timesðð€with€the€Petitioner.€€Counsel€denied€that€the€State€ever€madeÐ à%0!$ Ðan€offer€of€fifteen€years€ð ðflatðð€for€the€charges,€but€he€recalled€that€at€the€request€of€the€Petitioner,€heÐ Ì&"% Ðsuggested€a€fifteen„year€offer€to€the€State€before€he€and€the€Petitioner€became€aware€of€the€drugÐ ¸'#& Ðcharges.€€He€maintained€that€if€the€Petitioner€had€received€a€fifteen„year€offer,€he€and€the€PetitionerÐ ¤(ô#' Ðð ðwould€have€taken€it€and€run€with€it.ðð€€He€explained€the€negotiated€forty„eight„year€sentence€asÐ )à$( Ðfollows:€ð ðThe€magic€of€that€number€was€that€I€had€offered€fifteen€years.€€And€if€you€compute€forty„Ð |*Ì%) Ðeight€years€at€thirty€percent,€you€get€fourteen€years€and€four€months.€€Now,€that€would€be,€as€IÐ h+¸&* Ðcomputed€and€what€I€told€him,€thatððs€the€first€time€that€he€would€be€eligible.ðð€€He€also€stated,€ð ð[A]sÐ ° ÐI€calculated,€[the€Petitioner]€couldððve€been€out€in€the€fourteen€point€four€years,€or€he€could€serve€.Ð œì Ð.€.€forty„eight€years.€€And€[the€Petitioner]€understood.ðð€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àDistrict€Attorney€General€Charles€Berkeley€Bell,€Jr.,€acted€on€behalf€of€the€State€in€preparingÐ `° Ðthis€case€against€the€Petitioner.€€He€testified€that€he€initially€offered€the€Petitioner€ð ðfifteen€years€day„Ð L œ Ðfor„day€for€the€rapesðð€and€offered€for€all€charges,€including€the€drug€charges,€to€run€concurrently.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐBell€reported€that€counsel€for€the€Petitioner€counter„offered€a€sentence€of€forty„eight€years,€to€beÐ $ t Ðserved€at€thirty€percent.€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àThe€victim€of€the€attempted€rape€of€a€child€charges€also€testified€at€the€post„convictionÐ è 8  Ðhearing.€€She€stated€that€at€the€time€of€the€hearing,€she€was€seventeen€years€old€and€that€at€the€timeÐ Ô$  Ðof€the€crimes,€she€was€twelve€years€old.€€She€testified€that€in€1996,€she€alleged€that€she€and€theÐ À  ÐPetitioner€had€engaged€in€sexual€intercourse€on€more€than€one€occasion.€€She€reported€that€neitherÐ ¬ü  Ðcounsel€for€the€Petitioner€nor€any€lawyer€employed€by€counsel€interviewed€her€about€the€allegations.€Ð ˜è  ÐThe€victim€maintained€that€if€counsel€had€interviewed€her,€she€would€have€told€him€ð ðthe€truth.€.€.Ð „Ô  Ð.€[t]hat€nothing€had€ever€happened.ðð€€She€stated€that€by€this,€she€meant€that€she€never€engaged€inÐ pÀ Ðsexual€intercourse€with€the€Petitioner.€€The€victim€explained,€ð ðItððs€going€to€sound€crazy,€but€I€wasÐ \¬ Ðjealous,€because€[the€Petitioner]€was€getting€all€the€attention€from€my€mom.€€And€I€was€sitting€hereÐ H˜ Ðthinking,€and€I€thought,€Maybe€I€can€do€something€about€it,€and€make€him€go€to€jail,€and€I€could€getÐ 4„ Ðall€her€attention;€sheððd€be€focused€on€me€and€nobody€else.ðð€€The€victim€admitted€that€she€had€sleptÐ  p Ðin€a€bed€with€her€mother€and€the€Petitioner,€but€denied€that€any€sexual€contact€occurred.€€Ô#†XXXXZ#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XXÄY#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔIn€addition,Ð  \ Ðthe€victim€admitted€that€she€had€alleged€that€her€father€had€sexually€abused€her€while€she€was€withÐ øH Ðhim€in€Oregon,€but€she€maintained€that€the€allegations€concerning€her€father€were€true.€€She€testifiedÐ ä4 Ðthat€the€allegations€against€her€father€ð ðgot€her€back€to€Tennessee€with€[her]€mom,ðð€and€she€statedÐ Ð  Ðthat€she€ð ðfigured€if€[she€said]€that€again,€[she]€could€get€what€[she]€wanted€like€[she]€did€before.ðð€Ð ¼  ÐThe€victim€also€maintained€that€had€she€been€called€to€testify€at€the€Petitionerððs€trial,€she€would€haveÐ ¨ø Ðtestified€that€she€and€the€Petitioner€did€not€engage€in€sexual€intercourse.Ô#†¼E-»XX j#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXXÊi#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€the€victim€testified€that€she€made€the€tape„recorded€telephone€call€toÐ l¼ Ðthe€Petitioner€because€she€ð ðwas€trying€to€confuse€him,€trick€him€into€saying€what€he€did€.€.€.€.ðð€€SheÐ X ¨ Ðclaimed€that€she€told€a€doctorÔ#†XXXXmm#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX+m#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-Ô€and€a€detective€who€questioned€her€about€the€case€that€she€had€not€hadÐ D!” Ðsexual€intercourse€with€the€Petitioner.€€She€could€not€recall€whether€she€reported€this€informationÐ 0"€  Ðbefore€or€after€the€Petitioner€became€incarcerated.€€Ð #l! ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€testified€that€he€retained€his€attorney€in€late€February€or€early€March€of€1996Ð ô$D # Ðand€that€his€attorney€represented€him€until€he€entered€his€plea€in€November€1996.€€He€stated€that€heÐ à%0!$ Ðnever€met€the€other€two€attorneys€who€helped€his€counsel€with€the€case.€€The€Petitioner€reported€thatÐ Ì&"% Ðhe€agreed€to€pay€his€attorney€$30,000,€which€was€secured€by€a€lien€against€his€property.€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€complained€that€his€counsel€did€not€fully€discuss€his€case€with€him€and€didÐ )à$( Ðnot€adequately€investigate€his€case.€€He€stated€that€he€met€with€counsel€several€times€prior€to€Ð |*Ì%) Ðentering€his€plea.€€The€Petitioner€testified€that€shortly€after€he€hired€counsel,€he€took€the€victimððsÐ h+¸&* Ðmother€to€counselððs€office€so€that€she€could€convey€information€to€the€attorney€to€help€in€theÐ ° Ðinvestigation€of€the€Petitionerððs€case.