ÿWPC× _™ S j‚̹ƒÌ€„z77ÚRA'¹Š‡+º¡?Ó«X4ªðOî@5qfÖ!BdÀâ¤D38%öªˆ·4Íjß°‰y‡iÿœ¸^ê¥mݨHÚX j~\^4G"|™}É dd­Nú]ë»æ,l,ç±VoCÍÔs.®c¶!EŸ¤€uŠ©4 €xôÆ AªŒ\]×xÔBÔ×[ËzåK9O±÷8ëÚñ¤á–¤žWG?·º2ÃËŽ‡u5­Z9Ÿµ vŸõeæmG ´ô†'¸u–Š3_‰ñ RÓZ§ÿTqo?)ur}åÁ1åõu.±ØJveéjNöi’\­9Yƒ¸Aï¡kóY<ÆOzXTï¾Ýž£Ýü‹T€„°G;ˆù÷yšs‹±ÒŸý¾öT&7üUË6h7v˜Íoø ê•Ö[±¦O3?¹ƒîù»_ÌyÏÛ0úYûcæR9Û1Vð›2üÀvðÿDZaÉcß?‚¸ÐCf?ø{|ø±†ú·ö\º ’³×)ºï4ϯîòÇ›q9ýjª1Õ=ãá÷Çî};å,=¯G}¦à¾“ŒS'•ÂJè!œ©)-KÍÊZ‚2ªÜ”Oÿ'—RÕ èŠ67+b %\\ 0ˆbUNê:8r r z…ÒÿUNÑ8^ WwcÆgÆ-Æóƹ4N“•¤E¦ m¨#É¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ 0DˆˆˆˆˆbÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ 0ëÔÔÔÔ B¿¿ 0¤Ü D3€ D-³ 0Kàà AS+Æ~ 0¤D 0Dè A«,»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular 0Ý ƒRƒ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô·­ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔUnder€what€is€commonly€termed€an€ð ðòòÔ_ÔAlfordÔ_Ôóó€plea,ðð€a€Defendant€is€allowed€to€enter€a€plea€of€guilty€when€theÐ ° ÐDefendant€believes€it€is€in€his€or€her€best€interest€to€accept€a€plea€agreement,€but€while€still€professing€innocence.€€òòSeeóóÐ tÄ ÐòòNorth€Carolina€v.€Ô_ÔAlfordÔ_Ôóó,€400€U.S.€25,€37€(1970).€€A€Tennessee€court€has€the€discretion€to€accept€an€òòÔ_ÔAlfordÔ_Ôóó€plea€onlyÐ 8ˆ Ðif€there€is€a€factual€basis€for€the€plea.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Williamóó,€851€S.W.2d.€828,€830€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1992).€€ Ý ƒRƒ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô·­ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€trial€court€noted€that€the€Judgments€for€the€two€convictions€clearly€indicated€ð ðlifeðð€sentences,€and€not€ð ðlifeÐ ° Ðwithout€parole.ðð€€The€State€agreed€that€the€plea€bargain€and€sentence€mandated€two€life€sentences€with€the€possibilityÐ tÄ Ðof€parole.€€The€Department€of€Correction€conceded€that€the€Defendantððs€status€as€serving€two€life€sentences€withoutÐ 8ˆ Ðparole€was€a€clerical€error€on€its€part.€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€issued€an€order€to€Ô_Ôhave€the€Department€of€CorrectionÐ üL Ðcorrect€the€Defendantððs€status€in€its€files.€€€Ô_Ô ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular .Ý ƒRƒ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô·­ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔTenn.€Op.€Atty.€Gen.€No.€97„098€(1997),€interpreting€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€40„35„501,€statesÐ ° Ðthat€anyone€sentenced€to€life€imprisonment€for€a€murder€offence€committed€after€July€1,€1995,€must€serve€a€mandataryÐ tÄ Ðminimum€of€fifty„one€years€of€confinement€before€becoming€eligible€for€release€or€parole.€€òòSeeóó€òòalsoóó€òòState€v.€CharlesÐ 8ˆ ÐGoldenóó,€No.€02C01„9709„CR„00362,€1998€WL€518071€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.,€Jackson,€Aug.€21,€1998)€(holding€that€theÐ üL Ðminimum€release€eligibility€for€a€life€sentence€for€crimes€committed€after€July€1,€1995,€is€fifty„one€years).€€¸«1Þ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5óbï.ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK3ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2ƒ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô·­ò»»Ô d(|3?x$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3?x$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼í»»»ÔÑ8€YñXXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡î,íÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼í»îî, #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€September€28,€2004Ð üL ÐÔ‡XYñX»¼íÔÌò òÔ#†¼í»XXYñ##ÔMARTIN€PALMER€JONES€v.