Chase v. Department of Corrections , 364 F. App'x 499 ( 2010 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
February 9, 2010
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
CHRISTOPHER CHASE,
Petitioner-Appellant, No. 09-2219
v. (D. of N.M.)
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (D.C. No. CIV-08-377-JCH)
OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
and THE NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY
GENERAL, GARY K KING,
Respondents-Appellees.
ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY *
Before TACHA, TYMKOVICH, and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges. **
Christopher Chase was convicted by a New Mexico state court pursuant to
an Alford plea. Proceeding pro se, 1 Chase seeks a certificate of appealability
(COA) to appeal the district court’s denial of his habeas corpus petition. After
*
This order is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of
the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
**
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
1
Because Chase proceeds pro se, we review his pleadings and filings
liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520–21 (1972); Brown v. Perrill,
21 F.3d 1008, 1009 (10th Cir. 1994).
carefully reviewing the record, we conclude Chase has not presented sufficient
evidence that his plea was not entered intelligently and voluntarily.
Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, we therefore DENY his
request for a COA and DISMISS his appeal.
I. Background
Chase was indicted on 32 counts ranging from criminal sexual penetration
to kidnapping. These charges arose from a series of incidents involving eleven
victims, and all of the incidents related to Chase’s abuse of his authority as a
police officer. During state criminal proceedings, Chase was represented by
counsel, who unsuccessfully attempted to sever the trial and suppress all out-of-
court identifications of Chase as the perpetrator of these crimes.
After these motions proved unsuccessful, Chase entered a plea pursuant to
North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970), maintaining that while he was
innocent of the crimes, the government had presented sufficient evidence to
proceed to trial. His plea covered 10 of the counts, and the government agreed
not to prosecute the remaining 22 counts. The plea agreement stated that his
maximum term of incarceration would be 15 years. According to Chase’s
testimony at the sentencing hearing, he entered his plea so he “could have a little
closure,” and he did this for the sake of his family. Sentencing Hearing Tr.,
p. 14. His lawyer elaborated that he took the plea because the maximum sentence
according to the plea agreement was less than what he would have received if he
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had been convicted of even one of the charged crimes. The court accepted
Chase’s plea and sentenced him to 15 years of incarceration.
The plea agreement signed by Chase stated that he “specifically waives his
right to appeal as long as the court’s sentence is imposed according to the terms
of this agreement.” R., Vol. 1, p. 90. When canvassing Chase, the district court
judge confirmed that he understood he was waiving “the right to have a trial or
appeal a trial conviction to a higher court.” R., Vol. 3, p. 483. Chase’s counsel
refused to file a direct appeal on his behalf, but Chase filed a pro se petition for
state post-conviction relief. He was denied relief, and the New Mexico Supreme
Court denied certiorari.
Chase filed a federal application for a writ of habeas corpus under 28
U.S.C. § 2254, raising seven claims. He later filed a supplemental petition adding
an eighth claim. The claims were: (1) ineffective assistance of counsel resulting
in an involuntary plea; (2) an unconstitutional identification process; (3)
insufficient evidence; (4) ineffective assistance of counsel during pre-trial
activity; (5) prosecutorial misconduct; (6) due process violations based on
publicity; (7) unfair sentencing in violation of due process; and (8) ineffective
assistance of counsel based on conflicting language in the plea canvass and plea
waiver.
The district court dismissed claims two through six as relating only to
events that took place before the Alford plea, which were unappealable due to a
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waiver in the plea agreement. The district court held claim seven, which arose
from Chase’s inability to review the pre-sentence report before he was sentenced,
did not raise a constitutional issue. Finally, the district court examined claims
one and eight on the merits, and found Chase had not presented sufficient
evidence that his plea was not made voluntarily or intelligently. For these
reasons, the district court denied habeas relief, and declined to grant a COA.
Chase seeks a COA from this court on his first and eighth claims.
II. Analysis
In order to obtain a COA, Chase must make “a substantial showing of the
denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). A guilty plea is not
valid unless it is entered intelligently and voluntarily, with a demonstration on the
record that the defendant knew the constitutional rights he was waiving by
pleading guilty. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242–44 (1969). When a
defendant claims that the ineffective assistance of counsel led him to plead guilty
involuntarily, he must prove, first, that his counsel’s conduct was objectively
unreasonable, and second, that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on
going to trial.” Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58–59 (1985).