€€With€regard€to€the€investigation€of€his€case,€the€PetitionerÐ œì Ðstated€that€his€attorney€should€have€interviewed€three€of€the€victimððs€friends€at€school,€that€counselÐ ˆØ Ðshould€have€contacted€at€least€one€person€in€Oregon€concerning€prior€allegations€made€by€the€victim,Ð tÄ Ðand€that€he€should€have€hired€a€ð ðprofessionalðð€to€analyze€the€audiotape€of€his€conversation€with€theÐ `° Ðvictim.€€The€Petitioner€also€stated€that€counsel€should€have€discussed€with€him€the€content€of€theÐ L œ Ðaudiotape€and€the€content€of€the€transcript€of€the€tape.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÔ#†XXXXán#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX#o#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ԀР$ t Ðà  àThe€Petitioner€stated€that€he€became€incarcerated€in€July€1996€and€remained€incarceratedÐ  ` Ðuntil€he€entered€his€plea.€€The€Petitioner€stated€that€approximately€two€weeks€after€he€becameÐ ü L  Ðincarcerated,€his€attorney€gave€him€his€entire€file€and€told€him€that€the€State€had€offered€him€aÐ è 8  Ðfifteen„year€sentence€with€all€charges€running€concurrently.€€According€to€the€Petitioner,€the€StateÐ Ô$  Ðmade€the€offer€in€exchange€for€a€guilty€plea€to€the€rape€of€a€child€charges€and€to€all€other€drugÐ À  Ðcharges.€€The€Petitioner€claimed€that€he€refused€the€offer,€stating€that€he€was€willing€to€plead€guiltyÐ ¬ü  Ðto€all€drug€charges€in€exchange€for€a€fifteen„year€sentence€if€the€rape€of€a€child€charges€wereÐ ˜è  Ðdismissed.€€The€Petitioner€testified€that€he€assumed€he€and€his€attorney€were€preparing€to€go€to€trialÐ „Ô  Ðafter€he€refused€the€offer.Ð pÀ Ѐ€Ð \¬ Ðà  àThe€Petitioner€testified€that€on€the€Friday€before€his€scheduled€trial€date,€his€attorney€visitedÐ H˜ Ðhim€and€said,€ð ðIððve€got€a€hell€of€a€deal€for€you.€.€.€.€Theyððll€drop€the€rape€of€a€child€and€enter€in€a€bestÐ 4„ Ðinterest€plea€of€attempted€rape,€and€give€you€a€sentence€of€forty„eight€years€at€thirty€percent.ðð€€TheÐ  p ÐPetitioner€maintained€that€his€attorney€told€him€this€deal€was€better€than€an€offer€of€fifteen€yearsÐ  \ Ðð ðflat,ðð€but€did€not€tell€the€Petitioner€a€date€when€he€might€be€released€if€he€accepted€the€offer.€€TheÐ øH ÐPetitioner€recalled€that€counsel€then€evaluated€the€evidence€for€his€case€and€recommended€that€theÐ ä4 ÐPetitioner€accept€the€offer.€€According€to€the€Petitioner,€counselððs€recommendation€was€based€onÐ Ð  Ðstatements€made€by€the€victimÔ#†¼E-»XXDw#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXXw#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔ€and€on€transcripts€made€of€the€taped€telephone€conversation€betweenÐ ¼  Ðthe€Petitioner€and€the€victim.€€The€Petitioner€stated€that€his€attorney€told€him€that€the€victim€wouldÐ ¨ø Ðtestify€that€she€was€sexually€penetrated€by€the€Petitioner€when€she€was€twelve€years€old.€€TheÐ ”ä ÐPetitioner€further€testified€that€his€attorney€told€him€that€ð ðthe€tape€alone€would€.€.€.€absolutely€killÐ €Ð Ð[him]€in€trialðð€and€that€they€ð ðdidnððt€have€a€.€.€.€slim€chance€to€none€of€winning€that€case.ðð€€TheÐ l¼ ÐPetitioner€maintained€that€at€the€time€his€counsel€made€the€recommendation,€he€did€not€mention€theÐ X ¨ Ðstatement€that€the€Petitioner€had€made€to€police.€€Ð D!” ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€testified€that€he€understood€that€the€offer€conveyed€to€him€by€his€counselÐ #l! Ðincluded€an€òòAlfordóó€plea€to€three€counts€of€attempted€rape€of€a€child€and€to€two€drug€possessionÐ $X" Ðcounts.€€òòSeeóó€òògenerallyóó€òòNorth€Carolina€v.€Alfordóó,€400€U.S.€25€(1970).€€However,€he€complained€thatÐ ô$D # Ðhe€instead€entered€an€òòAlfordóó€plea€to€only€the€three€attempted€rape€of€a€child€charges.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€€TheÐ à%0!$ ÐPetitioner€reported€that€the€òòAlfordóó€plea€was€important€to€him€because€he€was€not€guilty€of€the€crimesÐ Ì&"% Ðcharged.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óóÐ ¸'#& ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€insisted€that€his€attorneyððs€recommendation€to€accept€the€forty„eight€year€offerÐ )à$( Ðwas€improper.€€He€maintained€that€he€had€never€engaged€in€sexual€intercourse€with€the€victim€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðstated€that€he€had€evidence€which€would€have€proved€him€innocent€at€trial.€€When€questioned€aboutÐ h+¸&* Ðthis€evidence,€the€Petitioner€specified€that€the€discrepancies€between€the€audiotape€of€hisÐ ° Ðconversation€with€the€victim€and€the€transcript€of€the€tape€pointed€towards€his€innocence.€€He€alsoÐ œì Ðtestified€that€he€had€learned€that€if€the€victim€had€been€called€to€testify€at€trial,€the€victim€would€haveÐ ˆØ Ðdenied€sexual€conduct€with€him.€€Finally,€he€testified€that€he€could€have€explained€his€statement€toÐ tÄ Ðpolice€as€follows:€Ð `° Ðà8  àI€have€a€one„room€apartment€.€.€.€.€Thereððs€only€one€bed€in€the€apartment.€.€.€.€[TheÐ L œ Ðvictim]€stayed€there€about€two€months.€.€.€.€€And€during€those€two€months€there€wasÐ 8 ˆ Ð[sic]€times€that€I€would€go€to€bed€before€[she€and€her€mother]€did.€€So€if€I€was€in€bed,Ð $ t ÐIððm€sure€that€[the€victim]€would€come€in€there;€but€I€was€covered€up.€€I€was€neverÐ  ` Ðuncovered.Ðü L Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€testified€that€he€had€reviewed€the€transcript€of€his€telephone€conversation€withÐ Ô$  Ðthe€victim.€€He€stated€that€certain€portions€of€the€transcript€did€not€ð ðmatch€upðð€to€the€audiotape.