WPC  _"AH )*TN6viJU#Rb0S"ִ\ ~kYx]tMo`􋬨{iee~_Q/f^]廹54i1P,S7/ Q]~Fo_ƉVz$67ZN]0PSQa3]ތ }Rips>)jr{itfP]CȸRS5îo2^1_ Te,U'}ƓRЂ ǡ-aGԟAq7]Bf[[K}yea 7FxM,PPP8}@N 9aGxJMd`NBDVS,!2K9R:lbxȞN)b V]{W ۋuDڅ A#rp X)汻*G|`J7_d2-!^'\e/CY"Or̐)UN> % 0(U:w@44HVW 0lY 0D  0DU>U:FV AO 0D B 0D  D/Z Z B D3 (hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($,  AZ"Arial Regular U DV UW UX DY UZ U[ \ E] D^ ӀuM%3|xg ((3$ !      0  (#$  0  (3$ !   XXXX%XX   Ad FILEDXX%  September3,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAM ,cAZ"Arial Regular   #%C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !   d($$   1  ''' dxdP Pd""""'dxd !  XXXX  TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T73XXdd7  \ [ 5[ \ ^ ^ ^ r (<,(j 8` `@E` 8ttxP  rߛ^ @  INTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @FF'ATNASHVILLE@77%JUNE1998SESSIONJOHNRUCKER, @-)  L  @-) p NO.01C019709CR00411   8   ` Appellant,@-) $  @-) p DAVIDSONCOUNTY     VS. @-)   @-) p HON.J.RANDALLWYATT,JR.,   STATEOFTENNESSEE, @-) p JUDGE  ~  @-) ` Appellee.@-) p (PostConviction) P (  @(#(#( FORTHEAPPELLANT: 8 DWIGHTE.SCOTT 4024ColoradoAvenue  Nashville,TN37209 *z  FORTHEAPPELLEE: 8 JOHNKNOXWALKUP   AttorneyGeneralandReporter TIMOTHYF.BEHAN x"  AssistantAttorneyGeneral d# CriminalJusticeDivision450JamesRobertsonParkwayNashville,TN372430493 VICTORS.JOHNSON,III !2(  DistrictAttorneyGeneral ")  KATRINNOVAKMILLER  $+ AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneralWashingtonSquare,Suite500222SecondAvenue,NorthNashville,TN372011649 8(#/ (  @( OPINIONFILED:򀀀 .)4 AFFIRMEDLEEMOORE,SPECIALJUDGE  62=  ?[@qq* OPINION    ` Thepetitioner,JohnRucker,appealsthedismissalofhispetitionforpostconvictionrelief.OnMarch30,1995,petitionerenteredabestinterestpleaofguiltytotwo(2)countsofseconddegreemurder,one(1)countofespeciallyaggravatedrobberyandone(1)countofespeciallyaggravatedkidnaping. ` OnApril1,1996,thepetitionerfiledapetitionforpostconvictionrelief.AsecondpetitionforpostconvictionreliefwasfiledonJuly8,1996.ApostconvictionhearingwasconductedonApril7,1997.ThetrialcourtdeniedthepetitionforpostconvictionreliefonApril22,1997.AnoticeofappealwastimelyfiledonApril30,1997. ` Afterareviewofthepostconvictionrecordonappealandtheapplicablelaw,we affirm thejudgmentofthetrialcourt. p   4 @$PROCEDURALHISTORY ` InJulyof1992,petitionerwasindictedforsix(6)separatefelonycounts T$ $ includingtwo(2)countsoffirstdegreemurder,two(2)countsoffelonymurder,one(1)countofespeciallyaggravatedrobbery,andone(1)countofespeciallyaggravatedkidnaping.Petitionerwaslaterindictedforaggravatedraperelatingtothesamecriminalepisode.OnMarch30,1995,petitionerenteredabestinterestpleaofguiltytotwo(2)countsofseconddegreemurder,one(1)countofespeciallyaggravatedrobberyandone(1)countofespeciallyaggravatedkidnaping.Thepetitionerreceivedfour(4)consecutivefifteen(15)yearsentencesforatotaleffectivesentenceofsixty(60)years.Theaggravatedrapechargewasdismissedunderthepleaagreement.  