ÿWPC”  ]Pš¸ôÈÿ†á}Zuÿy@l«¸ÐÈáçÙxœÍu…Whðÿá*g(8‘Ç &npÀ/âQ‘õ!Nr•vu-¨W•RSξ`{ÕüŽn,Ö6ЇüåBVÎßH3žÆ¤ÜnN›¨9ó{4ª£˜ @u}}Ý3H¹èa6IBà‡>éÌMÖZŠùLzè”dw¢¨Øs*|F@Ÿ  Úï«÷æ1øFxþõfoVtË*fšÇòé¿KÓôdÕ“äA4¤óŠVÉÁQ⫇¶¡ˆþ‹}¹r«Ãr¡ØhBh´~ŒØ_OBÞ½ùÛÕí<1±x±æ¹1åç)¹R”Ú‘âR~êüµÇ¾ ‘–ÞLbMo:/ŸquD0I/ô44÷IÍQñ×5âD¿(U€=lм„šYt¡ ¦^yÊ/Iaù¤P†SÕü[½Òùìü¬?ÝDû1ÿÔ=suÍYš\íÏ_3‘Bx™y ð÷ÙÚ¡ýˆãAš¹ 7õ®+äæôòænÚw‰°CT~^ƒôÿPë»/Ó+¯d$E$bW#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß ß ^  w% 4) = L mN be e m m m m m m m m Eu u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u Bw ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô§z—/Ï  ~‰/ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-  dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ‡îÏWîXXÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑ  Ñà@hhìàINÔ_Ô€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†XlXîîÏWM#ÔÔ‡»9»XXlԈРÓ# ÐÔ_Ôà@„ „ ìàAssigned€on€Briefs€August€5,€2003ˆÐ öF ÐÔ#†XlX»»9<#ÔÔ‡»9»XXlÔÌÔ_Ôà@t t ìàò òWILLIAM€TERRY€v.€STATE€OF€TENNESSEEó óˆÐ  f ÐÌÔ#†XlX»»9í#Ôà@, , ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Shelby€CountyˆÐ 7 ‡ Ðà@K K ìàNo.€P„26624€€€€€€Bernie€Ô_ÔWeinmanÔ_Ô,€JudgeˆÐ ! q ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Þ` A߈Ð ß/  ÐÌà@6 6 ìàNo.€W2003„00218„CCA„R3„PC€Ô_Ô€„€Filed€December€17,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ÔÔ_ԈРØ(  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<«` Aßó óÐ ¬ü  ÐÌÓ  ÓPetitioner,€William€Terry,€appeals€the€post„conviction€courtððs€denial€of€his€petition€for€postÔ_Ô„Ð ¤ô  ÐconvictionÔ_Ô€relief.€€Petitioner€argues€that€the€post„conviction€court€erred€in€finding€that€PetitionerððsÐ Ý Ðplea€of€guilty€was€voluntary€and€knowing€and€in€finding€that€Petitionerððs€trial€counsel€renderedÐ vÆ Ðeffective€assistance€of€counsel€prior€to€and€during€plea€negotiations.€€For€the€reasons€discussedÐ _¯ Ðherein,€we€affirm€the€post„conviction€courtððs€dismissal€of€the€petition€for€post„conviction€relief.€Ð H˜ ÐÌà@ìàò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€Affirmedó óˆÐ j ÐÌÔ_ÔòòThomas€T.€Woodall,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòNorma€McGee€Ogleóó€andÐ í= ÐòòRobert€W.€Wedemeyer,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð Ö& ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_ÔRobert€Wilson€Jones,€District€Public€Defender;€KarenÔ_Ô€Massey,€Assistant€Public€Ô_ÔDefender;€andÔ_Ô€W.Ð ¨ø ÐMark€Ward,€Assistant€Public€Ô_ÔDefenderÔ_Ô€for€the€appellant,€William€Terry.Ð ‘á ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€Ô_ÔHelena€Walton€Yarbrough,€AssistantÔ_Ô€AttorneyÐ c³ ÐGeneral,€Ô_ÔWilliam€L.€Gibbons,€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔDistrictÔ_Ô€Attorney€General,€and€Ô_ÔEmily€Campbell,€AssistantÔ_Ô€DistrictÐ L œ ÐAttorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð 5!…  ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà@55'ìàò òOPINIONÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôó óˆÐ #W" ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà  àPetitionerÔ_Ô€was€initially€indicted€for€the€offense€of€rape€of€a€child,€a€Class€A€felony.