€€HeÐ À  Ðalso€claimed€that€he€did€not€say€some€of€the€words€credited€to€him€in€the€transcript.€€He€reported€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðhis€attorney€played€the€audiotape€for€him,€but€did€not€discuss€the€transcript€with€him.€€The€PetitionerÐ ˜è  Ðtestified€that€because€he€did€not€see€the€transcript€prior€to€his€plea,€he€was€not€aware€of€discrepanciesÐ „Ô  Ðbetween€the€audiotape€and€the€transcript€at€the€time€he€entered€his€plea.€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€admitted€that€he€told€the€trial€court€at€his€guilty€plea€proceeding€that€he€wasÐ H˜ Ðsatisfied€with€his€representation.€€However,€he€explained€that€he€became€dissatisfied€with€hisÐ 4„ Ðrepresentation€after€the€proceeding€when€he€reviewed€evidence€for€his€case,€including€the€transcriptÐ  p Ðof€his€conversation€with€the€victim€and€his€case€file€which,€according€to€the€Petitioner,€indicated€thatÐ  \ Ðhis€attorney€had€failed€to€interview€certain€witnesses.€€The€Petitioner€also€stated€that€his€plea€wasÐ øH Ðvoluntary€ð ðbased€on€what€[he]€knew.ðð€€However,€he€maintained€that€he€would€not€have€pled€guilty€Ð ä4 Ðhad€he€been€fully€informed.€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€the€Petitioner€testified€that€before€he€entered€his€plea,€he€was€awareÐ ¨ø Ðthat€the€victim€had€ð ðchanged€her€story,ðð€but€maintained€that€prior€to€his€plea,€the€victim€did€notÐ ”ä Ðreveal€that€she€had€not€engaged€in€sexual€intercourse€with€the€Petitioner.€€He€also€admitted€that€priorÐ €Ð Ðto€his€plea,€he€did€not€examine€any€of€the€evidence€provided€him€by€his€attorney€and€instead€gaveÐ l¼ Ðthe€evidence€to€his€brother.€€He€explained,€ð ð[I]€was€paying€[my€attorney]€thirty€thousand€dollars€toÐ X ¨ Ðdo€the€job.€€And,€.€.€.€like€he€said,€heððs€[had]€forty€years€experience€[as]€an€attorney.€€I€didnððt€see€anyÐ D!” Ðreason€for€me€to€go€over€it,€because€I€knew€.€.€.€what€I€wanted€to€do,€and€that€was€to€go€to€trial.ðð€€TheÐ 0"€  ÐPetitioner€acknowledged€that€the€trial€court€told€him€at€the€time€of€his€plea€that€he€may€be€requiredÐ #l! Ðto€serve€one„hundred€percent€of€his€sentence€for€the€attempted€rape€of€a€child€charges.€€Finally,€whenÐ $X" Ðasked€whether€he€understood€the€meaning€of€ð ðforty„eight€years€at€thirty€percent,ðð€the€PetitionerÐ ô$D # Ðresponded,€ð ðIt€meant€a€better€deal€than€fifteen€at€a€hundred€percent.ðð€€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌÓ  ÓI.€€ANALYSISÐ ¸'#& ÐÌA.€€INEFFECTIVE€ASSISTANCE€OF€COUNSELÐ )à$( Ðâ âÓÙ•ÓÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àThe€Petitioner€first€contends€that€he€is€entitled€to€relief€because€he€received€ineffectiveÐ ° Ðâ âassistance€of€counsel.€€Specifically,€he€complains€that€his€attorney€failed€to€properly€investigate€hisÐ œì Ðcase;€failed€to€interview€ð ðkey€witnesses,ðð€including€the€victim;€and€failed€to€adequately€communicateÐ ˆØ Ðwith€him.€€Ô#†XXXXr#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÔ#†¼E-»XX0#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔMore€specifically,€he€claims€that€counsel€erred€by€failing€to€interview€the€victimððsÐ tÄ Ðclassmates€concerning€allegations€made€by€the€victim;€by€failing€to€interview€medical€personnel€whoÐ `° Ðexamined€the€victim;€by€failing€to€properly€investigate€allegations€by€the€victim€against€herÐ L œ Ðbiological€father;€and€by€failing€to€discuss€with€the€Petitioner€discrepancies€between€the€audiotapedÐ 8 ˆ Ðconversation€between€the€Petitioner€and€the€victim€and€transcripts€subsequently€made€of€theÐ $ t Ðconversation.€€He€also€argues€that€counsel€ð ðmisassessed€the€Stateððs€case,€[the€Petitionerððs]€defensesÐ  ` Ðand€the€likelihood€of€consecutive€sentences€.€.€.€and€misadvised€[the€Petitioner]€regarding€the€pleaÐ ü L  Ðarrangement€and€his€release€date.ðð€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àIn€order€to€obtain€post„conviction€relief,€a€petitioner€must€show€that€his€or€her€conviction€orÐ À  Ðsentence€is€void€or€voidable€because€of€the€abridgment€of€a€constitutional€right.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð ¬ü  Ððð€40„30„203.€€The€petitioner€bears€the€burden€of€proving€factual€allegations€in€the€petition€for€post„Ð ˜è  Ðconviction€relief€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€òòId.óó€ðð€40„30„210(f).€Ô#†XXXX ˜#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔ€A€post„conviction€courtððsÐ „Ô  Ðfactual€findings€are€subject€to€a€òòdeóóòò€òòóónovoóó€review€by€this€Court;€however,€we€must€accord€these€factualÐ pÀ Ðfindings€a€presumption€of€correctness,€which€is€overcome€only€when€a€preponderance€of€theÐ \¬ Ðevidence€is€contrary€to€the€post„conviction€courtððs€factual€findings.€€òòFields€v.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,Ð H˜ Ð456€(Tenn.€2001).€€A€post„conviction€courtððs€conclusions€of€law€are€subject€to€a€purely€òòdeòòóó€óóòònovoóóÐ 4„ Ðreview€by€this€Court,€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòId.óó€at€457.Ô#†XXXXä#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔ€€The€Tennessee€Supreme€CourtÐ  p Ðhas€held€that€the€issue€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€is€a€mixed€question€of€law€and€fact€and,Ð  \ Ðas€such,€is€subject€to€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€review.€€òòState€v.€Burnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€453,€461€(Tenn.€1999).