406  ` OnApril1,1996,thedefendantfiledapetitionforpostconvictionrelief.A $8d4: secondpetitionwasfiledonJuly8,1996.Ahearingonthepetitionwasconducted 906< onApril7,1997.ThepetitionsforpostconvictionreliefweredeniedbyorderenteredonApril22,1997.ThedefendanttimelyfiledhisnoticeofappealonApril30,1997. ` Thedefendantraisedthree(3)issuesonappealasfollows: ` 1. Wasappellant'sguiltypleamadeunderstandingthenatureand @  elementsoftheoffensesandtheconsequencesofhisplea?     ` 2. Wasthepleavoluntaryorobtainedbywayofthreats,intimidationor  coercion? ` 3. Wasappellantprovidedwithineffectiveassistanceofcounsel?   @  POSTCONVICTIONSTANDARDSFORREVIEW  @  ` Thetrialjudge'sfindingsoffactonpostconvictionhearingsareconclusiveonappealunlesstheevidencepreponderatesotherwise.Butlerv.State,789   МS.W.2d898,899(Tenn.1990);Adkinsv.State,911S.W.2d334,341(Tenn.Crim. !  МApp.1995).Thetrialcourt'sfindingsoffactareaffordedtheweightofajuryverdict,andthisCourtisboundbythetrialcourt'sfindingsunlesstheevidenceintherecordpreponderatesagainstthosefindings.Henleyv.State,960S.W.2d572, `'#& 578(Tenn.1997);Alleyv.State,958S.W.2d138,147(Tenn.Crim.App.1997); @)%( Dixonv.State,934S.W.2d69,72(Tenn.Crim.App.1996).ThisCourtmaynot  +`'* reweighorreevaluatetheevidence,norsubstituteitsinferencesforthosedrawnbythetrialjudge.Henleyv.State,960S.W.2dat57879;Masseyv.State,929 . +. МS.W.2d399,403(Tenn.Crim.App.1996);Blackv.State,794S.W.2d752,755 0-0 (Tenn.Crim.App.1990).Questionsconcerningthecredibilityofwitnessesandtheweightandvaluetobegiventotheirtestimonyareresolvedbythetrialcourt,notthiscourt.Henleyv.State,960S.W.2dat579;Blackv.State,794S.W.2dat755. `626 Theburdenofestablishingthattheevidencepreponderatesotherwiseisonpetitioner.Henleyv.State,960S.W.2dat579;Blackv.State,794S.W.2dat755.  :`6: \ \ ̛ ` @@@ INEFFECTIVEASSISTANCEOFCOUNSELSTANDARDOFREVIEW    ` ThisCourtreviewsaclaimofineffectiveassistanceofcounselunderthe `  standardsofBaxterv.Rose,523S.W.2d930(Tenn.1975),andStricklandv. @  Washington,466U.S.668,104S.Ct.2052,80L.Ed.2d674(1984).Thepetitioner  `  hastheburdentoprovethat(1)theattorney'sperformancewasdeficient,and(2)thedeficientperformanceresultedinprejudicetothedefendantsoastodeprivehimofafairtrial.Stricklandv.Washington,466U.S.at687,104S.Ct.at2064;  Goadv.State,938S.W.2d363,369(Tenn.1996);Overtonv.State,874S.W.2d  6,11(Tenn.1994);Butlerv.State,789S.W.2d898,899(Tenn.1990).   ` ThetestinTennesseeindeterminingwhethercounselprovidedeffectiveassistanceiswhetherhisperformancewaswithintherangeofcompetencedemandedofattorneysincriminalcases.Baxterv.Rose,523S.W.2dat936.The @ petitionermustovercomethepresumptionthatcounsel'sconductfallswithinthewiderangeofacceptableprofessionalassistance.Stricklandv.Washington,466 !  U.S.at689,104S.Ct.at2065;Alleyv.State,958S.W.2d138,149(Tenn.Crim. #" МApp.1997);Statev.Williams,929S.W.2d385,389(Tenn.Crim.App.1996). %!