WPCF `[x{oqY8؟MIg^^ps<ү'jlMI, xB9rJ{'ѻ\{|h9S=h m]%nxi'1YcN~p,0$f0=rAcXwíI{{Ḯf6ewlI4gT9C=P$Sފ O46ȃY,0GM2;Nox7bѨmYyP0hhI]1uΙcs"Er\c w0UҀ{ `!-&Nrs_oJYhtpbrCۘh2!es>9iDq~ndnJ?Z':?+w| >yyBwwm$U?O!R-k"տK3V]e˕1F ̅nyF :vNb %\b 0 UN UN UN/ } z  ^ w4SN m#4E 0Db;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 0CCCC B.. 0K D3 D-" 0KOO AS 0 0DW A  Rn$      1  -  TheRangeIsentenceforespeciallyaggravatedkidnappingisfifteentotwentyfiveyears.SeeTenn.Code  Ann.3913305(b)(1),4035112(a)(1).Thesentencemustbeservedatonehundredpercent.Seeid.4035 t 501(i)(1),(2)(C).(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular  Rn$      2  -  _Inhispetitionforpostconvictionrelief,theDefendantallegedthathislawyerwasineffectiveinfailingto  thoroughlyinvestigatethecase,failingtointerviewwitnesses,andfailingtohavehiscompetencytested.Atthehearing, t however,theDefendantofferednoproofastowhatadditionalinvestigationdefensecounselshouldhaveundertaken, 8 whatadditionalwitnessesshouldhavebeeninterviewed,orwhatacompetencyevaluationwouldhaverevealed.These L unsupportedallegationsofineffectiveassistancethereforeprovidenobasisforrelief. 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.wptt - yG*!LŠ3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5UHP LaserJet 40500(#$  0  - -(|G2n$ !.8dd8         0  - d(|3?p$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3?p$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _   8_XXdd8@ttINTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE# #Ԉ &    @  @` AssignedonBriefsJuly24,2002 L X_X #XX_#CHADDANIELEASTERLYv.STATEOFTENNESSEEX_X  J @@ AppealfromtheCriminalCourtforGreeneCounty  J @@No.01CR083JamesE._Beckner_,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.E200103042CCAR3PC   August12,_2002_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     TheDefendant,ChadDanielEasterly,pledguiltyto_kidnapping_Ԁandevadingarrest.Theplea x  agreementincludedaneffectiveeightyearsentenceasaRangeIstandardoffender.TheDefendant d subsequentlyfiledapostconvictionpetition,allegingthathisconvictionsweretheresultof P ineffectiveassistanceofcounselandprosecutorialmisconduct.Afterahearing,thetrialcourtdenied < relief.TheDefendantnowappealsasofright.Weaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt. (x  Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheTrialCourtAffirmed  P   #X_Ɏ#X_X.DavidH.Welles,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJerryL.SmithandJoeG.Riley, ( JJ.,joined.  DouglasPayne,_Greeneville_,Tennessee,fortheappellant,ChadDanielEasterly.  PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter;KathyD._Aslinger_,AssistantAttorneyGeneral; t C.BerkeleyBell,DistrictAttorneyGeneral;andEricChristiansen,AssistantDistrictAttorney ` General,fortheappellee,StateofTennessee. L  @@OO& OPINION #XX_#X_X $"t! #XX_ #X_X    TheDefendantwasoriginallyindictedforcommittinganespeciallyaggravated_kidnapping_ #L# againsthiswife,_Jodi_ԀEasterly.Ms.Easterlytestifiedatthepostconvictionhearingthat,atthetime $8 $ oftheoffense,sheandtheDefendantwereseparated.SheagreedtoameetingwiththeDefendant %$!