òòóóÔ#†XXXX« #ÔÔ‡XXXXԀРøH ÐÔ#†XXXX¢#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÌà  àThe€right€of€a€criminally€accused€to€representation€is€guaranteed€by€both€the€SixthÐ Ð  ÐAmendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution€and€Article€I,€Section€9€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution.€Ð ¼  ÐòòId.óó;€òòBaxter€v.€Roseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975).€€This€right€to€representation€includes€theÐ ¨ø Ðright€to€ð ðreasonably€effectiveðð€assistance.€€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461.€€òòóóIn€reviewing€a€claim€ofÐ ”ä Ðineffective€assistance€of€counsel,€this€Court€must€determine€whether€the€advice€given€or€servicesÐ €Ð Ðrendered€by€the€attorney€are€within€the€range€of€competence€demanded€of€attorneys€in€criminal€cases.€Ð l¼ ÐòòBaxteróó,€523€S.W.2d€at€936.€€To€prevail€on€a€claim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel,€a€petitionerÐ X ¨ Ðmust€show€that€ð ðcounselððs€representation€fell€below€an€objective€standard€of€reasonableness,ððÐ D!” ÐòòStrickland€v.€Washingtonóó,€466€U.S.€668,€688€(1984),€and€that€this€performance€prejudiced€theÐ 0"€  Ðdefense,€resulting€in€a€failure€to€produce€a€reliable€result.€€òòId.óó€at€687òòóó;€òòCooper€v.€Stateóó,€849€S.W.2dÐ #l! Ð744,€747€(Tenn.€1993).€€To€satisfy€the€requirement€of€prejudice,€a€petitioner€must€show€a€reasonableÐ $X" Ðprobability€that,€but€for€counselððs€unreasonable€error,€the€fact€finder€would€have€had€reasonableÐ ô$D # Ðdoubt€regarding€the€petitionerððs€guilt.€€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€695.€€This€reasonable€probability€mustÐ à%0!$ Ðbe€ð ðsufficient€to€undermine€confidence€in€the€outcome.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€694;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòHarris€v.€Stateóó,€875Ð Ì&"% ÐS.W.2d€662,€665€(Tenn.€1994).Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àThis€standard€also€applies€to€claims€arising€out€of€the€plea€process.€€òòHill€v.€Lockhartóó,€474Ð )à$( Ðâ âU.S.€52,€58€(1985).€€To€satisfy€the€requirement€of€prejudice€in€a€case€involving€a€guilty€plea,€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðpetitioner€must€demonstrate€a€reasonable€probability€that,€but€for€counselððs€errors,€he€or€she€ð ðwouldÐ ° Ðnot€have€pleaded€guilty€and€would€have€insisted€on€going€to€trial.ððòòóó€€òòId.óó€at€59.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àWhen€evaluating€an€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€claim,€the€reviewing€court€should€judgeÐ tÄ Ðthe€attorneyððs€performance€within€the€context€of€the€case€as€a€whole,€taking€into€account€all€relevantÐ `° Ðcircumstances.€€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€690òòóó;€òòState€v.€Mitchellóó,€753€S.W.2d€148,€149€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð L œ ÐApp.€1988).€€The€reviewing€court€must€evaluate€the€questionable€conduct€from€the€attorneyððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðperspective€at€the€time.€€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€690;€òòCooperóó,€849€S.W.2d€at€746;€òòHellard€v.€Stateóó,Ð $ t Ð629€S.W.2d€4,€9€(Tenn.€1982).€€€In€doing€so,€the€reviewing€court€must€be€highly€deferential€andÐ  ` Ðð ðshould€indulge€a€strong€presumption€that€counselððs€conduct€falls€within€the€wide€range€ofÐ ü L  Ðreasonable€professional€assistance.ðð€€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€462.€€Counsel€should€not€be€deemed€to€haveÐ è 8  Ðbeen€ineffective€merely€because€a€different€procedure€or€strategy€might€have€produced€a€differentÐ Ô$  Ðresult.€€òòWilliams€v.€Stateóó,€599€S.W.2d€276,€279„80€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1980).Ð À  Ðà  àÌà  àAt€the€post„conviction€proceeding,€the€trial€court€made€the€following€findings€of€fact:Ð ˜è  Ðà8  à[L]et€me€begin€by€saying€that€[counsel]€.€.€.€has€been€one€of€the€very€best€criminalÐ „Ô  Ðlawyers€in€the€state€of€Tennessee,€criminal€defense€lawyers.€.€.€.ÐpÀÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThe€credible€evidence€is,€that€[counsel]€employed€a€great€number€of€resourcesÐ \¬ Ðin€investigating€the€case.€€This€Courtððs€experience€is,€that€[counsel]€did€not€plead€theÐ H˜ Ðcases€easily.€€Over€the€years€with€him€trying€the€cases€for€defendants€in€this€court,Ð 4„ Ðprobably€had€more€jury€trials€from€the€clients€that€heððs€represented€than€any€others,Ð  p Ðso€ð!ð€[i]t€.€.€.€always€has€been€.€.€.€hard€to€get€[counsel]€to€the€podium€for€a€plea.€€HeÐ  \ Ðtried€cases€and€.€.€.€often€won€the€cases.€€Had€a€great€rate€of€success€in€trying€casesÐ øH Ðwhen€he€practiced€law.Ðä4Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à€In€this€particular€case,€which€is€what€is€important,€all€the€evidence€indicatesÐ Ð  Ðthat€[counsel]€had€numerous€conferences€with€the€petitioner;€that€he€investigated€theÐ ¼  Ðcase€thoroughly;€that€he€filed€all€motions€that€seemed€to€be€appropriate€to€be€filed€orÐ ¨ø Ðwere€called€for€under€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€the€case;€that€he€almostÐ ”ä Ðsurreptitiously,€but€not€unethically,€had€a€mole,€in€effect,€in€the€District€AttorneyÐ €Ð ÐGeneralððs€Office€telling€him€everything€that€was€going€on€and€the€discussions€withÐ l¼ Ðthe€victim.ÐX ¨Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àItððs€rare€in€a€child€rape€case€for€a€defense€counsel€to€have€an€opportunity€toÐ D!” Ðtalk€to€a€victim.