ÿWPCê «›ìšwÞÁñ7¹À;‡ÛÔÄ_áö;_8äýÝÔˆƒ§ƒts:AfíÏ‹ìz¦Lðî¦4­Õþ6.ˆîþQÌeimkÀv€ø‡7Ô-’.êø™]¦)Šª¹S2H{nÔ§h´¶’¡øn¸y<:dÅÕìµsôª–Gûtô1F'Gþßž9—ôÓaŸº,a×Ö©8;½v‹Ó3u|¥Ûz ¦»KKøHÑæÆ}{±/†h§^!W2”“@MZQDiÖxzC)Ô¦¤ˆÜOÄ8¬ 4, 1ÌBè+Æ‘ 0¤W 0Dû A«?˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularù³ž-s  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptºF›-ìê:i¢×+003|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÈhH  Z(Times New Roman  Cackley TDSt]here DHSCahalMalindaLundieBattiatoincludedsthat thatfind[sTidwellStricklandOvertonHellardc]onductc]ounsel t]heFendersonTownesYasmond- ù-(|G2Œ¹$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôâåò»»Ô d(|3Ç‹$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ç‹$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X­»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼X­»»»ÔÑ8€qXXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îE\X­ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼X­»îîE\ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€July€17,€2002Ð üL ÐÔ‡XqX»¼X­ÔÌò òÔ#†¼X­»XXq#ÔTERRY€DAVID€STEPHENSòòóó€v.€STATE€OF€TENNESSEEÔ‡XqX»¼X­Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€96„C„1248€€€€€€Cheryl€Blackburn,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„01036„CCA„R3„PC€„€Filed€December€30,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€petitioner€was€convicted€in€1996€of€aggravated€rape€and€sentenced€to€confinement€for€twentyÐ xÈ  Ðyears€as€a€Range€I,€standard€offender.€The€conviction€was€affirmed€on€direct€appeal€and,Ð d´ Ðsubsequently,€he€filed€a€timely€petition€for€post„conviction€relief.€€The€post„conviction€courtÐ P  Ðdismissed€the€petition€following€a€hearing,€and€the€petitioner€timely€appealed,€alleging€that€trialÐ <Œ Ðcounsel€was€ineffective€for€failing€to€convey€settlement€offers€and€to€request€jury€instructions€as€toÐ (x Ðlesser„included€offenses.€€The€post„conviction€court€dismissed€the€petition€following€a€hearing,€andÐ d Ðwe€affirm€that€dismissal.Ð P ÐÔ#†¼X­»XXq”#ÔÔ‡XqX»¼X­ÔÌÓÀÓò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ø( ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼X­»àXqÞ#ÔÔ‡XqX.¼X­ÔAlan€E.€Glenn,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòThomas€T.€Ô_ÔWoodallÔ_Ôóó€and€òòJamesÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔCurwoodÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWittÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð œì ÐÌJesse€N.H.€Bacon,€Madison,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Terry€David€Stephens.Ð tÄ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Thomas€E.€Williams,€III,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ L œ ÐGeneral;€Victor€S.€Johnson,€III,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Roger€Moore,€Assistant€DistrictÐ 8!ˆ  ÐAttorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ô#†¼X­»XXqª#ÔÔ‡XqX»¼X­Ô€Ð $"t! ÐÓ{ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼X­»XXq #ÔÔ‡XqX»¼X­ÔÐ ü#L# ÐÌò òòòFACTSóóó óÐ Ô%$!% ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼X­»XXq #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XqX»¼X­ÔÔ‡XqXXXqÔà  àThe€evidence€at€trial€was€set€out€in€the€direct€appeal€of€the€petitionerððs€conviction:Ð ¬'ü"' ÐÌÓ*°,XƒXŒ –X°œX*Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àOn€July€22,€1992,€Rosalind€Cackley€took€the€victim€to€Our€KidsÐ „)Ô$) ÐCenter,€an€outpatient€clinic€that€provides€medical€evaluations€forÐ p*À%* Ðchildren€with€allegations€of€sexual€abuse.€€Sue€Ross,€a€registeredÐ \+¬&+ Ðnurse€and€pediatric€nurse€practitioner,€participated€in€the€examinationÐ H,˜', Ðof€TDS.€€Ms.€Ross€recalled€that€the€verbal€interview€of€TDS€was€veryÐ 4-„(-ý÷ ÐÔ_Ôdifficult,€specifically€remarking€that€TDS€requested€a€maleÐ ° Ðinterviewer,€was€"resistive"€in€some€ways,€and€was€not€very€verbal.