WPC hRPW[2X;A ) $ZdFm:A U?T&|][>_ɢBn$x鑏~$ϱ)0׍g#624ڗ"YX^pM]%}B$5gX4%#xQ{~;Isᝏzn$Y_Yhp~Čr6T_93E0DuEԋ@D_%R|gͰ)uV)6X<|"XbL (";.fpQc]E.fqYo "}: ,Zre6{Ѕu- Z@cu1%Be̳Θت;M3-Nն9%qyADYfbVG$(ıgAr]H2I ^~) it{mdtQ9fP* 4{|_ȳ{Q6@wi B:?# F UNQ % 0( w@ 4 ! 0 U.8 U:f  U: B D3 0D                                                                                  AOX  0Dm D/ BHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($ E{eeӀuM%3|x%2A`ArialTT, AZ"Arial Regular  XK*XXX T8X XK*   Ad FILED XK*X T8  September16,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAM ,cAZ"Arial Regular d%%%%'dxd(3$ !  -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd !  XTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T X XXX  r *<,(j 8` `@E ` 8ttxPX  rߛINTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  ATNASHVILLEAUGUST1998SESSION  DONALDF.WALTON, h   ) 0   `     h   )  No.01C019707CR00273  p   ` APPELLANT, h   ) `   `     h   )  DavidsonCounty P  v. `     h   )   p  @   `     h   )  HonorableSethNorman,Judge 0  STATEOFTENNESSEE, h   )    `     h   )  (PostConviction)   ` APPELLEE.   h   )  FORTHEAPPELLANT: h     FORTHEAPPELLEE: 0 RichardD.Piliponis h     JohnKnoxWalkup ` 209TenthAvenue,South h     AttorneyGeneral&Reporter P Suite511    h     425FifthAvenue,North @ Nashville,TN37203 h     Nashville,TN372430493 0  `     h     DarylJ.Brand `     h     AssistantAttorneyGeneral `     h     425FifthAvenue,North `     h     Nashville,TN372430493 `     h     VictorS.Johnson,III `     h     DistrictAttorneyGeneral `     h     222SecondAvenue,North,Suite500 `     h     Nashville,TN372011649 `     h     KymberlyH.Haas `     h     AssistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral `     h     222SecondAvenue,North,Suite500 `     h     Nashville,TN372011649OPINIONFILED:_____________________________AFFIRMEDL.T.LAFFERTY,SPECIALJUDGE  0948   X X   7XXdXXd7OPINION # X X n #    ` OnJune16,1994,thepetitioner,DonaldF.Walton,pledguiltytomurderseconddegreeandespeciallyaggravatedrobbery.Thepetitionerwassentencedto25years,RangeI,foreachoffense.Thesentencesweretorunconsecutivelyforatotalof50years.InNovember,1994,petitionerfiledaprosepetitionforpostconvictionrelief.Counselwas \  appointed.Anamendedpetitionwasfiledalleging񜛜petitionersattorneyhadtoldhimhecouldmakeparoleafterservingapproximatelysevenandonehalfyearsinconfinement,thusconstitutingineffectiveassistanceofcounsel.AfterahearingonthepetitiononOctober4,1995,theDavidsonCountyCriminalCourtdeniedthepetition.ThisdenialwasappealedtothisCourt.OnJanuary30,1997,thisCourtreversedthetrialcourtandremandedtothetrialcourttodeterminewhetherthepetitionerhadsufficientlysatisfiedthefirstprongrequirementunderStricklandv.Washington,466U.S.668,104S.Ct.2052,80 | L.Ed.2d674(1984).Aftersuchreview,thetrialcourt,again,deniedthepetition.Thesoleissueforourreviewiswhethertheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialcourt.Weaffirmthehearingcourt.  