€€The€Supreme€Court€has€said€that€the€victim€does€not€have€to€talk€toÐ 0"€  Ðthe€defense€counsel.€€And€ordinarily€that€is€the€choice€that€the€victim€makes.Ð#l!Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àFrom€everything€that€Iððve€heard€in€this€case,€that€seems€to€be€the€choice€thatÐ $X" Ðwas€made€either€by€the€victim€herself,€or€her€mother€on€her€behalf.€€And€if€thatÐ ô$D # Ðchoice€was€made€by€her€mother€on€her€behalf,€you€have€to€take€into€consideration€theÐ à%0!$ Ðfact€that€her€mother€seemed€to,€at€all€times,€be€trying€to€support,€defend€the€petitionerÐ Ì&"% Ðin€the€charges€against€him.€€Ð¸'#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àNo€court€reviewing€this€case€would€look€at€the€case€and€.€.€.€decide€that€.€.€.Ð ¤(ô#' Ð[counsel]€did€not€do€a€fair€investigation;€that€he€did€not€try€to€discover€all€witnesses,Ð )à$( Ðand€all€about€the€witnesses;€all€incriminating€evidence.€€He€fully€obtained€discovery.€Ð |*Ì%) Ðà ` àItððs€easy€to€look€at€any€one€aspect,€or€even€all€aspects€of€the€investigation,€theÐ h+¸&* Ðattempt€by€a€defense€lawyer€to€ferret€out€evidence;€the€decisions€that€have€to€be€madeÐ ° Ðabout€the€evidence;€what€impact€it€would€have,€and€conclude€that€there€is€someÐ œì Ðinconsistency€somewhere,€or€inconsistencies€everywhere€„€„€that€a€wrong€decisionÐ ˆØ Ðwas€made€at€some€point€about€some€evidence,€how€to€use€it.ÐtÄÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àBut€you€have€to€look€at€the€totality€of€the€circumstances€and€decide€whetherÐ `° Ðthe€tactics€of€the€lawyer€in€the€end€were€appropriate€tactics;€whether€any€differentÐ L œ Ðresults€would€have€occurred€had€other€tactics€been€used;€other€decisions€been€made.Ð8 ˆÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThere€are€always€conflicts€in€the€evidence€in€the€case.€€There€are€alwaysÐ $ t Ðconflicts€in€the€witnessððs€testimony.€€This€Court€has€been€trying€cases€for€twenty„fiveÐ  ` Ðyears,€and€has€yet€to€see€a€case€where€any€witnessððs€testimony€was€perfect,Ð ü L  Ðunimpeachable€in€any€respect.€€Thatððs€just€not€the€way€lawsuits€work.€.€.€.Ðè 8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThe€only€conclusion€I€can€reach€about€[counsel],€first,€is€that€he€did€leave€noÐ Ô$  Ðstone€unturned;€that€he€investigated€every€aspect€of€the€case€and€made€his€decisionsÐ À  Ðbased€upon€the€plea€negotiations,€or€based€upon€evidence€from€which€a€jury€couldÐ ¬ü  Ðhave€convicted€the€petitioner€of€the€principal€charges.€Ð˜è Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWith€regard€to€the€victimððs€testimony€at€the€post„conviction€hearing,€the€trial€court€made€theÐ pÀ Ðfollowing€findings:Ð \¬ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àItððs€said€.€.€.€by€the€victim€today,€that€she€would€have€testifiedÐ H˜ Ðthat€the€petitioner€did€not€have€any€sexual€contact€with€her€had€sheÐ 4„ Ðtestified€at€the€trial€several€years€ago.€€How€can€you€believe€or€giveÐ  p Ðcredit€to€what€is€testified€to€today,€based€upon€the€record?€€HerÐ  \ Ðstatements€back€then€were€inconsistent.€€She€had€said€back€then,€atÐ øH Ðsome€point,€that€the€petitioner€had€not€done€what€he€was€charged€ofÐ ä4 Ðdoing.€€As€a€matter€of€fact,€in€the€allocution€it€was€brought€out€thatÐ Ð  Ðshe€had€said€on€some€occasions,€or€on€occasion€that€he€had€not€doneÐ ¼  Ðthe€things€he€was€charged€with€doing.€€Ð¨ø` x` x ÐÌà  àFinally,€the€trial€court€made€the€following€findings€concerning€the€Petitionerððs€plea€hearingÐ €Ð Ðand€counselððs€recommendation€to€the€Petitioner€to€accept€the€plea€agreement:Ð l¼ Ðà8  àà ` àThe€allocution€is€pretty€clear.€€It€covers€over€thirty„one€pages.€€This€Court€wasÐ X ¨ Ðvery€careful€with€this€allocution€because€of€the€nature€of€the€charges€and€theÐ D!” Ðcircumstances.€€Because€there€was€some€question€about€the€ability€of€the€victim€toÐ 0"€  Ðtestify,€or€what€she€would€testify€to.Ð#l!Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àBut€throughout€.€.€.€the€transcript€of€the€allocution€of€the€guilty€plea,€theÐ $X" Ðpetitioner€here,€the€defendant€then,€assured€this€Court€that€he€understood€all€theÐ ô$D # Ðmatters,€the€consequences,€the€complications,€the€consequences€of€entering€such€aÐ à%0!$ Ðplea,€and€all€his€constitutional€rights€,€whether€his€lawyer€had€done€everything€thatÐ Ì&"% Ðhe€expected€him€to€do.€€And€the€Court€was€assured€that€he€understood€everything.€€Ð¸'#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThis€Court€had€an€opportunity€to€observe€the€petitioner€at€that€time,€and€thereÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwas€certainly€nothing€to€cause€this€Court€to€believe€that€.€.€.€there€was€anythingÐ )à$( Ðmentally€wrong€with€him,€or€physically€that€would€cause€him€not€to€understand€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðquestions.€€As€a€matter€of€fact,€the€allocution€shows€that€the€petitioner€was€a€veryÐ h+¸&* Ðarticulate€person,€very€intelligent€person,€someone€who€had€no€difficultyÐ ° Ðunderstanding€those€things.МìÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àSo€it€really€comes€down€to€this.€€Given€all€the€ability;€the€investigation;€theÐ ˆØ Ðthoroughness€of€representation;€the€allocution;€the€seeming€ability€to€understandÐ tÄ Ðanything€and€everything;€the€fact€that€everything,€really,€in€fact,€was€known€then€thatÐ `° Ðis€known€now,€and€there€is€nothing€new€in€the€case,€was€it€still,€and€in€spite€of€that,Ð L œ Ðsuch€a€travesty€of€justice€as€to€require€some€action?