€Ð œì ÐDuring€this€interview,€the€victim€informed€Ms.€Ross€that€his€brotherÐ ˆØ Ðwas€in€a€bedroom€and€that€his€father€was€not€drunk€and€did€notÐ tÄ Ðapologize€for€this€incident€afterwards.€€Nonetheless,€the€child€didÐ `° Ðdiscuss€"penile€rectal€penetration"€by€his€father.€€Ms.€Ross€alsoÐ L œ Ðperformed€the€genital€examination€of€the€victim.€€She€remarked,Ð 8 ˆ Ð"[t]here€were€no€.€.€.€physical€findings,€any€remarkable€physicalÐ $ t Ðfindings€at€all€on€the€anal€genital€portion€of€the€exam."€€Ms.€RossÐ  ` Ðexplained,€however,€that€usually€there€would€not€be€any€physicalÐ ü L  Ðfindings,€even€twenty-four€hours€after€the€alleged€abuse€occurred,€andÐ è 8  Ðthis€incident€allegedly€occurred€months€earlier.€€Ms.€Ross€thenÐ Ô$  Ðreferred€this€alleged€incident€of€child€abuse€to€the€Davidson€CountyÐ À  ÐDepartment€of€Human€Services.€€Ð¬ü ` x` x ÐÌÓ9°,XƒXŒ ä h•X°,XƒXŒ –X9Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àTammy€Burns,€a€social€counselor€with€DHS,€was€assigned€toÐ „Ô  Ðinvestigate€the€allegation€of€abuse€concerning€TDS.€Ms.€Burns€madeÐ pÀ Ðtelephone€contact€with€Rosalind€Cackley€and€arranged€to€meet€withÐ \¬ Ðher,€the€victim,€and€the€victim's€brother.€€On€July€30,€1992,€Ms.€BurnsÐ H˜ Ðconducted€her€interview€during€which€time€TDS€recounted€theÐ 4„ Ðincident€of€February€6,€1992.€€Mrs.€Burns'€testimony,€which€followedÐ  p Ðthe€testimony€of€Ms.€Ross,€was€objected€to€by€defense€counsel€uponÐ  \ Ðhearsay€grounds.€€Her€notes€of€the€interview,€which€were€introducedÐ øH Ðduring€the€State's€case€in€chief,€reveal:Ðä4` x` x Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8Œ ` x` xà[TDS]€said€his€father€anally€penetrated€him€in€Nashville€at€hisÐ ¼  Ðgrandmother's€house€when€she€lived€on€Cahal€Street.€€He€saidÐ ¨ø Ðit€happened€two€days€before€his€birthday,€which€was€FebruaryÐ ”ä Ð6,€1992,€or€1982.€€[TDS]€said€the€night€it€happened,€his€fatherÐ €Ð Ðhad€been€drinking€alcohol€and€he€remembered€that€his€fatherÐ l¼ Ðhad€received€his€income€tax€check€earlier€that€day.€€He€said€heÐ X ¨ Ðand€his€brother€had€to€sleep€in€the€living€room€because€thereÐ D!” Ðwere€so€many€people€there€that€night.€€[TDS]€said€[hisÐ 0"€  Ðbrother]€was€asleep€on€the€couch,€and€he€was€asleep€on€theÐ #l! Ðfloor.€€When€they€went€to€bed,€his€father€was€still€out€with€hisÐ $X" Ðfriends.€€He€knew€his€father€was€planning€to€leave€NashvilleÐ ô$D # Ðthe€next€day;€however,€his€father€had€not€told€him€where€heÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€going€nor€when€he€planned€to€return.€€[TDS]€said€hisÐ Ì&"% Ðfather€woke€him€up€and€was€talking€funny€and€had€alcohol€onÐ ¸'#& Ðhis€breath.€€Ð¤(ô#'Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8Œ ` x` xàAccording€to€[TDS],€the€lights€in€the€house€were€off.€€HisÐ |*Ì%) Ðfather€got€under€the€covers€with€him€and€took€his€underwearÐ h+¸&* Ðand€pants€off.€€[TDS]€said€his€father€told€him€to€take€hisÐ ° Ðunderwear€and€pajama€bottoms€off.€€When€he€did,€his€fatherÐ œì Ðtold€him€to€turn€over.€€[TDS]€said€his€father€then€put€his€penisÐ ˆØ Ðinside€his€butt.€€ÐtÄŒ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8Œ ` x` xà[TDS]€explained€that€after€his€father€finished,€he€told€him€heÐ L œ Ðwas€sorry€and€that€he€wouldn't€have€done€it€if€he€had€not€beenÐ 8 ˆ Ðdrunk.€€Ð$ tŒ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8Œ ` x` xàAt€this€point€in€the€interview,€[TDS]€became€emotional€andÐ ü L  Ðsaid€he€didn't€want€to€talk€about€his€father€any€longer.€€[TDS]Ð è 8  Ðsaid€he€did€not€want€to€answer€any€more€questions,€and€thatÐ Ô$  Ð[his€younger€brother]€would€have€to€explain€what€happenedÐ À  Ðto€him€because€he€was€finished€talking.€€Ð¬ü Œ LŒ L ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àAt€the€conclusion€of€this€interview,€Tammy€Burns€contacted€theÐ „Ô  ÐMetro€Nashville€Police€Department,€Youth€Services€Division.