€STATE€OF€TENNESSEEÔ‡XYñX»¼íÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌò òAppeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Ô_ÔUnicoiÔ_Ô€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€4861€€€€€€Lynn€W.€Brown,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2004„00240„CCA„R3„PC€„€Filed€December€15,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€is€an€appeal€from€denial€of€post„conviction€relief.€€The€Defendant,€Martin€Palmer€Jones,€wasÐ xÈ  Ðconvicted€of€two€counts€of€first€degree€felony€murder€upon€entry€of€best„interest€guilty€pleas.€€HeÐ d´ Ðwas€sentenced€to€two€terms€of€life€imprisonment,€which€were€to€be€served€consecutively.€€TheÐ P  ÐDefendantððs€sentences€were€affirmed€on€direct€appeal.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Martin€Palmer€Jonesóó,€No.Ð <Œ Ð03C01„9803„CR„00084,€1999€WL€93144€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.,€Knoxville,€Feb.€25,€1999).€€On€petitionÐ (x Ðfor€post„conviction€relief,€the€Defendant€claimed€he€received€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€inÐ d Ðconjunction€with€his€guilty€pleas.€€The€trial€court€denied€the€petition,€and€the€Defendant€appealedÐ P Ðto€this€Court.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð ì< ÐÓ»ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ä ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼í»àXYñ’#ÔÔ‡XYñX.¼íÔDavid€H.€Welles,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJoseph€M.€Ô_ÔTiptonÔ_Ôóó€and€òòJohnÐ œì ÐEverett€Williams,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð ˆØ ÐÌBob€Ô_ÔMcDÔ_Ô.€Green,€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Martin€Palmer€Jones.Ð `° ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Kathy€Ô_ÔAslingerÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General;€JoeÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÔ_ÔCrumleyÔ_Ô,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Anthony€Clark€and€Fred€Lance,€Assistant€District€AttorneysÐ $"t! ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð #`" ÐÓôÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼í»XXYñ# #ÔòòóóÔ‡XYñX»¼íÔÐ è$8 $ ÐÓ  ÓÓÓÔ#†¼í»XXYñm #ÔÔ€XYñX»¼íÔòòóóà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌÓ  Óò òFACTSó óÐ ¬'ü"' ÐÓP ÓÓÓà  àFollowing€his€arrest€in€October€of€1996,€the€then€fifteen„year„old€Defendant€admitted€onÐ „)Ô$) Ðthree€separate€occasions€that€he€shot€and€killed€the€two€victims,€John€Harder€and€Ô_ÔMarsenaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRatliffÔ_Ô.€Ð p*À%* ÐJust€days€prior,€the€Defendant€stole€a€car€from€a€local€college€and€burglarized€a€residence,€stealingÐ \+¬&+ Ðseveral€guns.€€The€Defendant€drove€up€Ô_ÔUnakaÔ_Ô€Mountain€in€east€Tennessee€intending€to€cross€intoÐ H,˜', ÐNorth€Carolina€when€he€noticed€a€car€parked€at€a€scenic€overlook€and€decided€to€acquire€additionalÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ôfunds€through€robbery.€€The€Defendant€parked€nearby€and€approached€his€two€victims€with€a€.22Ð ° Ðcaliber€rifle€in€hand.€€In€upholding€the€conviction€on€direct€appeal,€this€Court€summarized€theÐ œì Ðensuing€crimes€as€follows:€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà8  à[W]ithout€any€warning,€[the€Defendant]€shot€Harder€once€in€the€head.€€TheÐ `° ÐDefendant€confessed€that€he€shot€Harder€twice€more€because€ð ðhe€didnððt€look€like€heÐ L œ Ðwas€dead€.€.€.€I€didnððt€want€him€to€suffer.ðð€€At€that€point,€the€Defendant€shot€Ms.Ð 8 ˆ ÐRatliff,€who€had€attempted€to€flee.Ð$ tÐ Ð  ÐÌòòJonesóó,€1999€WL€93144€at€*1.€€€€After€killing€the€victims,€the€Defendant€took€one€dollar€from€Mr.Ð ü L  ÐHarderððs€pocket€and€ten€dollars€from€Ms.€Ratliffððs€purse.€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€Defendant€denied€sexually€accosting€Ms.