GUILTYPLEAPROCEEDINGS $, " JUNE16,1994   Ӏ ` OnJanuary7,1993,thepetitionerandthreecompanionsagreedtorobtheLas |*%( PalmasRestaurantinNashville,DavidsonCounty.Twocodefendantsstoleacarforthepurposeoftherobbery.Thefourdefendantsleftthepetitionersapartmentandproceededtotherestaurant.Thepetitionerwasarmedwithasawedoffshotgun.Theotherthreepossessedweapons.Onecodefendant,Carey,wenttothefrontoftherestaurantandtookapproximately$500incash.WhenthewaiterdidnotfollowtheordersofCarey,Careyshothiminthechestwithasawedoffshotgun.Duringthisepisodethepoliceweresummonedbya911call;upontheirarrival,thefourcodefendantsfled. |948  ` Twocodefendantswerearrestedshortly,onebeingCarey.CareyconfessedhisinvolvementandimplicatedthepetitionerandaBrown.Subsequently,thepetitionerwasarrestedandgaveastatementtothepoliceabouthisparticipationintherobberyoftherestaurant.Also,thepetitionerassistedthepoliceinrecoveringcertainevidence,includingthepistolusedbyBrown.Ms.Newsome,thepetitionersgirlfriend,wouldhavetestifiedthatthepetitioner,uponreturningtotheapartment,toldherwhathappenedintherestaurant.  POSTCONVICTIONPROCEEDINGS     Ӏ ` Asallegedinthepetitionersamendedpetition,thepetitionercontendshiscounsel p advisedthepetitioner,inthepresenceofthepetitionersparents,thathecouldparoleoutonthefirst25yearsentenceafterapproximatelysevenandonehalfyearsandremainonparolefortheremainderofhisfullsentence,includingtheconsecutive25yearsentence.Further,counseladvisedthepetitionerandhisparentshewouldreceivelifeimprisonmentifhefailedtoacceptthepleabargainproposedbytheState. ` Thepetitionertestifiedthathisprivatelyretainedattorney,Mr.DaleQuillen,discussedwithhimthetypesofsentencestheStatehadrecommended.TheStatewasrecommending25yearsoneachcounttorunconsecutively.Astothelengthofthesentence,hisattorneytoldhimhewoulddosevenandonehalfyears;morespecifically, hetoldmeIwouldonlydosevenyearsandfivemonthsonthefirsttwentyfive,andparoleout,anddotherestofmytwentyfiveyearsentenceonthesecondoneonpaper.Thepetitioneradvisedthetrialcourtthatwasoneofthereasonsheacceptedthepleabargain.Thepetitionertestifiedthatonthisadviceheacceptedthepleabargain.Further,thepetitionertestifiedwithoutthatadvicehewouldhavetakenhiscasetotrial.Also,counselguaranteedthepetitionerthatifhefailedtoacceptthispleabargainhewouldgetlife.Thepetitionertestifiedhiscounselhadconvincedhisfamilythatthepetitionerwouldbeoutinsevenyearsandfivemonths. 0948 Ї ` Inhistestimony,thepetitioneragreedhiscounselwentoverwithhimtheStatesproofshowinghowhewasinvolved.Inaddition,hiscounseldiscussedwiththepetitionerthepetitionersconfessions,includingcopiesofhiscodefendantsconfessions.Thepetitionertestifiedhewasawarethattwocodefendantshadpledguiltyandreceivedlifesentences.Also,thepetitionerwasawarethatthethirdcodefendant,JoeUtley,whohadnotshotthevictim,hadproceededtotrial.Thiscodefendantwasfoundguiltyandreceivedalifesentenceand25yearsconsecutively.Thepetitionerbelievedifhehadgonetotrialhewouldhavebeenfoundnotguilty,sincehedidnotkillanyone.Thepetitionerdeniedthathiscounselinformedhimofanycontacthisattorneyhadwiththeparoleboard. ` Thepetitionersfather,Mr.FrankWalton,aChicagoBoardofEducationmusicteacher,advisedthetrialcourtheandhiswiferetainedcounsel,Mr.Quillen,fortheirson.Mr.Waltontestifiedhemetwithdefensecounselaboutfiveorsixtimesandwaspresentinthejailwhendefensecounseldiscussedthepleabargainwithhisson.Mr.WaltontestifiedMr.Quillenstated, thesentencewasfiftyyears.Andhetoldhim,Imtryingtoremember,thatifhewentinandhadgoodbehavior,hecouldbeoutinpossiblysevenandahalfyears.Withgoodtime,theywouldgivehimtwodaysforone,so.Whenaskedifthiswasonthefirstsentence,Mr.Waltonresponded, Itwasmyunderstanding,thefirstsentence,becauseIthinkhesaid,like,ifhewentinanddidgoodtime,maybeinfourandahalfyears.Mr.Waltontestifiedthepleawastotallyunacceptabletohisson,butheandhiswifepersuadedtheirsontoacceptit. ` Mr.WaltonagreedthatMr.Quillenhaddiscussedthoroughlytheramificationsofthefelonymurderrule,butnottheStatesproofintermsofhissonsparticipationintherobbery.Mr.Waltonwasawarehissonhadgivenaconfession,buthissontoldhimhewascoercedintodoingtherobbery.Mr.Waltonurgedhissontotakethepleabargain,duetohiscompleteconfidenceinMr.Quillen.Mr.Waltonstated, Hewasmycounselor.AndItookhisadvice.Mr.QuillenadvisedMr.Waltonthatifhissonwenttotrialhewouldbefoundguilty,andMr.Quillenwasalmost100percentcertainofthat.Mr.Walton 0948 testifiedMr.QuillenhadhiswifecometoNashvilletoobservethetrialofthecodefendant,JoeUtley,whowasconvicted.Mr.WaltonagreedMr.Quillenwascorrect. ` Thepetitionersmother,Mrs.LavoneWalton,aU.S.PostalServiceemployee,testifiedinhersonsbehalf.Mrs.WaltontestifiedshewaspresentduringthepleabargaindiscussionsbetweenMr.Quillen,herson,andherhusband.WhenquestionedastowhatMr.Quillensaidregardinghowthesentencewouldbeserved,Mrs.Waltonresponded:8 ` 8 ` (#` (#HeinstructedusthatDonaldwasgoingtohavefiftyyears.Andthatfiftyyears,thirtypercentofitwouldbefifteenyears.Andfifteenyears,hewouldservesevenandahalfyearsofthatsentence,andhewouldbeparoledoutonthefirsttwentyfiveyears,whichconsistsofsevenandahalfyears.Hewouldbeout.Thatstheonlyreasonwhyweacceptedit.BecausehedidnttellusthatDonaldwasgoingtohavetoservethewholefifteenyears.Thiswasnotourunderstanding.   A- ` Mrs.WaltonverifiedMr.Quillenhadherattendthetrialofthecodefendant,JoeUtley.ApparentlyMrs.WaltonwasnotimpressedwiththeStatesproof,althoughUtleyreceivedalifesentence.Mrs.Waltonunderstoodtheonlyevidenceagainsthersonwashisconfession.Mrs.Waltonacknowledgedshewasaware,uponaretrial,hersoncouldgetlife,butsomeinmateshadtoldthedefendantwhathewasserving,whichwasfifteenyears,wouldbeeighteenyearsifitwasalifesentence. ` Mr.Quillentestifiedthathehasbeenapracticingattorneyfor39plusyearsinNashville.Mr.Quillenacknowledgedthatherepresentedthepetitionerandthatthepetitionersparentsparticipatedinmanydiscussionswithhim,includingthepleabargaindiscussionresultingintheplea. ` Mr.Quillentestifiedhehasnorecollectionofexplainingtothepetitionerhewouldservethefirstsentenceinaboutsevenandonehalfyears,paroleout,andthenremainonparoleforthedurationofthesentences. ` Mr.QuillentestifiedhecontactedtheDepartmentofCorrection,orarepresentative 0948 