€Ð pÀ ÐFurthermore,€as€a€protective€plan,€the€children€were€not€permittedÐ \¬ Ðunsupervised€visitation€with€their€father.€€For€the€next€two€years,€theÐ H˜ Ðchildren€remained€in€Nashville€in€the€custody€of€the€appellant'sÐ 4„ Ðmother,€Rosalind€Cackley.€€Ð p` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àOn€May€3,€1994,€the€Department€of€Children's€Services€(formerlyÐ øH ÐDHS)€received€information€that€the€appellant€may€have€had€contactÐ ä4 Ðwith€his€children.€€In€response€to€this€referral,€Malinda€Lundie,€aÐ Ð  Ðsexual€abuse€investigator,€and€Detective€Ron€Carter,€Metro€Police,Ð ¼  ÐYouth€Services€Division,€traveled€to€the€home€of€Rosalind€CackleyÐ ¨ø Ðto€check€on€the€children's€well-being.€€Although€Detective€Carter€wasÐ ”ä Ðunable€to€locate€the€appellant,€arrangements€were€made€for€theÐ €Ð Ðchildren€to€live€with€Anthony€Michael€"Mike"€Battiato,€theÐ l¼ Ðappellant's€half-brother,€who€at€this€time€was€a€resident€of€Tennessee.€Ð X ¨ ÐBattiato€obtained€custody€of€TDS€and€his€younger€brother€after€beingÐ D!” Ðappointed€their€legal€guardian.€€Battiato,€his€friend€Samuel,€and€theÐ 0"€  Ðtwo€children€moved€to€Omaha,€Nebraska€in€December€1995.€€ThisÐ #l! Ðconcluded€the€State's€proof.€€Ð$X"` x` x ÐÌòòState€v.€Terry€Stephensóó,€No.€01C01„9709„CR„00410,€1998€WL€603144,€at€**1-2€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð à%0!$ ÐAug.€24,€1998)€(footnotes€omitted),€òòperm.€to€appeal€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Mar.€1,€1999).Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àSubsequently,€the€petitioner€filed€a€petition€for€post„conviction€relief€presenting€variousÐ ¤(ô#' Ðallegations€which,€on€appeal,€have€been€limited€to€the€claims€that€trial€counsel€was€ineffective€forÐ )à$( Ðfailing€to€convey€settlement€offers€and€to€request€that€the€jury€be€instructed€as€to€lesser„includedÐ |*Ì%) Ðoffenses.€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àDuring€the€hearing€on€the€petition€for€post„conviction€relief,€the€petitioner€testified€as€to€theseÐ ° Ðclaims.€€He€was€asked€whether€he€had€discussed€guilty€plea€offers€with€trial€counsel:Ð œì ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàOkay.€€Did€you€discuss€the€option€of€negotiating€a€plea€versusÐ tÄ Ðgoing€to€a€trial?Ð`°Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàHe€came€to€me€a€couple€of€times€and€said€that€they€had€offeredÐ 8 ˆ Ðme€10€to€12€years€and€I€told€him€no,€and€there€was€a€couple€ofÐ $ t Ðtimes€they€offered€that,€and€then€one€time€he€came€and€said€thatÐ  ` Ðthey€had€offered€me€ð!ð€I€was€upstairs,€in€fact,€and€he€said€they€hadÐ ü L  Ðoffered€me€nine€at€thirty,€and€he€had€turned€it€down,€and€I€wasÐ è 8  Ðkind€of€skeptical€of€that.€€I€was€like,€well,€you€know,€I€shouldÐ Ô$  Ðhave€maybe€heard€something€about€that,€but€I€wasnððt€made€awareÐ À  Ðof€all€these€agreements€or€pleas€that€they€was€making,€but€I€neverÐ ¬ü  Ðaccepted€any.Ð˜è Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàSo€your€testimony€is€that€[trial€counsel]€never€relayed€that€offerÐ pÀ Ðto€you€until€after€it€was€denied?Ð\¬Œ xŒ x ÐÌà0  àà ° àà8(#(#àà8` (#(#àA.à Œ àYes.€€He€told€me€that€he€had€denied€it.Ð4„` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàOkay.€€Had€you€given€[trial€counsel]€instructions€as€to€whether€heÐ  \ Ðwas€to€accept€any€offers?ÐøHŒ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à Œ àNo,€sir.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à Œ àOr€did€you€give€him€instructions€as€to€deny€offers?Шø` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à Œ àNo,€sir.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€petitioner€also€was€asked€to€explain€his€claim€as€to€lesser„included€offenses:Ð X ¨ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàOkay.€€Now€one€of€the€other€issues€that€was€raised€was€the€factÐ 0"€  Ðthat€there€were€no€lesser€included€offenses€given€in€your€juryÐ #l! Ðinstructions.€€Did€you€ever€request€[trial€counsel]€to€argue€forÐ $X" Ðlesser€included€offenses?Ðô$D #Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàSee,€this€is€the€first€time€I€had€ever€been€involved€in€anything€likeÐ Ì&"% Ðthis,€and€I€was€more€reliant€on€[trial€counsel]€.€.€.,€you€know,€to€doÐ ¸'#& Ðwhat€was€needed€to€be€done.€€I€mean,€you€know,€but€I€didnððt€ð!ðÐ ¤(ô#' Ðlike€I€say,€Iððm€still€not€real€up€on€the€law,€but€Iððve€tried€to€learn€asÐ )à$( Ðmuch€as€I€can.Ð|*Ì%)Œ xŒ x ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàWell,€do€you€recall€ever€discussing€that€issue€before€the€trial?аŒ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàNo,€sir.Ј، xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàOr€during€the€trial,€was€it€discussed?Ð`°Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàNo,€sir.€€Well,€yes,€I€believe€[trial€counsel]€was€saying€during€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðtrial€that€he€didnððt€want€no€lesser€includeds.€€It€was€either€rape€orÐ $ t Ðnothing.Ð `Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàWere€you€in€agreement€with€that?Ðè 8 Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàWell,€when€he€read€that,€that€was€before€the€Court€and€everybodyÐ À  Ðand€it€was€like€I€didnððt€understand€that,€but€like€I€say,€he€keptÐ ¬ü  Ðtelling€me€that€everything€was€going€good,€and€so€I€just€kind€ofÐ ˜è  Ðput€my€trust€in€him.Ð„Ô Œ xŒ x ÐÌà  àThe€petitionerððs€trial€counsel€testified€that€he€had€been€licensed€to€practice€law€in€1966,€andÐ \¬ Ðhis€practice€consisted€of€ð ðpredominantly€criminal€defense€work€with€a€particular€emphasis€uponÐ H˜ Ðcrimes€of€violence€such€as€sexual€assaults,€murder,€as€opposed€to€white€collar„type€criminal€matters.ððÐ 4„ ÐHe€said€that€ð ðquite€a€fewðð€of€his€cases€resulted€in€jury€trials.€€Trial€counsel€described€the€stance€takenÐ  p Ðby€the€defendant€as€to€the€charge:Ð  \ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àThe€defense€position€was€that€Mr.€Stephens€was€not€guilty.€€HeÐ ä4 Ðfelt€so€strongly€about€that€that€there€was€really€no€factual€foundationÐ Ð  Ðfor€any€lesser€included€instruction,€and€if€my€memory€is€correct,€itÐ ¼  Ðwas€my€position€and€Mr.€Stephensðð€position€that€this€was€either€guiltyÐ ¨ø Ðor€not€guilty;€that€he€was€indeed€simply€not€guilty€of€any€misconductÐ ”ä Ðwith€his€son,€so€therefore,€there€certainly€would€not€have€been€anyÐ €Ð Ðargument€as€to€lesser€included€offense.Ðl¼` x` x ÐÌà  àAs€to€whether€the€State€had€presented€a€proposal€to€settle€the€matter,€trial€counsel€testified:Ð D!” ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àWell,€I€donððt€recall€the€details€of€the€offer,€but€anytime€I€receivedÐ #l! Ðan€offer,€I€would€convey€it€to€my€client.€€This€was€a€case,€however,Ð $X" Ðthat€it€was€clear€was€going€to€go€to€trial€since€Mr.€Stephens,€I€thought,Ð ô$D # Ðvery€convincingly€indicated€that€he€was€not€guilty,€so€I€conveyed€theÐ à%0!$ Ðoffer,€whatever€it€may€have€been,€to€Mr.€Stephens,€but€he€rejected€theÐ Ì&"% Ðoffer,€and€I€think€based€upon€his€belief€that€he€was€not€guilty,€thereÐ ¸'#& Ðwas€never€any€undue€pressure€put€by€me€upon€him€to€go€ahead€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðplead€guilty.Ð)à$(` x` x Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àDuring€cross„examination,€trial€counsel€was€questioned€as€to€whether€he€had€discussed€theÐ ° Ðâ âmatter€of€lesser„included€offenses€with€the€petitioner:Ð œì ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàDid€Mr.€Stephens€at€any€time€toward€the€end€of€the€trial€make€anyÐ tÄ Ðindication€to€you€that€he€had€a€problem€with€you€not€requestingÐ `° Ðlesser€included€offenses?