€€PursuantÐ Ú$* $ Ðto€a€plea€agreement€with€the€State,€Petitioner€agreed€to€plead€guilty€to€the€lesserÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔÔ_ÔincludedÔ_Ô€offenseÐ Ã%!% Ðof€aggravated€sexual€battery,€a€Class€B€felony.€€Following€a€plea€submission€hearing,€the€trial€courtÐ ¬&ü!& Ðaccepted€Petitionerððs€plea€of€guilty€and€sentenced€him€to€nine€years€in€the€Tennessee€DepartmentÐ •'å"' Ðof€Correction.€€Petitioner€then€filed€a€pro€se€post„conviction€petition.€€As€later€amended,€the€petitionÐ ~(Î#( Ðalleged€that€his€trial€counsel,€William€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô,€rendered€ineffective€assistance€during€the€negotiationÐ g)·$) Ðand€entry€of€Petitionerððs€plea€of€guilty€and€that€his€plea€was€unknowing€and€involuntary.€€FollowingÐ P* %* Ða€post„conviction€hearing,€the€post„conviction€court€found€that€Petitioner€freely€and€voluntarilyÐ 9+‰&+ Ðentered€a€plea€of€guilty€after€being€fully€advised€of€all€of€his€rights€by€both€the€trial€court€and€hisÐ ",r', Ðâ âcounsel.€€Furthermore,€the€post„conviction€court€found€that€Petitionerððs€counsel€rendered€effectiveÐ  -[(- Ðassistance€of€counsel€during€his€representation€of€Petitioner.€€The€post„conviction€court€deniedÐ ° ÐPetitionerððs€petition€for€post„conviction€Ô_Ôrelief.Ð ™é Ðâ âÔ_ÔÌà  àAt€the€post„conviction€hearing,€Petitioner€testified€that€he€did€not€understand€the€proceedingsÐ k» Ðsurrounding€his€plea€submission€hearing.€€During€plea€negotiations,€Petitioner€initially€agreed€toÐ T¤ Ðplead€guilty€to€rape.€€The€trial€court,€however,€rejected€this€plea€agreement€because€rape€was€not€aÐ =  ÐÔ_Ôlesser„includedÔ_Ô€offense€of€the€offense€of€rape€of€a€child.€€As€a€result€of€further€negotiations,Ð & v ÐPetitioner€believed€that€he€entered€a€plea€of€guilty€to€sexual€battery,€not€aggravated€sexual€battery,Ð  _ Ðthe€offense€for€which€he€was€ultimately€convicted.€€Petitioner€said€that€his€counsel€never€discussedÐ ø H Ðthe€elements€of€aggravated€sexual€battery€with€him,€and€that€he€never€signed€any€ð ðpaperworkððÐ á 1  Ðindicating€that€he€pleaded€guilty€to€this€offense.€€Petitioner€explained€that€he€was€on€medication€atÐ Ê   Ðthe€time€of€the€plea€submission€Ô_ÔhearingÔ_Ô€which€made€him€feel€sleepy€and€ð ðspaced€out.ðð€€PetitionerÐ ³  Ðsaid€that€his€counsel€never€asked€him€whether€he€should€order€a€mental€evaluation.€€Petitioner€saidÐ œì  Ðthat€his€counsel€only€visited€him€twice€while€he€was€in€jail€awaiting€trial€and€that€his€counsel€neverÐ …Õ  Ðresponded€to€any€of€his€numerous€letters.Ð n¾  ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àOn€cross„examination,€Petitioner€admitted€that€he€did€not€tell€his€counsel€that€he€was€takingÐ @ Ðmedication€at€the€time€of€the€plea€submission€hearing€and€that€he€never€suggested€that€his€counselÐ )y Ðshould€request€a€mental€evaluation.€€Petitioner€also€insisted€that€the€DNA€test€taken€as€a€result€ofÐ b Ðthe€charged€offense€indicated€that€there€was€only€a€fifty€percent€possibility€that€he€was€the€father€ofÐ ûK Ðthe€twelve„year„old€victimððs€baby.Ð ä4 ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àMr.