% atacarwash.Upontheirmeeting,shetestified,theyargued.Shethengotintohispickuptruck, &"& whichwassubsequentlystoppedbythepolice.Ms.Easterlytestifiedthatshetoldthepoliceatthe '"' scenethattheDefendanthadpointedaloadedgunather.Shetestifiedatthehearingthather (#( statementtothepolicewasfalseandthattheDefendanthadnotpointedaloadedgunather.She )$) testifiedthatshegotintothetruckwiththeDefendant on[her]ownfreewill.Sheadmittedthat p*%* therewasaguninthetruck,buttestifiedthatithadnotbeenloaded. \+&+   H,', _  Ms.Easterlytestifiedthatshewas almostcertainthat,duringherinitialmeetingwiththe   districtattorney,shetold thetruth,i.e.thattheDefendantsgunhadbeenneitherloadednor  pointedather.ShealsometseveraltimeswithdefensecounselpriortotheDefendantsplea,  volunteeringtotestifyconsistentlywithherpostconvictiontestimony.Shestatedthatdefense t counseltoldherthatthe judgewouldnothear[her]changeofstatement. `   Oncrossexamination,Ms.EasterlyadmittedthattheDefendanthadpreviouslyassaultedher, 8  beencharged,andthatshehadobtainedadismissalofthecharges.Shefurtheradmittedthat,atthe $ t scene,theDefendanttoldtheofficers, Ivegotahostage.Shealsoadmittedthatshehadsoiled  ` herselfduringtheincident.  L    TheDefendanttestifiedthathehiredhisattorney,WilliamBell,approximatelytwoweeks $  priortohistrialdate.HesaidthathemetwithMr.Belltwoorthreetimeswhilehewasinjail.He   statedthatheknewhiswifehadchangedherstorybeforehepledguilty.TheDefendanttestified   thatheenteredabestinterestpleatokidnappingbecausehewas scaredbytheprospectofserving   twentyfiveyearsatonehundredpercent. )#  1      #XX_? #X_XԀTheDefendanttestifiedfurtherthatthegunhehadinhis   truckwasunloaded,butadmittedthathehadbulletsinthecab.Healsotestifiedthathehadbeen p drinking [q]uiteheavilyonthenightinquestion. \   AttorneyWilliamH.BelltestifiedthattheDefendanthiredhimapproximatelyfivedaysprior 4 tothetrialdate.Heobtainedfulldiscoveryonthecase.Hespokewiththeofficersinvolved,aswell  p aswithMs.EasterlyandtheDefendant.Hetestifiedthathistrialstrategywastodevelopsome  \ sympathyonthejuryfortheDefendant,becausetheDefendanthaddiscoveredthatMs.Easterlyhad H beenunfaithfultohimandtheknowledgewas drivinghimcrazy.Healsoplannedtorelyonthe 4 factthatMs.Easterlyhadrecantedmuchofherinitialstatement,anditwas obviousthatthe   allegedvictimdidnotwanttheDefendantpunished.     Mr.Belltestifiedthat,inhisopinion,thejurywouldconvicttheDefendantofsomethingand  itwasjustamatterofdegree.Mr.Bellstated, Iwaswantingtoworkoutthebestpleaagreement  wecouldbecauseIfeltlike,intheend,thejurywasgoingtoconvicthim.Healsotestifiedthatthe l Defendantfeltverystronglythathiswifehaddonehimwrong,andthathe wasafraidif[the X  Defendant]tookthestandandwasntsufficientlysorryinfrontofthejuryaboutalltheterrible D! thingsthathadhappenedonthatevening,thatthejurywouldbecomeangryandslamhim. 0"  X_XXX_  $X" @& ANALYSIS     Inthispetitionforpostconvictionrelief,theDefendantclaimsthathisconvictionsare  constitutionallyimpairedastheresultofineffectiveassistanceofcounselandprosecutorial  misconduct.Tosustainapetitionforpostconvictionrelief,adefendantmustprovehisorher t factualallegationsbyclearandconvincingevidenceatanevidentiaryhearing.SeeTenn.CodeAnn. ` 4030210(f);Momonv.State,18S.W.3d152,156(Tenn.1999).Uponreview,thisCourtwill L  notreweighorreevaluatetheevidencebelow;allquestionsconcerningthecredibilityofwitnesses, 