€€Were€judgements€just€so€totallyÐ 8 ˆ Ðdevoid€of€understanding€that€it€canððt€be€condoned?€€Had€they€gone€to€trial€again,Ð $ t Ðthere€was€that€huge€risk€of€many€times€the€sentence€that€was€ultimately€imposed.€Ð  ` ÐPetitioner€could€have€been€impeached€with€prior€criminal€convictions.€€This€CourtÐ ü L  Ðhas€tried€many€of€these€cases€over€many€years.€€I€think€the€odds€were€probably€veryÐ è 8  Ðstrong€for€a€conviction€in€this€case€instead€of€an€acquittal.€€Although€anything€canÐ Ô$  Ðhappen€including€acquittal.ÐÀ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThose€were€the€circumstances€.€.€.€under€which€[counsel]€recommended€theÐ ¬ü  Ðplea€for€the€petitioner.€Ð˜è Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€these€findings€by€the€trial€court.€€With€regard€toÐ pÀ Ðhis€preparation€for€the€case,€counsel€testified€at€the€post„conviction€hearing€that€he,€two€attorneysÐ \¬ Ðfrom€his€office,€and€an€investigator€whom€he€hired€all€participated€in€the€investigation€of€theÐ H˜ ÐPetitionerððs€case.€€Counsel€testified€that€he€met€with€the€Petitioner€and€with€the€victimððs€mother,€whoÐ 4„ Ðwas€apparently€cooperative€with€the€defense,€several€times€while€preparing€the€case,€and€theÐ  p ÐPetitioner€acknowledged€that€he€met€with€his€attorney€several€times€before€entering€his€plea.€Ð  \ ÐAlthough€the€Petitioner€now€contends€that€his€attorney€erred€by€failing€to€interview€the€victim€of€theÐ øH Ðrape€of€a€child€charges,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€choice€not€to€participate€in€an€interview€withÐ ä4 Ðcounsel€was€made€by€either€the€victim€or€by€the€victimððs€mother€on€her€behalf.€€We€also€note€thatÐ Ð  Ðð ðTennessee€case€law,€moreover,€gives€a€prospective€witness€the€discretion€to€talk€--€or€not€to€talk€--Ð ¼  Ðto€either€counsel,€as€the€witness€sees€fit.ðð€€òòState€v.€Singletonóó,€853€S.W.2d€490,€493€(Tenn.€1993).€Ð ¨ø ÐFurthermore,€although€the€victim€testified€at€the€post„conviction€hearing€that€had€she€been€called€toÐ ”ä Ðtestify€at€the€Petitionerððs€trial,€she€would€have€denied€sexual€contact€with€the€Petitioner,€the€trialÐ €Ð Ðcourt€discredited€this€testimony€by€the€victim.€€In€doing€so,€the€trial€court€pointed€out€that€the€victimÐ l¼ Ðmade€inconsistent€statements€prior€to€the€Petitionerððs€plea€proceeding.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àWith€regard€to€the€Petitionerððs€complaint€that€his€attorney€erroneously€advised€himÐ 0"€  Ðconcerning€his€plea€agreement€and€the€amount€of€time€that€he€would€be€required€to€serve€under€theÐ #l! Ðagreement,€the€trial€court€found€as€follows:Ð $X" Ðà8  àà ` àThe€minimum€on€each€one€of€those€five€child€rape€cases,€from€fifteen€up€toÐ ô$D # Ða€maximum€of€twenty„five€years,€since€itððs€a€Class€A€felony.€€I€believe€it€was€in€effectÐ à%0!$ Ðthen€that€you€start€at€the€midrange.€€So€you€would€probably€start€.€.€.€at€twenty€years,Ð Ì&"% Ða€hundred€percent€on€any€one€conviction,€instead€of€fifteen.€€And€then€.€.€.€under€theÐ ¸'#& Ðstatute,€child€rape€cases€are€sentencable€consecutively.€€So,€I€guess,€itððs€conceivableÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthat€you€.€.€.€couldððve€had€five€twenty„five€years€stacked.€€So,€thatððs€the€kind€ofÐ )à$( Ðâ âexposure€the€petitioner€had€with€.€.€.€the€statement€that€he€made€with€the€tape,€evenÐ |*Ì%) Ðthough€there€are€inconsistencies€with€the€.€.€.€proposed€testimony€of€the€victim€in€thisÐ ° Ðcase.МìÐ Ð  Ðâ âà8  àà ` àNot€a€lot€has€been€said€about€the€drug€cases,€really€except€for€the€letter.€€AndÐ ˆØ Ðit€does€appear€that€the€state€had€a€very€strong,€strong€case€in€there.€€Itððs€a€roll€of€theÐ tÄ Ðdice€in€these€cases.€€It€could€go€any€way.€€But,€certainly,€a€jury€could€have€found€theÐ `° Ðpetitioner€guilty€of€the€child€rape€cases.ÐL œÐ Ð  ÐÌThe€court€also€stated,Ð $ t Ðà8  àI€canððt€say€whether€a€fifteen„year€flat€plea€is€better€than€a€forty„eight€year€sentenceÐ  ` Ðwith€a€thirty€percent€release€eligibility€date,€which€carries€eligibility€with€it€atÐ ü L  Ðfourteen€point€four€years.€€But€I€think€I€can€safely€say€that€had€the€representation€beenÐ è 8  Ðdifferent,€not€much€has€been€.€.€.€specifically€presented€to€offer€what€exactlyÐ Ô$  Ðshouldððve€been€done,€instead€of€what€was€done.€€Itððs€mostly€a€focus€on€what€wasnððtÐ À  Ðdone€exactly€as€well€as€it€should€have€been.€Ð¬ü Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€now€complains€that€his€sentence€is€longer€than€that€initially€offered€€by€theÐ „Ô  ÐState€during€plea€agreement€negotiation.€€However,€the€Petitioner€unequivocally€testified€at€the€post„Ð pÀ Ðconviction€hearing€that€he€flatly€refused€the€Stateððs€initial€fifteen„year€offer€because€he€simply€wouldÐ \¬ Ðnot€accept€any€offer€which€required€him€to€plead€guilty€to€the€offense€of€rape€of€a€child.€Ð H˜ ÐFurthermore,€we€note€that€as€a€Range€I,€standard€offender,€the€Petitioner€was€potentially€facingÐ 4„ Ðsentences€of€twenty„five€years€for€each€of€the€five€counts€of€rape€of€a€child.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð  p Ððððð€39„13„522(b),€40„35„112(a)(1).€€Pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€40„35„115(b)(5),€theÐ  \ Ðtrial€court€could€have€ordered€these€sentences€to€be€served€consecutively.