€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€testified€that€he€thoroughly€explained€the€elements€of€the€charged€offense€toÐ ¶ ÐPetitioner€who€had€difficulty€understanding€that€he€could€be€charged€with€the€offense€of€rape€of€aÐ Ÿï Ðchild€even€though€his€sexual€relationship€with€the€twelve„year„old€victim€was€consensual.€€€Mr.Ð ˆØ ÐÔ_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€also€explained€the€elements€of€aggravated€sexual€battery€which€formed€the€basis€ofÐ qÁ ÐPetitionerððs€plea€agreement€and€met€with€Petitioner€several€times€during€the€pendency€of€his€trial.€Ð Zª ÐAlthough€Mr.€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€explored€potential€defenses€with€Petitioner,€he€did€not€feel€any€wereÐ C“ Ðapplicable.€€Ô_ÔTheÔ_Ô€DNA€tests€reflected€that€there€was€a€99.99%€possibility€that€Petitioner€was€theÐ ,| Ðfather€of€the€victimððs€child,€and€Petitioner€had€paid€child€support€to€the€victim€for€a€year€prior€to€hisÐ e Ðarrest€for€the€offense€of€rape€of€a€child.€Ð þN ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àAfter€he€received€the€DNA€results,€Mr.€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€asked€the€district€attorney€to€reduce€theÐ Ð!   Ðcharges€against€Petitioner,€but€this€effort€was€initially€unsuccessful.€€Eventually,€however,€the€StateÐ ¹" ! Ðoffered€a€plea€agreement€to€Petitioner€whereby€Petitioner€would€plead€guilty€to€rape€with€aÐ ¢#ò" Ðrecommended€sentence€of€nine€years.€€Because€Petitioner€was€initially€facing€a€sentencing€range€ofÐ ‹$Û# Ðfifteen€to€twenty„five€years€for€rape€of€a€child,€Mr.€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€advised€Petitioner€to€accept€the€pleaÐ t%Ä $ Ðagreement.€€After€the€trial€court€rejected€the€plea€agreement,€Petitioner€then€agreed€to€plead€guiltyÐ ]&­!% Ðto€aggravated€sexual€battery€with€the€same€recommended€sentence.Ð F'–"& ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àMr.€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€said€that€Petitioner€had€never€shown€any€signs€of€mental€illness€or€drug„relatedÐ )h$( Ðproblems€during€the€period€of€his€representation.€€He€said€that€Petitioner€worked€every€day€and€livedÐ *Q%) Ðð ða€normal€lifeðð€prior€to€his€incarceration.€€Petitioner€did€not€tell€Mr.€Ô_ÔGosnellÔ_Ô€that€he€was€takingÐ ê*:&* ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔElavilÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€at€the€time€of€the€plea€submission€hearing,€but€Petitioner€did€not€appear€to€be€under€theÐ Ó+#'+ Ðinfluence€of€medication€at€the€hearing€and€appeared€to€understand€all€of€the€proceedings.€€PetitionerÐ ¼, (, Ðalso€Ô_Ônever€raisedÔ_Ô€an€issue€concerning€any€mental€problems€he€might€Ô_Ôhave.Ð ¥-õ(- ÐÔ_ÔÔ_Ô‡Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà  àAt€the€plea€submission€hearing,€the€trial€court€questioned€Petitioner€as€required€by€Rule€11Ð ° Ðof€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Criminal€Procedure.€€The€trial€court€reviewed€the€elements€of€the€offenseÐ ™é Ðof€aggravated€sexual€battery,€and€Petitioner€responded€that€he€understood€the€nature€of€the€chargesÐ ‚Ò Ðagainst€him.€€Petitioner€said€that€he€understood€that€by€pleading€guilty€he€was€giving€up€his€right€toÐ k» Ða€trial€by€a€jury€and€his€right€to€testify.