€Ratliff,€but€police€found€her€body€partiallyÐ À  Ðundressed.€€€In€his€haste€to€get€down€the€mountain,€the€Defendant€wrecked€his€stolen€car€andÐ ¬ü  Ðcontinued€his€flight€on€foot.€€Two€hunters€came€upon€the€wreck€and€witnessed€the€Defendant€hidingÐ ˜è  Ðweapons€and€other€items€in€a€wooded€area.€€Later€that€same€evening,€the€Defendant€was€found€in€aÐ „Ô  Ðnearby€trailer€and€apprehended€by€North€Carolina€authorities.€€€When€the€Defendant€was€discovered,Ð pÀ Ðhe€had€in€his€possession€the€eleven€dollars€in€stolen€money,€the€murder€weapon,€and€Mr.€HarderððsÐ \¬ Ðdriverððs€licence.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àFollowing€a€hearing€in€Juvenile€Court,€€the€Defendant€was€transferred€to€the€Criminal€CourtÐ  p Ðof€Unicoi€County€to€be€tried€as€an€adult.€The€Defendant€was€charged€with€two€counts€of€felonyÐ  \ Ðmurder.€€At€his€plea€hearing€in€August€of€1997,€the€Defendant€renounced€his€earlier€confessions€andÐ øH Ðdenied€killing€the€victims.€€€The€Defendant€claimed€someone€else€stole€the€car€and€he€just€happenedÐ ä4 Ðto€find€it€on€the€mountain€along€with€the€two€victims.€€In€his€revised€story,€he€said€he€merely€pickedÐ Ð  Ðup€the€rifle,€took€the€money€and€driverððs€license€from€the€dead€victims,€got€in€the€car€and€droveÐ ¼  Ðaway.€€€Professing€innocence,€the€Defendant€nevertheless€entered€two€ð ðbest€interestðð€guilty€pleas,Ð ¨ø Ðor€òòAlfordóó€pleas,׃×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€as€part€of€a€plea€agreement€whereby€he€would€get€two€life€sentences€(with€theÐ ”ä Ðpossibility€of€parole).Ð €Ð Ðà  àÌà  àIn€accepting€the€guilty€pleas,€the€trial€court€determined€that€the€evidence€presented€by€theÐ X ¨ ÐTennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation€at€the€hearing€established€sufficient€facts€to€establish€the€crimes,Ð D!” Ðand€characterized€the€Defendantððs€revised€narration€as€ð ðabsolutely€incomprehensible.ðð€€The€trialÐ 0"€  Ðcourt€found€the€Defendant€guilty€as€charged€and€imposed€two€life€sentences,€but€reserved€the€issueÐ #l! Ðof€concurrent€or€consecutive€sentences€for€a€future€sentencing€hearing.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€Defendantððs€sentencing€hearing,€the€trial€court€ordered€the€DefendantÐ à%0!$ Ðto€serve€his€two€life€sentences€consecutively.€€The€Defendant€appealed€his€consecutive€sentencingÐ Ì&"% Ðto€this€Court,€which€affirmed€the€sentences.€€òòSeeóó€€òòJonesóó,€1999€WL€93144€at€*1.€€€The€DefendantÐ ° Ðtimely€filed€a€petition€for€post„conviction€relief€alleging,€òòinteróó€òòaliaóó,€ineffective€assistance€of€trialÐ œì Ðcounsel.€€Counsel€was€appointed€and€amended€petitions€were€filed.€€At€the€post„conviction€hearingÐ ˆØ Ðconducted€in€January€of€2004,€the€Defendant€asserted€several€grounds€as€a€basis€for€ineffectiveÐ tÄ Ðassistance€of€counsel,€one€of€which€was€his€trial€counsel's€failure€to€adequately€explain€the€natureÐ `° Ðand€effect€of€the€best„interest€guilty€plea.€€We€also€note€that€at€the€post„conviction€hearing€much€ofÐ L œ Ðthe€testimony€centered€around€the€Department€of€Correctionððs€interpretation€of€the€DefendantððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðsentence€as€two€life€sentences€òòwithoutóó€parole,€an€issue€which€was€resolved€by€agreement€of€allÐ $ t Ðparties€involved€and€by€order€of€the€trial€court.׃×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Upon€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€trial€courtÐ  ` Ðdenied€the€Defendant€post„conviction€relief.€€The€Defendant€timely€filed€a€Notice€of€Appeal€with€thisÐ ü L  ÐCourt.