ÐL œŒ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàI€do€not€recall€that.€€Normally,€a€defendant€would€not€make€thatÐ $ t Ðcomment€to€his€attorney.€€I€donððt€remember€in€this€particular€case,Ð  ` Ðbut€it€was€always€clear€to€Mr.€Stephens€that€this€was€a€case€thatÐ ü L  Ðour€position€was€he€did€not€do€it,€and€I€was€certainly€going€to€shyÐ è 8  Ðaway€from€indicating€that€he€was€not€guilty,€but€if€he€did€do€it,€itÐ Ô$  Ðwasnððt€as€serious€as€the€State€indicated.€€It€was€kind€of€either€heÐ À  Ðis€not€guilty€or€he€is€guilty.€€In€this€case,€there€was€no€effort€madeÐ ¬ü  Ðto€convince€the€jury€that€it€should€be€a€lesser€included€offense.Ð˜è Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0Œ ` x` xàAnd€was€that€issue€ever€discussed€with€Mr.€Stephens€prior€to€theÐ pÀ Ðtrial?Ð\¬Œ xŒ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0Œ ` x` xàI€donððt€have€any€independent€memory.€€I€believe€in€this€case,Ð 4„ Ðbased€upon€our€defense,€that€it€probably€was€discussed,€but€I€doÐ  p Ðnot€have€an€independent€memory€at€this€time.Ð \Œ xŒ x ÐÌà  àFollowing€the€hearing€on€the€post„conviction€petition,€the€court€made€written€findings€of€factÐ ä4 Ðand€conclusions€of€law.€€As€to€the€issue€of€whether€trial€counsel€had€conveyed€to€the€petitioner€anyÐ Ð  Ðguilty€plea€offers€from€the€State,€the€post„conviction€court€found:Ð ¼  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ à[Trial€counsel]€further€testified€that,€even€knowing€that€the€matterÐ ”ä Ðwould€proceed€to€trial,€anytime€he€received€a€plea€offer€from€the€StateÐ €Ð Ðthat€he€would€convey€the€same€to€the€petitioner.€€He€also€testified€thatÐ l¼ Ðthe€petitioner€always€rejected€any€offer€and€that€he€put€no€pressure€onÐ X ¨ Ðthe€petitioner€to€plead€guilty.€€[Trial€counsel]€also€testified€that,€sinceÐ D!” Ðthe€petitionerððs€position€was€that€he€was€not€guilty,€that€there€wouldÐ 0"€  Ðbe€no€factual€foundation€for€a€lesser„included€offense.€€As€footnotedÐ #l! Ðabove,€nevertheless,€[trial€counsel]€did€file€a€motion€for€just€such€aÐ $X" Ðjury€instruction.Ðô$D #` x` x ÐÌThe€earlier€footnote€in€the€findings€of€the€post„conviction€court€states€as€follows:€€ð ðThe€court€recordÐ Ì&"% Ðcontains€a€Request€for€Range€of€Punishment€Instruction€as€to€the€indicted€offense€and€as€to€allÐ ¸'#& Ðproperly€included€lesser€offenses€filed€by€[trial€counsel].ðð€€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àAdditionally,€the€post„conviction€court€made€a€credibility€determination€as€to€the€conflictsÐ |*Ì%) Ðin€testimony€between€the€petitioner€and€trial€counsel:Ð h+¸&* Їà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àConcluding€that€[trial€counsel]€is€more€credible€in€this€regard€thanÐ ° Ðthe€Petitioner,€this€Court€finds€that€the€petitioner€has€also€failed€toÐ œì Ðcarry€his€burden€of€proof€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€on€thisÐ ˆØ Ðissue.€€This€Court€find[s]€that€[trial€counsel]€kept€the€petitionerÐ tÄ Ðinformed€about€his€case,€counseled€the€petitioner€of€all€developmentsÐ `° Ðin€his€case,€and€properly€preserved€the€petitionerððs€rights.€€TheÐ L œ Ðpetitioner€has€also€failed€to€demonstrate€any€prejudice€suffered€as€aÐ 8 ˆ Ðresult€of€[trial€counselððs]€representation€on€this€issue.€€This€CourtÐ $ t Ðtherefore€finds€that€this€issue€is€without€merit€and€that€it€is€herebyÐ  ` Ðdenied.€€Ðü L ` x` x ÐÌò òòòÓ  ÓANALYSISó óóóÐ Ô$  ÐÌò òIneffective€Assistance€of€Counseló óÐ ¬ü  ÐÓnSÓÌà  àThe€standard€of€review€which€we€apply€was€set€out€in€òòFields€v.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,€456Ð „Ô  Ð(Tenn.€2001):Ð pÀ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà Œ àThe€standard€of€appellate€review€applied€to€ineffective€assistanceÐ H˜ Ðclaims€has€always€been€that€a€trial€court's€findings€of€fact€are€entitledÐ 4„ Ðto€substantial€deference€on€appeal€unless€the€evidence€preponderatesÐ  p Ðagainst€those€findings.