€€Petitioner€also€said€that€he€understood€he€was€giving€up€hisÐ T¤ Ðright€to€appeal€his€conviction€by€entering€a€plea€of€guilty.€€Petitioner€said€that€he€was€entering€hisÐ =  Ðplea€of€guilty€freely€and€voluntarily€without€any€threats€or€promises.Ð & v ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àThe€post„conviction€court€found€that€Petitioner€understood€the€ramifications€of€entering€aÐ ø H Ðplea€of€guilty€and€that€his€plea€was€freely€and€voluntarily€given.€€In€addition,€the€post„convictionÐ á 1  Ðcourt€found€that€Petitioner€understood€the€proceedings,€and€that€his€counsel€thoroughly€investigatedÐ Ê   Ðand€explained€the€charges€against€him.€€The€post„conviction€court€found€that€Petitioner€wasÐ ³  Ðcompetent€at€the€time€he€entered€his€plea€of€guilty€and€found€no€evidence€that€Petitioner€Ô_ÔwasÔ_ÔÐ œì  Ðmentally€incompetent€at€the€time€of€the€offense.€€The€post„conviction€court€found€that€PetitionerÐ …Õ  Ðentered€into€the€plea€agreement€ð ðto€avoid€receiving€greater€punishment€if€found€guilty€at€trial.ððÐ n¾  ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àA€petitioner€seeking€post„conviction€relief€must€establish€his€allegations€by€clear€andÐ @ Ðconvincing€evidence.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ô_ÔððÔ_Ô€40„30„210(f).€€The€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€in€a€post„Ð )y Ðconviction€hearing€are€afforded€the€weight€of€a€jury€verdict.€€Ô_ÔòòBlackÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,€794€S.W.2d€752,€755Ð b Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990),€òòperm.€to€appeal€denied€óó(Tenn.€1990).€Therefore,€this€Court€€may€not€re„Ð ûK Ðweigh€or€re„evaluate€these€findings€nor€substitute€its€inferences€for€that€of€the€trial€judge€unless€theÐ ä4 Ðevidence€in€the€record€preponderates€against€those€findings.€€Ô_ÔòòStateÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔHoneycuttÔ_Ôóó,€54€S.W.3d€762,€763Ð Í Ð(Tenn.€2001);€€òòState€v.€Burnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€453,€461€(Tenn.€1999).€€In€addition,€questions€concerningÐ ¶ Ðthe€credibility€of€witnesses€and€the€weight€and€value€given€their€testimony€is€resolved€by€the€post„Ð Ÿï Ðconviction€court,€and€not€this€Court.€€òòIdóó.€€However,€the€trial€courtððs€application€of€the€law€to€the€factsÐ ˆØ Ðis€reviewed€de€novo,€without€a€presumption€of€correctness.€òòFields€v.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,€458Ð qÁ Ð(Tenn.€2001).€A€claim€that€counsel€rendered€ineffective€assistance€is€a€mixed€question€of€fact€andÐ Zª Ðlaw€and€therefore€also€subject€to€de€novo€review.€€Ô_ÔòòId.óó;Ô_Ô€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461.Ð C“ ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àWhen€a€petitioner€seeks€post„conviction€relief€on€the€basis€of€ineffective€assistance€ofÐ e Ðcounsel,€he€must€establish€that€counselððs€performance€fell€below€ð ðthe€range€of€competenceÐ þN Ðdemanded€of€attorneys€in€criminal€cases.ðð€€òòBaxter€v.€Roseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975).€€InÐ ç 7 Ðaddition,€he€must€show€that€counselððs€ineffective€performance€actually€adversely€impacted€hisÐ Ð!   Ðdefense.€€òòÔ_ÔStricklandÔ_Ô€v.€Washingtonóó,€466€U.S.