$ Therefore,inordertoproveadeficiency,apetitionermustshowthatcounsel'sactsoromissionsweresoseriousastofallbelowanobjectivestandardofreasonablenessunderprevailingprofessionalnorms.Stricklandv.Washington,466  +`'* U.S.at688,104S.Ct.at2065;Henleyv.State,960S.W.2dat579;Goadv.State, -@), 938S.W.2dat369. ` Inreviewingcounsel'sconduct,a"fairassessment...requiresthateveryeffortbemadetoeliminatethedistortingeffectsofhindsight,toreconstructthecircumstancesofcounsel'schallengedconduct,andtoevaluatetheconductfromcounsel'sperspectiveatthetime."Stricklandv.Washington,466U.S.at689,104 @848 МS.Ct.at2065.Thefactthataparticularstrategyortacticfailedorhurtthedefense,  :`6: doesnot,standingalone,establishunreasonablerepresentation.However,S S S S deferencetomattersofstrategyandtacticalchoicesappliesonlyifthechoicesareinformedonesbaseduponadequatepreparation.Goadv.State,938S.W.2dat `  369;Hellardv.State,629S.W.2d4,9(Tenn.1982);Alleyv.State,958S.W.2dat @  149;Cooperv.State,847S.W.2d521,528(Tenn.Crim.App.1992).  `   ` InHillv.Lockhart,474U.S.52,106S.Ct.366,88L.Ed.203(1985),the   SupremeCourtappliedthetwopartStricklandstandardtoineffectiveassistanceof  counselclaimsarisingoutofaguiltyplea.TheCourtinHillmodifiedtheprejudice  requirementbyrequiringadefendanttoshowthatthereisareasonableprobabilitythat,butforcounsel'serrors,hewouldnothavepleadedguiltyandwouldhaveinsistedongoingtotrial.474U.S.at59,106S.Ct.at370.@+ FACTS  @  ` Atthepostconvictionhearing,appellanttestifiedthathisattorneydidtellhimthechargesagainsthimbutindicatedthathedidnotgointodetailastowhattheymeant.Hestatedthathisattorneydidnottellhimwhatthestatehadtodotoconvicthimoffirstdegreemurder,seconddegreemurder,kidnaping,robberyortheterms"aggravated"and"especiallyaggravated".Heindicatedhisattorneyneverexplainedtohimcriminalresponsibility.Hetestifiedthattrialcounselle] a] dhimtobelievehewaspleadingguiltytoaccessorybeforeandafterthefacttothosecrimes.Heindicatedthattrialcounselkepttellinghimthathewasgoingtogetnothingbutfifteen(15)years.Hethoughtthesentenceswouldrunconcurrentlyratherthanconsecutively.Hetestifiedthattrialcounselwentoverthepleapetitionon"thedaythathehadmetocopout."Hetestifiedthattrialcounselgavehimthepetitiontoreadbutdidnotreadittohim.Hestatedthathereadcertainpartsofitbutcouldnotrecallthepartsheread.Hehadaninthgradeeducation.Heindicatedhecouldreadgoodenoughtogetby.Hefeltlikehewasbeingforcedto  :`6: pleadbecausehistrialcounselkepttellinghisdaddythathewouldgetlifeifhedidT T U T T U notpleadguilty.HedidnotthinkhewouldhavepledguiltyiftrialcounselhadW  95< W takenX V V X moretimetocounselwithhimthoroughly.Hedidadmitoncrossexaminationthathehadsignedthepetitionfortheguiltyplea.WhenaskedifherememberedJudgeWyatthavinggoneoverhisrightsandaskinghimifhispleawasvoluntary,heindicatedthathewasinsuchadazethathewasreallynotpayingattention.Hewastwentyone(21)yearsoldatthetimeofhisguiltyplea.Theguiltypleawasenteredtwo(2)weeksbeforehiscasewastobetried. ` Trialcounsel,ThomasH.Ware,testifiedthatheconferredwithappellantonapproximatelyseventeen(17)occasionswhilerepresentinghim.Histimesheetshowedeighteen(18)visits.Hespentapproximately14.4hoursconsultingwithMr.