€€òòSeeóó€òòHenley€v.€Stateóó,€960€S.W.2d€572,€579Ð  \ Ð(Tenn.€1997);€òòTidwell€v.€Stateóó,€922€S.W.2d€497,€500€(Tenn.€1996).€Ð øH ÐUnder€this€standard,€appellate€courts€do€not€reweigh€or€re„evaluateÐ ä4 Ðthe€evidence€or€substitute€their€own€inferences€for€those€drawn€by€theÐ Ð  Ðtrial€court.€€òòHenleyóó,€960€S.W.2d€at€579.€€Furthermore,€questionsÐ ¼  Ðconcerning€the€credibility€of€the€witnesses,€the€weight€and€value€to€beÐ ¨ø Ðgiven€their€testimony,€and€the€factual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence€areÐ ”ä Ðto€be€resolved€by€the€trial€judge.€€òòId.óóЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà  àÔ#†XqXXXq· #ÔÔ‡XqXXXqÔò òòòóóó óIn€order€to€determine€the€competence€of€counsel,€Tennessee€courts€have€applied€standardsÐ X ¨ Ðdeveloped€in€federal€case€law.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Tayloróó,€968€S.W.2d€900,€905€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997)òòóóÐ D!” Ð(noting€that€the€same€standard€for€determining€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€that€is€applied€inÐ 0"€  Ðfederal€cases€also€applies€in€Tennessee).€€The€United€States€Supreme€Court€articulated€the€standardÐ #l! Ðin€òòStrickland€v.€Washingtonóó,€466€U.S.€668,€104€S.€Ct.€2052,€80€L.€Ed.€2d€674€(1984),€which€isÐ $X" Ðwidely€accepted€as€the€appropriate€standard€for€all€claims€of€a€convicted€petitioner€that€counselððsÐ ô$D # Ðassistance€was€defective.€€The€standard€is€firmly€grounded€in€the€belief€that€counsel€plays€a€role€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðis€ð ðcritical€to€the€ability€of€the€adversarial€system€to€produce€just€results.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€685,€104€S.€Ct.€atÐ Ì&"% Ð2063.€The€òòStricklandóó€standard€is€a€two„prong€test:Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àFirst,€the€defendant€must€show€that€counselððs€performance€wasÐ )à$( Ðdeficient.€€This€requires€showing€that€counsel€made€errors€so€seriousÐ |*Ì%) Ðthat€counsel€was€not€functioning€as€the€ð ðcounselðð€guaranteed€theÐ h+¸&* Ðdefendant€by€the€Sixth€Amendment.€€Second,€the€defendant€mustÐ ° Ðshow€that€the€deficient€performance€prejudiced€the€defense.€€ThisÐ œì Ðrequires€showing€that€counselððs€errors€were€so€serious€as€to€depriveÐ ˆØ Ðthe€defendant€of€a€fair€trial,€a€trial€whose€result€is€reliable.ÐtÄ` x` x ÐÌòòId.óó€at€687,€104€S.€Ct.€at€2064.€€The€òòStricklandóó€Court€further€explained€the€meaning€of€ð ðdeficientÐ L œ Ðperformanceðð€in€the€first€prong€of€the€test€in€the€following€way:Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIn€any€case€presenting€an€ineffectiveness€claim,€the€performanceÐ  ` Ðinquiry€must€be€whether€counselððs€assistance€was€reasonableÐ ü L  Ðconsidering€all€the€circumstances.€.€.€.€€No€particular€set€of€detailedÐ è 8  Ðrules€for€counselððs€conduct€can€satisfactorily€take€account€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðvariety€of€circumstances€faced€by€defense€counsel€or€the€range€ofÐ À  Ðlegitimate€decisions€regarding€how€best€to€represent€a€criminalÐ ¬ü  Ðdefendant.Иè ` x` x ÐÌòòId.óó€at€688„89,€104€S.€Ct.€at€2065.€€The€petitioner€must€establish€ð ðthat€counselððs€representation€fellÐ pÀ Ðbelow€an€objective€standard€of€reasonableness€under€prevailing€professional€norms.ðð€€€òòHouse€v.Ð \¬ ÐStateóó,€44€S.W.3d€508,€515€(Tenn.€2001)€(citing€òòGoad€v.€Stateóó,€938€S.W.2d€363,€369€(Tenn.€1996)).Ð H˜ ÐÌà  à€As€for€the€prejudice€prong€of€the€test,€the€òòStricklandóó€Court€stated:€ð ðThe€defendant€must€showÐ  p Ðthat€there€is€a€reasonable€probability€that,€but€for€counselððs€unprofessional€errors,€the€result€of€theÐ  \ Ðproceeding€would€have€been€different.€€A€reasonable€probability€is€a€probability€sufficient€toÐ øH Ðundermine€confidence€in€the€outcome.