A. Voluntary Nature of Plea Agreement
Claim one directly attacks whether Chase intelligently and voluntarily
entered into the plea agreement, and thereby waived his constitutional rights.
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Specifically, Chase has couched this claim in terms of ineffective assistance of
counsel. Since this claim challenges the validity of the plea itself, we need not
address whether this claim is covered by the scope of the appeal waiver contained
within the plea agreement.
The district court concluded Chase did not present sufficient evidence that
his guilty plea was involuntary. Chase claims his attorney promised him he
would be sentenced to no more than 9 years of imprisonment, and that he would
not have pleaded guilty if he had understood he could be sentenced for up to 15
years. Chase also claims he did not understand the true nature of an Alford plea
and would not have pleaded guilty if it had been correctly explained to him.
These contentions are undermined by statements made in the record.
The plea agreement, which Chase signed, states that “the parties agree to a
‘cap’ of 15 years incarceration” and “the defendant may be ordered to serve a
period of incarceration up to fifteen (15) years at initial sentencing.” R, Vol. 1, p.
88–89. The agreement later states “I have read and understand this agreement.
. . . I have discussed the case and my constitutional rights with my lawyer.” R.,
Vol. 1, p. 91.
During sentencing, the following exchange occurred:
THE COURT: Have you read the plea agreement?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
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THE COURT: Have you gone over these charges, the possible
penalties for the charges, the terms and conditions of the plea
with your attorney?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: Do you have any questions regarding the
charges, the possible penalties for the charges or the terms and
conditions of the plea?
THE DEFENDANT: No, ma’am.
THE COURT: You understand that by entering into this plea
agreement, you waive the following constitutional rights, the
right to plead not guilty, the right to a jury trial, the right to
see, hear, question and cross-examine witnesses who may
testify against you, the right to present evidence on your own
behalf, the right to have the State compel the attendance of
witnesses of your choosing, the right to remain silent and not
be forced to incriminate yourself, the right to be presumed
innocent, the right to have the State bear the burden of
attempting to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and
the right to have a trial or appeal a trial conviction to a higher
court. Do you understand these rights?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: Do you wish to knowingly and voluntarily give
up these rights to enter into this plea?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
...
THE COURT: Were there any promises made to you other than
those contained in this plea agreement?
THE DEFENDANT: No, ma’am.
THE COURT: Are you pleading guilty knowingly, voluntarily
and of your own free will?
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THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: And you understand, sir, that although you are
pleading guilty pursuant to Alford, I will find you guilty of
these charges?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: Have you understood everything that I’ve said
to you today?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: Do you have any questions that you would like
to ask me or your attorney?
THE DEFENDANT: No, ma’am.
R., Vol. 3, p. 483.
The district court concluded, based on these statements, that Chase had
failed to prove that his counsel’s performance was deficient, or that he was
prejudiced by counsel’s performance. An erroneous sentence calculation does not
automatically render counsel’s assistance ineffective. United States v. Gordon, 4
F.3d 1567, 1570 (10th Cir. 1993). Nor do Chase’s unsupported assertions that he
would have gone to trial demonstrate prejudice, especially given his statements
during sentencing regarding his motivation in accepting the plea agreement.
Reasonable jurists would not debate the correctness of these conclusions,
see Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000), and therefore we deny a COA
on this claim.
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B. Conflicting Language in the Plea Canvass and Plea Agreement
Chase argues that he did not give up the right to an appeal, and that it was
ineffective assistance of counsel for his attorney to tell him he had given up this
right. The district court concluded that Chase had given up his right to an appeal
when he signed the plea agreement, which specifically waived this right. The
plea agreement states:
Unless this plea is rejected or withdrawn, the defendant gives
up all motions, defenses, objections, or requests which he has
made or could make concerning the Court’s entry of judgment
against him if that judgment is consistent with this agreement.
The defendant specifically waives his right to appeal as long as
the court’s sentence is imposed according to the terms of this
agreement.
R., Vol. 1, p. 90. Having already determined that Chase entered into the plea
agreement intelligently and voluntarily, the district court found this claim
presented no evidence of ineffective assistance of counsel or that the plea had
been entered into involuntarily. Because this conclusion is not debatable among
jurists of reason, we deny a COA.
III. Conclusion
Because Chase has failed to present “a substantial showing of the denial of
a constitutional right,” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), we DENY a COA and DISMISS
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his appeal. We DENY his motion to appoint counsel.
Entered for the Court
Timothy M. Tymkovich
Circuit Judge
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