oftheBoardofParoles,andsubmittedtothemahypotheticalsituation.Mr.Quilleninformedthepetitioneroftheinformationhehadreceivedwithanadmonitionthatruleschangefromtimetotimeforvariousreasons.Mr.Quillenagreedthatarepresentationofsevenandonehalfyearswouldbeincorrect,buttherewasnohopethatthepetitionerwouldbereleasedatthatearlydate.ToMr.Quillensbestrecollection,theBoardsfeedbackwasthatfrom11to15yearswouldbethepetitionerseligibilityperiod.Mr.Quillenbelievedthepetitionerunderstoodtheramificationsofthewrittenpetitiontopleadguilty. ` Mr.QuillenacknowledgedhetalkedtothedetectivewhoobtainedthepetitionersconfessionandrepeatedlyattemptedtogettheStatesrepresentativetocomeoffthe50years,buttonoavail.Basedupondiscovery,Mr.Quillentestified, Certainly,Isawenoughtoconvincemethattherewasabsolutelynohopeofwinning.Mr.QuillenhadMrs.WaltonattendthetrialofJoeUtleyUtely. ` Inhistestimony,Mr.Quillendeniedthatheinformedthepetitionerhewouldbereleasedfromprisoninanyspecificperiodoftime.Mr.QuillenadvisedboththepetitionerandhisparentsoftheinformationhereceivedfromtheBoardofParoles.Mr.Quillenagreedthepetitionerandhisparentshaddifficultyacceptingthefelonymurdertheory,whentheirsonhadnotkilledanyone.Mr.Quillenrecognizedthepetitionerhaddifficultyingraspingsomeofthelegalpropositions,sohehadthepetitionerundergoacompetencyexamination.Thepetitionerwasfoundcompetenttostandtrial. ` AninterestingpartofMr.Quillenstestimonywasthefactthatanotherattorneyhadcontactedhim,sincethepetitionersfamilyhadcontactedthisattorneytoseeifhecoulddoabetterjobthanMr.Quillen.Mr.Quillenadvisedthefamily, IfthismancandoanythingbetterthanwhatImgetting,Iwilluseasubstantialpart,ormaybeall,ofthemoneythatsbeenpaidtometopayhimtodoit. 0948  ` Baseduponthistestimony,thetrialcourtenteredanorderonOctober6,1995denyingthepetition.Thetrialcourtwasconvincedattheguiltypleaproceedingsthepetitionerhadmanyopportunitiestoaskanyquestionsabouttheconsequencesofthe50yearplea.Further,thetrialcourtfound,pursuanttoHowellv.State,569S.W.2d428 P  (Tenn.1978)andWilsonv.State,899S.W.2d648,653(Tenn.Crim.App.1994),per. 0  app.denied(Tenn.1995),thatimproperadvicerelatingtoparoleeligibilitydatewasnot `  incompetenceofcounsel.UponremandconcerningwhetherthepetitionerhadsufficientlysatisfiedthefirstprongrequirementofStricklandv.Washington,466U.S.668,104S.Ct.   2052,80L.Ed.2d674(1984),thetrialcourtenteredanorderonJune2,1997denyingthepetitioninthatthepetitionerdidnotreceiveerroneousadvice.  STANDARDOFAPPELLATEREVIEW P     ` Thetrialcourtdidnotenter,initsopinion,aspecificfindingoffacts,butdid ` affirmativelyfindthepetitionerdidnotreceiveerroneousadvice(fromcounsel).Therefore,thisCourtmustreviewtherecordforthepurposeofdeterminingwhetherthetrialcourtsfindingpreponderatesagainstthejudgmententeredbythetrialcourt.ThisCourtcannotreweighorreevaluatetheevidence,norcanwesubstituteourinferencesforthosedrawnbythetrialcourt.Also,thetrialcourtmakesthedeterminationastothecredibilityofthewitnessesandwhatweightandvaluearetobeassessed.Thecredibilityofwitnesses,theweighttobegiventheirtestimony,andthereconciliationofconflictsintheproofaremattersentrustedtothetrieroffact.Statev.Sexton,917S.W.2d263(Tenn.Crim.App. ,`'* 