ðð€€òòóó466€U.S.€at€694,€104€S.€Ct.€at€2068;€òòsee€alsoóó€òòOverton€v.Ð ä4 ÐStateóó,€874€S.W.2d€6,€11€(Tenn.€1994)€(concluding€that€petitioner€failed€to€establish€that€ð ðthere€is€aÐ Ð  Ðreasonable€probability€that,€but€for€counselððs€errors,€the€outcome€of€the€proceedings€would€have€beenÐ ¼  Ðdifferentðð).Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àòòóóCourts€need€not€approach€the€òòStricklandóó€test€in€a€specific€order€or€even€ð ðaddress€bothÐ €Ð Ðcomponents€of€the€inquiry€if€the€defendant€makes€an€insufficient€showing€on€one.ðð€€466€U.S.€at€697,Ð l¼ Ð104€S.€Ct.€at€2069;€òòsee€alsoóó€òòGoadóó,€938€S.W.2d€at€370€(stating€that€ð ðfailure€to€prove€either€deficiencyÐ X ¨ Ðor€prejudice€provides€a€sufficient€basis€to€deny€relief€on€the€ineffective€assistance€claimðð).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àBy€statute€in€Tennessee,€the€petitioner€at€a€post„conviction€relief€hearing€has€the€burden€ofÐ #l! Ðproving€the€allegations€of€fact€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„30„Ð $X" Ð210(f)€(1997).€€A€petition€based€on€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€is€a€single€ground€for€relief,Ð ô$D # Ðtherefore€all€factual€allegations€must€be€presented€in€one€claim.€€òòSeeóó€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„30„Ð à%0!$ Ð206(d)€(1997).€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àWe€note€that€when€post„conviction€proceedings€have€included€a€full€evidentiary€hearing,€asÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwas€true€in€this€case,€the€trial€judgeððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€given€the€effect€andÐ )à$( Ðweight€of€a€jury€verdict,€and€this€court€is€ð ðbound€by€the€trial€judgeððs€findings€of€fact€unless€weÐ |*Ì%) Ðconclude€that€the€evidence€contained€in€the€record€preponderates€against€the€judgment€entered€in€theÐ h+¸&* Ðcause.ðð€€òòBlack€v.€Stateóó,€794€S.W.2d€752,€755€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990)òòóó.€€The€reviewing€court€mustÐ ° Ðindulge€a€strong€presumption€that€the€conduct€of€counsel€falls€within€the€range€of€reasonableÐ œì Ðprofessional€assistance,€òòseeóó€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€690,€104€S.€Ct.€at€2066,€and€may€not€second„Ð ˆØ Ðguess€the€tactical€and€strategic€choices€made€by€trial€counsel€unless€those€choices€were€uninformedÐ tÄ Ðbecause€of€inadequate€preparation.€€òòSeeóó€òòHellard€v.€Stateóó,€629€S.W.2d€4,€9€(Tenn.€1982).€€The€factÐ `° Ðthat€a€strategy€or€tactic€failed€or€hurt€the€defense€does€not€alone€support€the€claim€of€ineffectiveÐ L œ Ðassistance€of€counsel.€€òòSeeóó€òòThompson€v.€Stateóó,€958€S.W.2d€156,€165€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997).Ð 8 ˆ ÐFinally,€a€person€charged€with€a€criminal€offense€is€not€entitled€to€perfect€representation.€€òòSeeóóÐ $ t ÐòòDenton€v.€Stateóó,€945€S.W.2d€793,€796€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1996).€€As€explained€in€òòState€v.€Burnsóó,€6Ð  ` ÐS.W.3d€453,€462€(Tenn.€1999),€ð ð[c]onduct€that€is€unreasonable€under€the€facts€of€one€case€may€beÐ ü L  Ðperfectly€reasonable€under€the€facts€of€another.ððÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àWe€now€will€consider€the€two€issues€presented€in€this€appeal.Ð À  ÐÌò òó óà  àThe€petitionerððs€first€claim€was€that€while€trial€counsel€ð ða€couple€of€timesðð€conveyed€guiltyÐ ˜è  Ðplea€offers€of€ð ð10€to€12€years,ðð€he€did€not€convey€an€offer€of€ð ðnine€at€thirty,ðð€but€that€counsel,€uponÐ „Ô  Ðhis€own€initiative,€and€without€advising€the€petitioner,€rejected€this€offer.€€Trial€counsel,€however,Ð pÀ Ðtestified€that€ð ðanytime€[he]€received€an€offer,€[he]€would€convey€it€toðð€the€petitioner.€€He€said€thatÐ \¬ Ðthe€petitioner€ð ðrejectedðð€the€offer,€and€he€thought€ð ðthat€it€was€clear€[the€case]€was€going€to€go€to€trialÐ H˜ Ðsince€[the€petitioner]€.