€€€Ð è 8  ÐÌÓ  Óò òANALYSISó óÐ À  ÐÓ™#Óà  àThe€Defendant€claims€that€his€appointed€trial€attorneys€provided€ineffective€assistance€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðcounsel€because€they€failed€to€fully€explain€the€nature€of€the€charges€and€the€effects€of€his€best„Ð ˜è  Ðinterest€guilty€pleas€and€plea€agreement.€€Specifically,€the€Defendant€asserts€that€his€attorneys€shouldÐ „Ô  Ðhave€deferred€the€entry€of€the€Defendantððs€ð ðnolo€contendere€pleaðð€until€the€Defendant€was€assuredÐ pÀ Ðof€the€number€of€years€that€he€must€actually€serve€before€he€could€be€considered€eligible€for€parole.€Ð \¬ ÐThe€Defendant€now€asserts€that€his€trial€counselððs€failure€to€withdraw€or€defer€his€guilty€pleas€afterÐ H˜ Ðquestions€on€the€actual€ð ðlengthðð€of€a€life€sentence€were€raised€at€the€plea€hearing€amounts€toÐ 4„ Ðineffective€assistance€of€counsel.€€We€disagree.€€Ð  p ÐÌà  àÔ‡ XYñXXXYñÔTo€sustain€a€petition€for€post„conviction€relief,€a€defendant€must€prove€his€or€her€factualÐ øH Ðallegations€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€at€an€evidentiary€hearing.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„Ð ä4 Ð30„110(f);€òòMomon€v.€Stateóó,€18€S.W.3d€152,€156€(Tenn.€1999).€€Upon€review,€this€Court€will€not€re„Ð Ð  Ðweigh€or€re„evaluate€the€evidence€below;€all€questions€concerning€the€credibility€of€witnesses,€theÐ ¼  Ðweight€and€value€to€be€given€their€testimony,€and€the€factual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence€are€to€beÐ ¨ø Ðresolved€by€the€trial€judge,€not€the€appellate€courts.€€òòSeeóó€òòMomonóó,€18€S.W.3d€at€156;€òòHenley€v.€Stateóó,Ð ”ä Ð960€S.W.2d€572,€578„79€(Tenn.€1997).€€The€trial€judgeððs€findings€of€fact€on€a€petition€for€post„Ð €Ð Ðconviction€relief€are€afforded€the€weight€of€a€jury€verdict€and€are€conclusive€on€appeal€unless€theÐ l¼ Ðevidence€preponderates€against€those€findings.€€òòSeeóó€òòMomonóó,€18€S.W.3d€at€156;€òòHenleyóó,€960€S.W.2dÐ X ¨ Ðat€578.€€Ô#†XYñXX XYñ'#ÔÐ D!” ÐÌà  àÔ‡ XYñXXXYñÔBoth€the€Sixth€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution€and€Article€I,€Section€9€of€theÐ #l! ÐTennessee€Constitution€guarantee€a€criminal€Defendant€the€right€to€representation€by€counsel.€€òòSeeóóÐ $X" ÐòòState€v.€Burnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€453,€461€(Tenn.€1999);€òòBaxter€v.€Roseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975).€Ð ô$D # ÐBoth€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€and€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€have€recognized€that€theÐ à%0!$ Ðright€to€such€representation€includes€the€right€to€ð ðreasonably€effectiveðð€assistance,€that€is,€within€theÐ Ì&"% Ðrange€of€competence€demanded€of€attorneys€in€criminal€cases.€€òòSeeóó€òòStrickland€v.€Washingtonóó,€466Ð ° ÐU.S.€668,€687€(1984);€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461;€òòBaxteróó,€523€S.W.2d€at€936.Ð œì ÐÌà  àA€lawyerððs€assistance€to€his€or€her€client€is€ineffective€if€the€lawyerððs€conduct€ð ðsoÐ tÄ Ðundermined€the€proper€functioning€of€the€adversarial€process€that€the€trial€cannot€be€relied€on€asÐ `° Ðhaving€produced€a€just€result.ðð€€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€686.€€This€overall€standard€is€comprised€ofÐ L œ Ðtwo€components:€deficient€performance€by€the€Defendantððs€lawyer,€and€actual€prejudice€to€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðdefense€caused€by€the€deficient€performance.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€at€687;€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461.€€The€DefendantÐ $ t Ðbears€the€burden€of€establishing€both€of€these€components€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€òòSeeóóÐ  ` ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„30„110(f);€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461.