€Ð øH ÐÌà  àFurther,€it€is€well€settled€that€a€defendantððs€guilty€plea€is€not€rendered€involuntary€simplyÐ Ð  Ðbecause€the€exact€date€of€his€possible€release€is€not€known€by€the€defendant.€€òòJerome€Lamont€WolleyÐ ¼  Ðv.€Stateóó,€No.€01C01„9311„CR„0042,€1994€Tenn.€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€709€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,Ð ¨ø ÐNashville,€Oct.€20,€1994).€€ð ðAlthough€the€actual€length€of€confinement€is€an€important€consequenceÐ ”ä Ðof€the€voluntariness€calculus,€it€is€the€stated€term€of€incarceration€at€the€sentencing€and€the€formulaÐ €Ð Ðfor€its€calculation€that€are€the€direct€consequences€which€warrant€actual€knowledge€on€the€part€ofÐ l¼ ÐAppellant.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€*9.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àThe€Petitioner€also€complains€that€counsel€erroneously€recommended€that€he€acceptÐ 0"€  Ðconsecutive€sentences€for€six€counts€of€delivery€of€a€controlled€substance.€€In€support€of€hisÐ #l! Ðargument,€he€relies€upon€òòState€v.€Richard€Lynn€Nortonóó,€No.€E1999„00878„CCA„R3„CD,€2000€Tenn.Ð $X" ÐCrim.€App.€LEXIS€637€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Knoxville,€Aug.€22,€2000).€€In€òòNortonóó,€this€CourtÐ ô$D # Ðemphasized€that€a€sentence€must€relate€to€the€seriousness€of€the€offense€and€concluded€that€theÐ à%0!$ Ðimposition€of€consecutive€sentences€for€three€controlled€drug€buys€ð ðpermit[ted]€investigating€officersÐ Ì&"% Ðto€dictate€the€length€of€a€sentence€based€upon€the€number€of€controlled€buys€they€arranged€and€theÐ ¸'#& Ðamounts€purchased.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€*27.€€This€Court€thus€modified€defendant€Nortonððs€sentence,€requiringÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhim€to€serve€two,€rather€than€three,€consecutive€sentences€for€his€crimes.€€òòId.óó€at€*28.€€Had€theÐ )à$( ÐPetitioner€in€this€case€been€sentenced€by€the€trial€court€to€consecutive€sentences€for€the€six€drugÐ |*Ì%) Ðcharges,€he€would€have€had€a€strong€argument€on€appeal€that€consecutive€sentences€were€improperlyÐ h+¸&* Ðimposed€in€his€case.€€The€Defendant€also€relies€upon€òòState€v.€John€Derrick€Martinóó,€No.€01C01„9502„Ð ° ÐCR„00043,€1995€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€984€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Nashville,€Dec.€19,€1995),€in€which€thisÐ œì ÐCourt€modified€an€effective€sentence€of€forty€years€for€four€drug€offenses€to€twenty€years,€stating€thatÐ ˆØ Ðthe€consecutive€sentences€ordered€by€the€trial€court€were€not€reasonably€related€to€the€severity€of€theÐ tÄ Ðfour€crimes€involved.€€However,€this€case€is€distinguishable€from€òòNortonóó€and€òòMartinóó€in€that€itÐ `° Ðinvolves€a€negotiated€plea€agreement.€€The€Petitionerððs€counsel€in€this€case€was€not€prohibited€fromÐ L œ Ðnegotiating€consecutive€sentences€for€the€Petitionerððs€crimes.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àWe€thus€conclude€that€the€Petitioner€was€not€denied€his€right€to€effective€assistance€ofÐ  ` Ðcounsel.€€The€trial€court€found,€and€we€agree,€that€the€Petitionerððs€attorney€adequately€investigatedÐ ü L  Ðthe€Petitionerððs€case,€that€counsel€adequately€communicated€with€the€Petitioner,€and€that€theÐ è 8  ÐPetitionerððs€plea€agreement€was€proper.€€We€find€no€deficiency€in€the€Petitionerððs€representation.€Ð Ô$  ÐMoreover,€even€assuming€that€the€Petitioner€received€inadequate€representation,€we€are€unconvinced,Ð À  Ðespecially€considering€the€severity€of€the€charges€and€the€lengthy€possible€sentences€that€theÐ ¬ü  ÐPetitioner€would€have€faced€upon€conviction,€that€but€for€error€by€counsel,€the€Petitioner€would€haveÐ ˜è  Ðproceeded€to€trial.€€€€€€€€Ô#†¼E-»XXb˜#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXXa¢#ÔÔ‡XXXXÔÐ „Ô  ÐÓ  ÓÌB.€€VALIDITY€OF€PETITIONERððS€PLEAÐ \¬ ÐÓÇõÓÌà  àThe€Petitioner€next€contends€that€his€counselððs€deficient€performance€rendered€his€pleaÐ 4„ Ðunknowing€and€involuntary.€€In€order€to€satisfy€constitutional€standards,€a€plea€of€guilt€must€beÐ  p Ðentered€knowingly,€voluntarily€and€intelligently.€€òòSeeóó€òòBoykin€v.€Alabamaóó,€395€U.S.€238,€243€(1969).€Ð  \ ÐThis€includes€an€intentional€relinquishment€or€abandonment€of€known€constitutional€rights,Ð øH Ðincluding€the€right€against€compulsory€self-incrimination,€the€right€to€confront€witnesses,€and€theÐ ä4 Ðright€to€a€trial€by€jury.€€òòBates€v.€Stateóó,€973€S.W.2d€615,€624€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997).€€òòóóð ððð[T]heÐ Ð  Ðstandard€was€and€remains€whether€the€plea€represents€a€voluntary€and€intelligent€choice€among€theÐ ¼  Ðalternative€courses€of€action€open€to€the€defendant.ðððð€€òòPowers€v.€Stateóó,€942€S.W.2d€551,€556€(Tenn.Ð ¨ø ÐCrim.€App.€1996)€(quoting€òòAlfordóó,€400€U.S.€at€31).€€ð ðWhen€a€competent€petitioner€knowingly€andÐ ”ä Ðvoluntarily€chooses€a€lawful€course€of€action€or€defense€strategy,€counsel€is€essentially€bound€by€thatÐ €Ð Ðdecision.ðð€€òòZagorski€v.€Stateóó,€983€S.W.2d€654,€658„59€(Tenn.€1998).Ô#†¼E-»XXQõ#ÔÔ‡XX»¼E-ÔÔ#†XXXX“õ#ÔÔ‡XXXXԀРl¼ ÐÌà  àIn€determining€whether€the€petitionerððs€guilty€pleas€were€knowing€and€voluntary,€this€CourtÐ D!” Ðmust€look€at€the€totality€of€the€circumstances.€€òòState€v.€Turneróó,€919€S.W.2d€346,€353€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð 0"€  ÐApp.€1995);€òòChamberlain€v.€Stateóó,€815€S.W.2d€534,€542€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).