1995);Blackv.State,794S.W.2d752,755(Tenn.Crim.App.),per.app.denied(Tenn. -@), 1990).Itwasthetrialcourtsultimatedecisionthatdefensecounselsadvicewaswithintherangeofcompetencerequiredbyattorneys.Therefore,thisCourtmustdetermineifthefactsinthisrecordsupportthetrialcourtsconclusion.Brooksv.State,756S.W.2d288 3.2 (Tenn.Crim.App.),per.app.denied(Tenn.1988). p504     0948 EFFECTIVEASSISTANCEOFCOUNSELH    ` Sincethepetitionerhasallegedthathisretainedcounselrenderedineffective  assistanceofcounsel,theburdenisonthepetitionertoestablish(1)thatcounselsperformancewasdeficient,and(2)that,butforthedeficiency,thereisareasonableprobabilitythattheresultwouldhavebeendifferent.Stricklandv.Washington,466U.S.  p  668,104S.Ct.2052,80L.Ed.2d674(1984).ThesamestandardappliesunderArt.1,9oftheTennesseeConstitution.Statev.Melson,772S.W.2d417(Tenn.1989). 0   ` InBaxterv.Rose,523S.W.2d930(Tenn.1975),theSupremeCourtheldthat  attorneysinTennesseeshouldbeheldtothegeneralstandardofwhethertheservicesrenderedwerewithintherangeofcompetencedemandedofattorneysincriminalcases.Further,theCourtstatedthattherangeofcompetencewastobemeasuredbythedutiesandcriteriasetforthinBeasleyv.UnitedStates,491F.2d687(6thCir.1974)andUnited  p Statesv.DeCoster,487F.2d1197(D.C.Cir.1973). P  ` ThepetitionerurgesthisCourttofindthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsdecision.Thus,duetotheerroneousadvicegivenbydefensecounselastotheeffectsofhisguiltypleas,hispleaswerenotvoluntaryandknowing.Hillv.Lockhart, % # 474U.S.52,59,106S.Ct.366,370,88L.Ed.2d203(1985);Teaguev.State,772S.W.2d `'"% 932(Tenn.Crim.App.1988), X`XX X`per.app.denied# X`XX X`vP#Ԁ(Tenn.1989). @)$'  ` Initsoriginalopinion,thetrialcourtwasoftheopinionthatimproperadvicerelatingtoadefendantsparoleeligibilitydatecouldnotformthebasisofanineffectiveassistanceofcounselclaim.ThisCourt,inDonaldF.Waltonv.State,No.01C019603CR00110, 0,/ DavidsonCounty,(Tenn.Crim.App.,Nashville,JanuaryJanuary30,1997)___________________________,heldthaterroneousadviceregardingparolethatinducesadefendanttoforegohisorherrighttoajurytrialcanbeusedtoestablishaclaimofineffectiveassistanceofcounsel.Ifthepetitionercanestablishthathisdefensecounseldidinfacterroneouslyadvisehimthathewouldbecomeeligibleforparoleinsevenandonehalfyears,hecansatisfythefirstprongrequirement  :p59 underStrickland.   ` Basedonthetestimonyofthepetitionerandhisparents,thepetitionerurgesthisCourttooverrulethetrialcourtsfactualdeterminationthatMr.Quillendidnotgiveerroneousadvice.Sincethepetitionerhastheburdenofproofprovingtheallegationinhispetitionbyapreponderanceoftheevidence,Statev.Kerley,820S.W.2d753,755(Tenn. `  Crim.App.1991),andapplyingtheappropriatestandardforappellatereview,asheretoforesetout,wecannotfindthetrialcourtsultimatedecisionpreponderatesagainsttherecord.Thetrialcourtisaffirmed. `     h     ________________________________________ `     h     L.T.LAFFERTY,SPECIALJUDGECONCUR:___________________________________JOHNH.PEAY,JUDGE___________________________________THOMAST.WOODALL,JUDGE