€668,€693,€104€Ô_ÔS.CtÔ_Ô.€2052,€2067,€80€Ô_ÔL.EdÔ_Ô.2d€674Ð ¹" ! ÐÔ_Ô(1984).Ô_Ô€€In€other€words,€a€petitioner€must€show€that€he€or€she€would€not€have€pleaded€guilty€andÐ ¢#ò" Ðwould€have€insisted€on€going€to€trial€had€it€not€been€for€the€deficiencies€in€counselððs€performance.€Ð ‹$Û# ÐòòHill€v.€Ô_ÔLockhartÔ_Ô,€óó474€U.S.€52,€56„57,€106€S.€Ct.€366,€369„70,€88€L.€Ed.€2d€203€(1985).Ð t%Ä $ ÐÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àWhen€an€accused€enters€a€plea€of€guilty€or€a€plea€of€nolo€contendere,€constitutionalÐ F'–"& Ðconsiderations€mandate€that€the€plea€be€voluntarily,€understandingly€and€knowingly€entered.€€òòSeeÐ /(#' ÐÔ_ÔBoykinÔ_Ô€v.€Alabama,óó395€U.S.€238,€243,€89€S.€Ct.€1709,€1713,€23€L.€Ed.€2d€274,€279€(1969);€òòState€v.Ð )h$( ÐNealóó,€810€S.W.2d€131,€134„35€(Tenn.€1991)€òòoverruled€on€other€groundsóó€òòbyóó€òòÔ_ÔBlankenshipÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,Ð *Q%) Ð858€S.W.2d€897,€902€(Tenn.€Ô_Ô1993).Ô_Ô€€A€plea€cannot€be€voluntary€if€the€accused€is€ð ðincompetent€orÐ ê*:&* Ðotherwise€not€in€control€of€his€mental€facilitiesðð€at€the€time€the€plea€is€entered.€€òòÔ_ÔBlankenshipÔ_Ô€v.€Stateóó,Ð Ó+#'+ Ðâ â858€S.W.2d€897,€904„05€(Tenn.€1993)(quoting€òòBrown€v.€Ô_ÔPeriniÔ_Ô,óó€718€F.€2d€784,€788€(6òòthóó€Cir.€1983)).€Ð ¼, (, ÐThe€trial€court€must€ascertain€if€the€defendant€fully€understands€the€significant€consequences€of€hisÐ ° Ðor€her€plea.€€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔPettusÔ_Ôóó,€986€S.W.2d€540,€542€(Tenn.€1977).€€Ð ™é Ðâ âÔ_ÔÌÔ_Ôà  àIn€his€appeal,€Petitioner€points€out€that€he€and€his€counsel€presented€conflicting€testimonyÐ k» Ðconcerning€the€effectiveness€of€counselððs€assistance€prior€to€and€during€the€plea€submission€hearingÐ T¤ Ðas€well€as€the€voluntary€nature€of€his€plea€of€guilty.€€In€essence,€Petitioner€disagrees€with€the€trialÐ =  Ðcourtððs€assessment€of€the€weight€and€credibility€of€the€evidence.€€Petitioner€argues€that€only€he€couldÐ & v Ðknow€what€was€going€on€in€his€mind€during€the€plea€submission€hearing.€€As€a€result,€he€asserts€thatÐ  _ Ðany€conflicts€in€the€testimony€should€be€resolved€in€his€favor.€€We€cannot€agree€with€this€argumentÐ ø H Ðbecause€it€is€contrary€to€well„settled€case€law€that€the€weight€and€credibility€of€the€witnessesððÐ á 1  Ðtestimony€are€entrusted€to€the€post„conviction€court€as€the€trier€of€fact.€€òòSee€State€v.€Sheffieldóó,€676Ð Ê   ÐS.W.2d€542,€547€(Tenn.€1984).€€Based€on€a€careful€review€of€the€record,€we€do€not€find€that€theÐ ³  Ðevidence€preponderates€against€the€post„conviction€courtððs€finding€that€Petitionerððs€plea€wasÐ œì  Ðvoluntarily€and€knowingly€entered€and€that€his€counsel€rendered€effective€assistance€of€counsel.€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÐ …Õ  ÐÌÔ_Ôà@GG%ìàò òCONCLUSIONÔ_ÔÔ_Ôó óˆÐ W§  ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà  àAfter€a€review€of€the€record,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€Petitionerððs€petition€forÐ *z ÐÔ_Ôpost„conviction€relief.Ð c ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à________________________________Ð å5 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àTHOMAS€T.€WOODALLÐ Î Ð