ϜRuckeratthejailnotcountingtelephonecontactsorthetimeshesawMr.Ruckerincourt.Hehadattemptedtoworkoutalessersentencebasedonpetitionercooperatingwiththestate.DNAtesting,however,contradictedpetitioner'sstoryandputtheminabind.Hetestifiedthathediscussedindetailwithpetitionertheelementsofaggravatedandespeciallyaggravatedrobberyandkidnaping.HeadvisedMr.Ruckerthatthemurderchargeswere"justalmostopenandshut."Hediscussedfirstdegreemurderandseconddegreemurder.HetestifiedthathereadthepetitionforthepleaagreementtoMr.Rucker.HeindicatedthatMr.Ruckerwasalwayswillingtoenteraplea.He,however,wasnothappywiththenumberofyearsthestatewasoffering.Thestatehadstartedoffaskingforseventyfive(75)yearsandeventuallytheynegotiatedapleabargainforsixty(60)years.Mr.Ruckerwouldnotinitiallypleadguiltytoaneffectivesixty(60)yearsentence.Herequestedaneffectiveforty(40)yearsentence.TrialcounseltestifiedthatitwashisopinionthatifMr.Ruckerwenttotrialthathewouldbeconvictedofatleasttwo(2)felonymurdercountsandprobablywouldhavereceivedtwo(2)lifesentencesconsecutivetoeachother.Hethoughtthattheyhadsomewhatofachanceontheaggravatedrobberyandaggravatedkidnapingcharges.He,however,didnothaveanychanceontheaggravatedrapecase.AfterDNAtestingwasreturned,Mr.Ruckerdidconfirmthathehadsexualrelationswithoneofthemurdervictims.X ?[  X ̜X ?[  X U ?[  U Y  95< ?[  Y  ` ThePetitionToEnterAPleaOfGuiltyindicatesthatpetitionerhasreadandY ?[  Y X ?[  X W ?[  W U ?[  U T ?[  T discussedtheindictmentwithhisattorneyandthathehastoldhisattorneyV ?[  ?[  V T ?[  ?[  T everythingaboutthefactsandcircumstancessurroundingthechargesagainsthim.Y ?[  Y Itindicatesfurtherthatthepetitionerunderstandsthedefinitionalelementsofthecrimesandthathisattorneyhasexplainedwhatthestatehastoprovebeyondareasonabledoubttoconvicthim.      ` Paragraph6ofthepetitiondescribesthevariouschargesandtherangesof `  punishmentsforeachcharge.Paragraph22setsoutspecificallythatheisenteringabestinterestpleaasfollows: ` CountOnemurder,seconddegreefifteen(15)yearsimprisonment  ` CountThreeespeciallyaggravatedrobberyfifteen(15)years    `  imprisonmentconsecutivetoCountOne ` CountFourespeciallyaggravatedkidnapingfifteen(15)years  v  `  imprisonmentconsecutivetoCountsOneandThree  \   ` CountFivemurder,seconddegreefifteen(15)yearsimprisonment B  `  consecutivetoCountsOne,ThreeandFour ` CountsTwoandSixtobedismissed ` CaseNo.958172tobedismissed ` ThetranscriptoftheguiltypleahearingheldonMarch30,1995,showsclearlythatthecourtwentovertherangeofpunishmentforseconddegreemurder,especiallyaggravatedrobberyandespeciallyaggravatedkidnaping.Thecourtalsodescribedtheelementsofthethree(3)offensesandadvisedthepetitionerthathehadfour(4)ClassAfelonyconvictionsandanyfutureconvictionscouldenhanceanypunishmenthemightreceive.Hiscasewassetforjurytrialacoupleofweeksoff.Hewasadvisedofhisrighttoajurytrialandthathehadthepresumptionofinnocenceattrial.Thecourtadvisedthepetitionerthatthestatewouldhavetheburdenofproofattrialanddescribedtheburdenofproofbeyondareasonabledoubt.Hewasadvisedofhisrighttoconfronthiswitnessesoraccusers,hisrightagainstselfincriminationandhisrighttoappeal.Heidentifiedthepetitiontoenterapleaofguiltyandadmittedthathehadbeenadvisedofhisrightssetforthinthatdocument.Headmittedgoingoverthedocumentwithhisattorney.HeadmittedZ  85; Z understandingexactlywhathewasdoingonthatdate.Headmittedthatheunderstoodthesentencethatwasgoingtobeimposedandtheresultsofpleadingguilty.Trialcounselindicatedontherecordthathehaddiscussedthematterwiththepetitionerandwasconvincedthatheunderstoodthechargesandthepleaagreement.@xx( CONCLUSION     ` Thepostconvictiontranscriptisclearthatpetitionerunderstoodthenatureandtheelementsofthechargesagainsthimalongwiththeconsequencesofhisplea.Therecordisclearthatthepleaofguiltywasenteredknowingly,understandablyandvoluntarilybypetitioner.Thereisnoevidenceintherecordtoindicatethattrialcounsel'sperformancewasdeficientorthatanydeficientperformanceresultedinprejudicetopetitioner.Petitionerhasfailedtoovercomethepresumptionthattrialcounsel'sconductfallswithinthewiderangeofacceptableprofessionalassistance.Inthiscase,therecordisclearthattrialcounsel'sconductwaswellwithintherangeofcompetencedemandedofattorneysincriminalcases.π ` Accordingly,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtis AFFIRMED . $$d $  `     h      p 򀀀  ($)  `     h      p LEEMOORE,SPECIALJUDGECONCUR:̀ 0H,1 JOEG.RILEY,JUDGE  04-2  ̀ 3/5 XXXX  ӜCURWOODWITT,JUDGE  406 #XXXXǢK#XXXX  517 TR[A' Legal[A' LegalA' LegalA' LegalT  @  INTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @**'ATNASHVILLE JOHNRUCKER, @-) J @-) p C.C.A.No.01C019709CR00411 6 v  ` Appellant,@-)  \ @-) p DavidsonCountyNo.92C1496  B Ѐvs.@-)  (  @-) p (PostConviction)     STATEOFTENNESSEE, @-)   @-) p AFFIRMED     ` Appellee.@-)   @) JUDGMENT  $d  ` Cametheappellant,JohnRucker,bycounsel,andthestate,bytheAttorneyGeneral,andthiscasewasheardontherecordonappealfromtheCriminalCourtofDavidsonCounty;anduponconsiderationthereof,thisCourtisoftheopinionthatthereisnoreversibleerrorinthejudgmentofthetrialcourt. ` Itis,therefore,orderedandadjudgedbythisCourtthatthejudgmentofthetrialcourtis AFFIRMED ,andthecaseisremandedtotheCriminalCourtof !! DavidsonCountyforexecutionofthejudgmentofthatcourtandforcollectionofcostsaccruedbelow. ` Itappearsthatappellantisindigent.CostsofappealwillbepaidbytheStateofTennessee. `     h      p PerCuriam `     h      p LeeMoore,SpecialJudge `     h      p JoeG.Riley,Judge `     h      p CurwoodWitt,Judge#XXXXL# 1.3