8  theweightandvaluetobegiventheirtestimony,andthefactualissuesraisedbytheevidenceare $ t toberesolvedbythetrialjudge,nottheappellatecourts.SeeMomon,18S.W.3dat156;Henley  ` v.State,960S.W.2d572,57879(Tenn.1997).Thetrialjudgesfindingsoffactonapetitionfor  L  postconvictionreliefareaffordedtheweightofajuryverdictandareconclusiveonappealunless  8  theevidencepreponderatesagainstthosefindings.SeeMomon,18S.W.3dat156;Henley,960 $  S.W.2dat57879.#X_XXX_#     WefirstaddresstheDefendantsclaimthathereceivedineffectiveassistanceofcounsel.   X_XXX_BoththeSixthAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitutionandArticleI,9oftheTennessee   Constitutionguaranteeadefendanttherighttorepresentationbycounsel.SeeStatev.Burns,6   S.W.3d453,461(Tenn.1999);Baxterv.Rose,523S.W.2d930,936(Tenn.1975).Thisrightto p counselincludestherighttoeffectivecounsel.SeeStricklandv.Washington,466U.S.668,686 \ (1984);#X_XXX_f$#X_XXX_Burns,6S.W.3dat461;Baxter,523S.W.2dat936.#X_XXX_ɥ&#X_XXX_ H   Todeterminewhethercounselprovidedeffectiveassistanceattrial,thecourtmustdecide  p whethercounselsperformancewaswithintherangeofcompetencedemandedofattorneysin  \ criminalcases.SeeBaxter,523S.W.2dat936;Hicksv.State,983S.W.2d240,245(Tenn.Crim. H App.1998).Tosucceedonaclaimthathisorhercounselwasineffectiveattrial,adefendantbears 4 theburdenofshowingthatcounselmadeerrorssoseriousthatheorshewasnotfunctioningas   counselasguaranteedundertheSixthAmendmentandthatthedeficientrepresentationprejudiced   thedefendantresultinginafailuretoproduceareliableresult.SeeStrickland,466U.S.at687;  Burns,6S.W.3dat461;Hicks,983S.W.2dat245.Tosatisfythesecondprong,thedefendantmust  showareasonableprobabilitythat,butforcounselsunreasonableerror,thefactfinderwouldhave  hadreasonabledoubtregardingthedefendantsguilt.SeeStrickland,466U.S.at69495.This l reasonableprobabilitymustbe sufficienttoundermineconfidenceintheoutcome.Id.at694;see X  alsoHarrisv.State,875S.W.2d662,665(Tenn.1994);Owensv.State,13S.W.3d742,750(Tenn. D! Crim.App.1999).Thistwopartstandardofmeasuringineffectiveassistanceofcounselalsoapplies 0"  toclaimsarisingoutofthepleaprocess.SeeHillv.Lockhart,474U.S.52,57(1985).The #l! prejudicerequirementismodifiedsothatthedefendant mustshowthatthereisareasonable $X" probabilitythat,butforcounselserrors,hewouldnothavepleadedguiltyandwouldhaveinsisted $D # ongoingtotrial.Id.at59;seealsoHicks,983S.W.2dat246. %0!$ #X_XXX_%'#X_XXX_  Whenreviewingtrialcounselsactions,thisCourtshouldnotusethebenefitofhindsightto '#& secondguesstrialstrategyandcriticizecounselstactics.SeeHellardv.State,629S.W.2d4,9 (#' (Tenn.1982);Owens,13S.W.3dat749.Counselsallegederrorsshouldbejudgedatthetimethey )$( weremadeinlightofallfactsandcircumstances.SeeStrickland,466U.S.at690;Hicks,983 |*%) S.W.2dat246. h+&* Ї#X_XXX_/#  Insupportofhisclaimthathereceivedineffectiveassistanceofcounsel,theDefendant  assertsonappeal )#  2      ׀thatMr.Bell refusedtopresenttheevidenceofthevictimsrecantedtestimony  oroftheDefendantsdiminishedcapacity,i.e.intoxication.TheDefendantmisstatesthefacts.The  proofadducedatthepostconvictionhearingestablishedthatdefensecounselconcludedthatajury t