€€The€Defendantððs€failure€to€prove€eitherÐ ü L  Ðdeficiency€or€prejudice€is€a€sufficient€basis€upon€which€to€deny€relief€on€an€ineffective€assistance€ofÐ è 8  Ðcounsel€claim.€€òòSeeóó€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461;€òòGoad€v.€Stateóó,€938€S.W.2d€363,€370€(Tenn.€1996).Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àThis€two„part€standard€of€measuring€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€also€applies€to€claimsÐ ¬ü  Ðarising€out€of€a€guilty€plea.€€òòSeeóó€òòHill€v.€Lockhartóó,€474€U.S.€52,€58€(1985).€€The€prejudice€componentÐ ˜è  Ðis€modified€such€that€the€Defendant€ð ðmust€show€that€there€is€a€reasonable€probability€that,€but€forÐ „Ô  Ðcounselððs€errors,€he€would€not€have€pleaded€guilty€and€would€have€insisted€on€going€to€trial.ðð€€òòId.óóÐ pÀ Ðat€59;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòHicks€v.€Stateóó,€983€S.W.2d€240,€246€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1998).Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àIn€evaluating€a€lawyerððs€performance,€the€reviewing€court€uses€an€objective€standard€ofÐ 4„ Ðð ðreasonableness.ðð€€òòSeeóó€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€688;€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€462òòóó.€€The€reviewing€courtÐ  p Ðmust€be€highly€deferential€to€counselððs€choices€ð ðand€should€indulge€a€strong€presumption€thatÐ  \ Ðcounselððs€conduct€falls€within€the€wide€range€of€reasonable€professional€assistance.ðð€€òòBurnsóó,€6Ð øH ÐS.W.3d€at€462;€òòsee€alsoóó€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€689.€€The€court€should€not€use€the€benefit€ofÐ ä4 Ðhindsight€to€second„guess€trial€strategy€or€to€criticize€counselððs€tactics,€òòseeóó€òòHellard€v.€Stateóó,€629Ð Ð  ÐS.W.2d€4,€9€(Tenn.€1982),€and€counselððs€alleged€errors€should€be€judged€in€light€of€all€the€facts€andÐ ¼  Ðcircumstances€as€of€the€time€they€were€made.€€òòSeeóó€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€690;€òòHicksóó,€983€S.W.2dÐ ¨ø Ðat€246.Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àA€trial€courtððs€determination€of€an€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€claim€presents€a€mixedÐ l¼ Ðquestion€of€law€and€fact€on€appeal.€€òòSeeóó€òòFields€v.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,€458€(Tenn.€2001).€€ThisÐ X ¨ ÐCourt€reviews€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€with€regard€to€the€effectiveness€of€counsel€under€a€òòdeóóÐ D!” Ðòònovoóó€standard,€accompanied€with€a€presumption€that€those€findings€are€correct€unless€theÐ 0"€  Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€€ð ðHowever,€a€trial€courtððs€òòconclusions€of€lawóó„„Ð #l! Ðsuch€as€whether€counselððs€performance€was€deficient€or€whether€that€deficiency€was€prejudicial„„areÐ $X" Ðreviewed€under€a€purely€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€standard,€with€no€presumption€of€correctness€given€to€the€trialÐ ô$D # Ðcourtððs€conclusions.ðð€€òòId.óó€€Ô#†XYñXX XYñZ,#Ô€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àThe€Defendant€points€to€a€dialog€between€the€trial€judge,€the€State,€and€his€trial€counsel€atÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€plea€hearing€which€he€asserts€ð ðillustrates€the€ambivalence€and€uncertaintyðð€pertaining€to€the€issueÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€the€number€of€years€required€to€be€served€under€a€life€sentence€before€parole€could€be€considered.