€€In€doing€so,€weÐ #l! Ðmay€review€any€relevant€evidence€in€the€record,€including€the€post-conviction€proceedings.€Ð $X" ÐòòTurneróó,€919€S.W.2d€at€353.€€Ð ô$D # Ðà8  à[A]€court€charged€with€determining€whether€[the]€pleas€were€ð ðvoluntaryðð€andÐ à%0!$ Ðð ðintelligentðð€must€look€to€various€circumstantial€factors,€such€as€the€relativeÐ Ì&"% Ðintelligence€of€the€defendant;€the€degree€of€his€familiarity€with€criminal€proceedings;Ð ¸'#& Ðwhether€he€was€represented€by€competent€counsel€and€had€the€opportunity€to€conferÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwith€counsel€about€the€options€available€to€him;€the€extent€of€advice€from€counselÐ )à$( Ðâ âand€the€court€concerning€the€charges€against€him;€and€the€reasons€for€his€decision€toÐ |*Ì%) Ðplead€guilty,€including€a€desire€to€avoid€a€greater€penalty€that€might€result€from€a€juryÐ ° Ðtrial.МìÐ Ð  Ðâ âòòBlankenship€v.€Stateóó,€858€S.W.2d€897,€904€(Tenn.€1993).Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àAs€previously€stated,€we€conclude€that€the€Petitioner€received€the€effective€assistance€ofÐ `° Ðcounsel,€and€therefore€we€conclude€that€the€Petitioner€was€adequately€informed€when€he€entered€hisÐ L œ Ðplea.€€Not€only€did€counsel€inform€the€Petitioner€of€potential€pitfalls€were€he€to€proceed€to€trial,€butÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€trial€court€also€informed€the€Petitioner€at€the€plea€proceeding€that€ð ðif€[he€pled]€guilty€to€theÐ $ t Ðattempt€to€commit€rape€of€a€child€[charges],€[he]€probably€[would€be€required]€to€serve€most€of€thatÐ  ` Ðsentence€without€being€released€on€[the]€release€eligibility€date.ðð€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€post„Ð ü L  Ðconviction€hearing,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€Petitioner€received€effective€assistance€of€counselÐ è 8  Ðand€that€he€therefore€entered€his€plea€knowingly,€voluntarily,€and€intelligently.€€The€evidenceÐ Ô$  Ðcontained€in€the€record€before€us€does€not€preponderate€against€that€finding.Ð À  ЀÌÓ  ÓC.€€NEWLY€DISCOVERED€EVIDENCEÐ ˜è  ÐÓ£ÓÌà  àFinally,€the€Petitioner€contends€that€he€is€entitled€to€post„conviction€relief€on€the€basis€ofÐ pÀ Ðnewly€discovered€evidence€that€the€victim€recanted€the€allegations€against€him.€€However,€as€theÐ \¬ ÐState€correctly€points€out,€newly€discovered€evidence€is€not€generally€an€appropriate€ground€for€reliefÐ H˜ Ðunder€the€Post„Conviction€Procedure€Act.€€òòSeeóó€òòWilliam€H.€Necessary,€Jr.,€v.€Stateóó,€No.€03C01„9601„Ð 4„ ÐCC„00009,€1999€Tenn.€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€246,€at€**17„18€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Knoxville,€Mar.€16,Ð  p Ð1999);€òòRandy€Hicks€v.€Stateóó,€No.€03C01„9608-CR-00296,€1998€Tenn.€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€253€atÐ  \ Ð**8„9€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Knoxville,€Mar.€3,€1998).€€More€specifically,€this€Court€has€held€thatÐ øH Ðð ðrecanted€testimony€amounts€to€no€more€than€a€request€to€relitigate€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidenceÐ ä4 Ðat€trial€and€is€not€a€proper€subject€of€post-conviction€relief.ðð€€òòTeresa€Deion€Smith€Harris€v.€Stateóó,€No.Ð Ð  ÐW2000-02611-CCA-R3„PC,€2001€Tenn.€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€604,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Jackson,Ð ¼  ÐJune€13,€2001).€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àFurthermore,€as€previously€noted,€the€trial€court€discredited€the€victimððs€recantation€at€theÐ €Ð Ðpost„conviction€hearing.€€The€trial€court€also€made€the€following€findings€concerning€the€victimððsÐ l¼ Ðrecantation:Ð X ¨ Ðà8  à[Counsel],€in€discussing€the€evidence,€said€that€he€asked€[the]€prosecutor€if€.€.€.€theÐ D!” Ðvictim€.€.€.€had€retracted€[the€allegations€against€the€Petitioner].€€And€his€testimonyÐ 0"€  Ðwas:€When€I€was€having€that€transcribed,€.€.€.€[the€victim]€had€made€the€statementÐ #l! Ðthat€she€lied.€€That€it€did€not€happen.€€Ð$X"Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à.€.€.€.Ðô$D #Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àItððs€just€not€newly€discovered€evidence.€€All€of€the€things€about€her€testimony,Ð à%0!$ Ðor€potential€testimony€back€then€were€known€at€this€time.€€Nothing€new€has€beenÐ Ì&"% Ðdiscovered€now.€.€.€.€When€she€.€.€.€changed€her€mind€and€testified€differently€onÐ ¸'#& Ðseveral€occasions€about€different€things,€[she]€put€everybody€on€notice€.€.€.€that€herÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtestimony€could€be€anything€from€very€strong€for€conviction,€to€exoneration.€€But€thatÐ )à$( Ðwas€not€a€chance€that€anybody€wanted€to€take.€Ð|*Ì%)Ð Ð  ÐWe€agree€with€these€findings€by€the€trial€court.€€€Ð h+¸&* ЇÓ  ÓÌÌÌIV.€€CONCLUSIONÐ tÄ ÐÓxÓà  àÌà  àWe€conclude€that€the€Petitioner€received€effective€assistance€of€counsel€and€that€he€enteredÐ L œ Ðhis€pleas€knowingly,€voluntarily,€and€intelligently.€€We€further€conclude€that€the€Petitioner€is€notÐ 8 ˆ Ðentitled€to€post„conviction€relief€on€the€basis€of€newly€discovered€evidence.€€Accordingly,€weÐ $ t ÐAFFIRM€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð  ` ÐÌÌÌÌÔ#†XXXX¥û#ÔÔ#†¼E-»XXcû#Ôà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à___________________________________€Ð¬ü À(#À(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àROBERT€W.€WEDEMEYER,€JUDGE