wouldlikelyconvicttheDefendantofsomeoffense,andthattheDefendantpledguiltybecausehe ` was scaredoftheprospectofbeingsentencedtotwentyfiveyearsatonehundredpercent. L  Defensecounseldidnot refusetodoanything.Rather,theDefendantanddefensecounseldecided 8  togetherthatapleaagreementwasintheDefendantsbestinterest. $ t   ThetrialcourtfoundthatdefensecounselsevaluationoftheDefendantscasewas  L   reasonableandthatthepleaagreementwas reasonableandagoodtactic.Thecourtspecifically  8  concludedthat Mr.BelldideffectivelyrepresenttheDefendant.ThetrialcourtfoundthatMs. $  Easterlysrecantation issimplynotcredibleandfoundfurtherthat,givenher volatilepersonality,   ...noonecouldbecertainwhathertestimonywouldbewhenshegotonthewitnessstand.     TheDefendanthasfailedtodemonstratethathiscounselcommittederrorssogrievousasto   denyhimtheeffectiveassistanceofcounsel.Accordingly,thisissueiswithoutmerit. p   TheDefendantnextcontendsthathiskidnappingconvictionistheresultofprosecutorial H misconduct.Heassertsthat,becauseMs.Easterlyhadrecantedheroriginalstatementtothepolice 4 bythetimeshemetwiththedistrictattorneysoffice, nocasewastobehadforakidnappingcharge  p ofwhateverdegree.TheDefendantclaimsthathewasprosecutedinthiscasebecauseMs.Easterly  \ hadearlierbegunanddismissedasimilarcase,andinspiteof aquestion...concerningthekey H witness[s]testimonyandoveralltruthfulness. 4   ThegistoftheDefendantsclaimofprosecutorialmisconductisthatthedistrictattorneyhad   insufficientevidenceonwhichtoproceed.Wedisagree.Avideotapeofthepolicestopreveals,as  foundbythetrialcourt, asceneofextremefearandviolence.Ms.Easterlycanbeheardtelling  thepolicethattheDefendantforcedherintothepickupbypointingagunather.ThatMs.Easterly  maylaterhaverecantedthisstatementdidnotrendertheDefendantsactionsanylessamenableto l prosecution:rather,itsimplycreatedajuryquestionastowhichofMs.Easterlysversionofevents X  wasthemorecredible. D!   Asoursupremecourthasrepeatedlyrecognized, #l!   8 ` [T]herearenostatutorycriteriagoverningtheexerciseofthe $X" prosecutorialdiscretiontraditionallyvestedintheofficerin $D # determiningwhether,when,andagainstwhomtoinstitutecriminal %0!$ proceedings.Indeed,ithasbeenoftenrecognizedthatprosecutorial &"% discretioninthechargingprocessisverybroad.Solongasthe  prosecutorhasprobablecausetobelievethattheaccusedcommitted  anoffense,thedecisionwhethertoprosecute,andwhatchargeto  bringbeforeagrandjurygenerallyrestsentirelywithinthediscretion t oftheprosecution....`` x` x Ramseyv.TownofOliverSprings,998S.W.2d207,210(Tenn.1999)(quotingStatev.Superior 8  Oil,Inc.,875S.W.2d658,660(Tenn.1994))(emphasispartiallyadded).Inthiscase,thedistrict $ t attorneyclearlyhadprobablecausetoseekaconvictionagainsttheDefendantforespecially  ` aggravatedkidnapping.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3913305(a)(1)(providingthatespecially  L  aggravatedkidnappingiscommittedwhentheaccusedfalselyimprisonssomeonewiththeuseof  8  adeadlyweapon).Accordingly,thisissueiswithoutmerit. $    TheDefendanthavingfailedtoestablishhisallegationsbyclearandconvincingevidence,   thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.      `     h     ___________________________________ p    `     h     DAVIDH.WELLES,JUDGE