€.€.€very€convincingly€indicated€that€he€was€not€guilty.ðð€€The€post„convictionÐ 4„ Ðcourt€heard€the€conflicting€testimony€on€this€issue€and,€finding€trial€counsel€more€credible€than€theÐ  p Ðpetitioner,€concluded€that€the€petitioner€had€failed€to€carry€the€burden€of€proof€on€this€claim.€Ð  \ ÐÌò òó óà  àThe€petitionerððs€second€claim€is€that€ð ð[c]ounsel€was€ineffective€for€not€requesting€a€juryÐ ä4 Ðinstruction€as€to€the€lesser€included€offenseðð€of€aggravated€sexual€battery.€€As€to€this€issue,€the€post„Ð Ð  Ðconviction€court€determined€that€ð ð[t]he€court€record€contains€a€Request€for€Range€of€PunishmentÐ ¼  ÐInstruction€as€to€the€indicted€offense€and€as€to€all€properly€included€lesser€offenses€filed€by€[trialÐ ¨ø Ðcounsel].ðð€€The€record€on€appeal€does€not€include€the€instructions€given€by€the€court€at€theÐ ”ä Ðconclusion€of€the€petitionerððs€trial.€€Thus,€we€do€not€know€what€lesser„included€offenses,€if€any,€wereÐ €Ð Ðcharged.€€However,€this€claim€still€must€fail,€because€it€was€the€responsibility€of€the€trial€court€toÐ l¼ Ðinstruct€as€to€appropriate€lesser„included€offenses€regardless€of€what,€if€any,€lesser„included€offensesÐ X ¨ Ðcounsel€asked€to€be€included€in€the€jury€instructions.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„18„110(a)€(1997).€Ð D!” ÐAs€was€explained€in€òòYasmond€Fenderson€v.€Stateóó,€No.€E2001„01088„CCA„R3„PC,€2002€WLÐ 0"€  Ð832205,€at€*5€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€May€2,€2002),€òòperm.€to€appeal€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Oct.€7,€2002),€inÐ #l! Ðresolution€of€a€similar€claim,€the€ð ðobligation€to€instruct€as€to€these€lesser-included€offenses€wasÐ $X" Ðfree-standing€and€not€dependent€upon€the€defendant's€request€for€the€instructions.ðð€òòóó€Additionally,€weÐ ô$D # Ðnote€that€the€petitioner€did€not€allege€or€offer€proof€in€the€post„conviction€hearing€that€his€counselÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€ineffective€by€failing€to€raise€the€lesser„included€offense€issue€on€appeal.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àAs€to€his€first€claim,€that€trial€counsel,€himself,€rejected€an€offer€of€nine€years€at€thirtyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpercent,€the€post„conviction€court€accredited€the€testimony€of€trial€counsel€who€denied€that€this€hadÐ )à$( Ðoccurred.€€The€second€claim,€that€trial€counsel€neglected€to€request€that€a€lesser„included€offense€beÐ |*Ì%) Ðcharged,€is€refuted€by€the€record€as€cited€by€the€post„conviction€court;€but,€even€if€true,€it€would€notÐ h+¸&* Ðentitle€the€petitioner€to€post„conviction€relief.€€It€is€the€responsibility€of€the€trial€court€to€instruct€asÐ ° Ðto€lesser„included€offenses,€and€this€duty€is€not€dependent€upon€an€appropriate€request€from€trialÐ œì Ðcounsel.€€Thus,€as€to€both€of€these€claims,€the€post„conviction€court€determined€that€the€petitionerÐ ˆØ Ðdid€not€establish€either€that€trial€counsel€was€ineffective€or€that€he€was€prejudiced€by€any€action€orÐ tÄ Ðinaction€of€trial€counsel.€€à ä àAs€to€both€of€the€petitionerððs€claims,€the€record€fully€supports€theÐ `° Ðconclusions€of€the€post„conviction€court€and€its€findings€that€the€petitioner€failed€to€establish€eitherÐ L œ Ðthat€trial€counsel€was€ineffective€or€that€he€was€prejudiced€thereby.€€Ô#†XqXXXqÉX#ÔÔ‡XqXXXqÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà@FF%ìàò òòòCONCLUSIONóóó óˆÐ  ` ÐÌà  àBased€upon€the€foregoing€authorities€and€reasoning,€we€affirm€the€order€of€the€post„Ð è 8  Ðconviction€court€denying€relief.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌÔ#†XqXXXqˆƒ#ÔÌà  àà ` àà Œ àà ä àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ˜è  Ðà  àà ` àà Œ àà ä àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€GLENN,€JUDGE