€Ð )à$( ÐThe€record€reveals€that€during€the€course€of€the€plea€hearing€the€trial€judge€commented€that€a€ð ðlifeÐ |*Ì%) Ðsentence€can€be€served€in€twenty€(20)€to€twenty„five€(25)€years,ðð€citing€a€case€where€the€€DefendantÐ h+¸&* Ðhad€been€convicted€of€murder€in€1980.€€The€State€immediately€brought€to€the€attention€of€the€courtÐ ° Ða€ð ðrecent€State€Attorney€Generalððs€opinion€that€says€a€life€sentence€is€fifty„one€(51)€years.ðð׃ ×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€TheÐ œì Ðmatter€was€not€pursued€further€at€that€time,€and€the€guilty€pleas€were€entered€and€accepted.€€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àThe€Defendant€correctly€notes€the€significant€difference€between€the€two€competing€theoriesÐ `° Ðraised€at€the€plea€hearing:€if€sentenced€to€two€life€terms€to€be€served€consecutively,€he€would€beÐ L œ Ðeligible€for€parole€in€as€few€as€forty€years€or€as€many€as€102€years.€€€However,€the€Defendant€admitsÐ 8 ˆ Ðin€his€brief€that€he€was€advised€by€his€trial€counsel€that€a€life€sentence€required€confinement€of€fifty„Ð $ t Ðone€years€before€eligibility€for€parole.€€Nonetheless,€the€Defendant€asserts€through€counsel€that€givenÐ  ` Ðhis€situation,€age,€and€lack€of€experience,€it€is€ð ðentirely€reasonable€to€believe€and€concludeðð€that€theÐ ü L  ÐDefendant€believed€ð ðthe€judge€[knew]€more€than€the€PD.ðð€€€Alleging€his€òòAlfordóó€pleas€were€not€madeÐ è 8  Ðknowingly€or€intelligently,€the€Defendant€now€claims€his€trial€counsel€was€deficient€for€failing€toÐ Ô$  Ðadvise€him€to€defer€entry€of€his€guilty€pleas€until€the€issue€of€the€requisite€number€of€yearsÐ À  Ðincarcerated€under€a€life€sentence€before€becoming€parole€eligible€was€clarified.€€In€support€of€hisÐ ¬ü  Ðclaim,€the€Defendant€cites€the€United€States€Court€of€Appeals€for€the€Sixth€Circuit€case€of€òòSparksÐ ˜è  Ðv.€Sowdersóó,€852€F.2d€882€(6th€Cir.€1988),€which€held€that€ð ðgross€misadvice€concerning€paroleÐ „Ô  Ðeligibility€can€amount€to€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€885.€€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€Tennessee,€when€a€defendantððs€claim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€is€based€on€Ð H˜ Ðinadequate€advice€concerning€a€guilty€plea,€as€in€the€case€òòsubóó€òòjudiceóó,€courts€generally€distinguishÐ 4„ Ðbetween€failure€to€inform€of€the€direct€and€indirect€consequences€of€the€guilty€plea.€€While€counselððsÐ  p Ðfailure€to€inform€a€Defendant€of€the€direct€consequences€of€a€guilty€plea€may€constitute€ineffectiveÐ  \ Ðassistance€of€counsel,€failure€to€inform€of€the€indirect€consequences€of€a€guilty€plea€normally€doesÐ øH Ðnot.€€òòSeeóó€òòAdkins€v.€Stateóó,€911€S.W.2d€334,€350€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1994).€€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àWe€note€that€the€post„conviction€court€found€that€the€Defendantððs€trial€counsel€gave€him€theÐ ¼  Ðcorrect€information,€advising€him€that€he€did€face€the€possibility€of€102€years€of€confinement€beforeÐ ¨ø Ðbecoming€eligible€for€parole.€€The€Defendant€did€not€testify€that€his€lawyer€gave€him€erroneousÐ ”ä Ðadvice.€€The€Defendantððs€appointed€trial€counsel€testified€that,€with€regard€to€a€life€sentence,€€theÐ €Ð ÐDefendant,€ð ðknew€with€certainty€that€we€had€advised€him€on€numerous€times€that€as€we€understoodÐ l¼ Ðthe€law,€and€as€it€would€be€applied€at€that€point€in€time€that€he€would€have€to€serve€fifty„one€yearsÐ X ¨ Ð[per€life€sentence]€before€he€was€eligible€for€any€kind€of€parole.ðð€€€Thus,€even€if€an€error€in€advisingÐ D!” Ða€client€on€the€indirect€consequence€to€a€guilty€plea€could€be€considered€deficient€representation,Ð 0"€  Ðthere€simply€was€no€error„„and€therefore€no€ineffective€assistance€of€counselð!ðin€this€particular€case.€Ð #l! ÐÌà  àMoreover,€the€Defendant€has€failed€to€prove€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€the€existenceÐ ô$D # Ðof€any€other€facts€which€would€support€his€assertion€that€his€trial€counselððs€performance€wasÐ à%0!$ Ðconstitutionally€deficient.€€At€the€post„conviction€hearing,€the€Defendant€admitted€that€he€metÐ Ì&"% Ðð ðextensivelyðð€with€his€trial€counsel,€and€they€spent€ð ðhundreds€of€hoursðð€on€his€case.€€€€The€DefendantÐ ° Ðagreed€that€his€attorneys€ð ðfought€for€[him]€every€step€of€the€way,ðð€and€conceded€that€their€failure€toÐ œì Ðpredict€the€possible€Department€of€Correction€error€regarding€his€parole€eligibility€did€not€amountÐ ˆØ Ðto€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel.€€€At€the€post„conviction€hearing,€the€trial€judge€found€noÐ tÄ Ðevidence€of€deficient€representation.€€€With€regard€to€the€Defendantððs€claim€that€his€trial€counsel€didÐ `° Ðnot€sufficiently€explain€the€nature€of€his€plea,€the€trial€court€ruled:€ð ðitððs€not€borne€out€by€the€proof.ðð€Ð L œ ÐThe€trial€judge€concluded:€ð ðThe€proof€in€this€case€is€overwhelming.€€I€donððt€know€what€defenseÐ 8 ˆ Ðcounsel€could€have€done.€€From€the€record€it€appears€the€court€finds€that€they€€[did]€everything€theyÐ $ t Ðpossibly€could.ðð€€€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àThe€Defendant€does€not€claim€that€the€information€he€received€from€his€trial€counsel€wasÐ è 8  Ðinaccurate.€€All€the€evidence€indicates€that€the€Defendant€was€given€correct€and€adequate€adviceÐ Ô$  Ðpertaining€to€the€consequences€of€his€guilty€pleas.€€Based€on€the€information€contained€in€the€record,Ð À  Ðwe€conclude€that€the€Defendant€has€failed€to€establish€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€his€trialÐ ¬ü  Ðcounselððs€representation€was€constitutionally€deficient.€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€Defendant€admitted€that€he€discussed€his€best€interest€guilty€plea€at€length€with€his€trialÐ pÀ Ðattorneys,€they€explained€the€ð ðramificationsðð€of€his€plea,€€and€they€made€no€guarantees€concerningÐ \¬ Ðhis€sentence.€€€Despite€the€comments€from€the€judge€regarding€ð ðtwenty€or€twenty„five€years,ðð€theÐ H˜ ÐDefendant€was€fully€and€correctly€informed€by€his€trial€counsel€that€a€life€sentence€required€fifty„oneÐ 4„ Ðyears€in€confinement€before€becoming€eligible€for€parole.€€In€sum,€the€record€reveals€that€theÐ  p ÐDefendant€both€fully€understood€the€nature€of€his€best„interest€guilty€plea,€and€admitted€that€it€wasÐ  \ Ðhis€own€decision€to€enter€that€plea.€€The€Defendant€has€failed€to€demonstrate€that€ð ðbut€for€counselððsÐ øH Ðerrors,€he€would€not€have€pleaded€guilty€and€would€have€insisted€on€going€to€trial.ðð€€òòHillóó,€474€U.S.Ð ä4 Ðat€59.€€Thus,€the€Defendant€has€also€failed€to€show€prejudice.€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Defendant€failed€to€prove€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€his€trial€counselððsÐ ¨ø Ðrepresentation€fell€outside€Ô‡ XYñXXXYñÔthe€wide€range€of€reasonable€professional€assistanceÔ#†XYñXX XYñê\#Ô.€€Based€on€theÐ ”ä Ðevidence€in€the€appellate€record,€the€Defendantððs€trial€counsel€provided€representation€that€wasÐ €Ð Ðneither€deficient€nor€prejudicial.€€Accordingly,€we€conclude€that€the€Defendantððs€trial€counsel€didÐ l¼ Ðnot€provide€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel.€€This€issue€has€no€merit.Ð X ¨ ÐÌÓ  Óò òCONCLUSIONó óÐ 0"€  ÐÓÕ^Óà  àWe€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€decision€denying€the€Defendant€post„conviction€relief.€€Ð #l! ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð Ì&"% Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€H.€WELLES,€JUDGE