State v. Cooper ( 2016 )

SUPERIOR COURT
OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE
E. SCOTT BRADLEY 1 The Circle, Suite 2
JUDGE GEORGETOWN, DE 19947
July 11, 2016
STATE MAIL – S980C
Robert L. Cooper
SBI # 00413612
Sussex Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 500
Georgetown, DE 19947
RE: State of Delaware v. Robert L. Cooper
ID No: 1207010004A
Dear Mr. Cooper:
This is my decision on your Motion for Postconviction Relief. You pled guilty
to charges of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender and Unlawful Sexual Contact
Against a Child. The charges arose out of your unlawful sexual contact with a minor
in a house you were staying in as a guest and your failure to register as a sex offender.
More specifically, you crawled into bed with a seven-year-old girl and touched her
vagina. Prior to your acceptance of the State’s plea offer, the State moved to have
you declared a habitual offender. I granted the State’s request. You and the State
entered into a plea agreement on July 3, 2013. It provided that the State and your
attorney would recommend to me that you receive a time-served sentence for the
Failing to Register as a Sex Offender charge, and 25 years at Level V, suspended after
serving 8 years at Level V, for the Unlawful Sexual Contact Against a Child charge.
I followed that recommendation and gave you that sentence. This is your first motion
for postconviction relief and it was filed in a timely manner.
You allege (1) that your trial counsel was ineffective, (2) that the sex offense
was committed by another person, (3) that your sentence was improper, (4) that there
are contradictions in the facts of the case, and (5) that the victim’s family delayed in
contacting the police so that they could concoct a story to frame you. Your trial
counsel filed an affidavit responding to your allegations. I appointed postconviction
counsel to represent you. However, she concluded that there was no merit to your
allegations. Given the straightforward nature of your allegations, I have concluded
that there is no need to conduct an evidentiary hearing. Since you pled guilty, I must
determine if your trial counsel’s representation of you left you with no choice but to
plead guilty. If it did not, then I must determine if you made a knowing, intelligent
and voluntary waiver of your constitutional rights when you pled guilty.
I. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
You allege that your trial counsel was ineffective because 1) he did not get you
the plea offer you wanted, 2) he did not subpoena the witnesses you wanted
subpoenaed for trial, and 3) he forced you to take a plea when you wanted to go to
trial. You also allege that your postconviction relief counsel failed to communicate
2
with you and to adequately defend you. The United States Supreme Court has
established the proper inquiry to be made by courts when deciding a motion for
postconviction relief.1 In order to prevail on a claim for ineffective assistance of
counsel pursuant to Superior Court Criminal Rule 61, the defendant must show: “(1)
counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2)
counsel’s actions were so prejudicial that, but for counsel’s errors, the defendant
would not have pled guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.”2 Further, a
defendant “must make and substantiate concrete allegations of actual prejudice or risk
summary dismissal.” 3 It is also necessary that the defendant “rebut a ‘strong
presumption’ that trial counsel’s representation fell within the ‘wide range of
reasonable professional assistance,’ and this Court must eliminate from its
consideration the ‘distorting effects of hindsight when viewing that representation.’” 4
A. The Plea Offer
You allege that your trial counsel was ineffective because he told you for three
months that the prosecutor was offering you a plea deal of five years, which you were
1
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).
2
State v. Thompson, 2003 WL 21244679 (Del. Super. April 15, 2003), citing Strickland,
466 U.S. 668 (1984).
3
State v. Coleman, 2003 WL 22092724 (Del. Super. Feb. 19, 2003).
4
Coleman, 2003 WL 22092724, at *2, quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
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not willing to take. Presumably, you are alleging that because your plea deal ended
up being for eight years instead of five years that your trial counsel was ineffective
for telling you that a five-year offer was available. The record does not support your
allegation. In his affidavit, your trial counsel stated that the prosecutor was willing
to offer a five-year deal if his supervisor would approve it. The prosecutor’s
supervisor would only approve a plea offer of eight years. You ended up taking that
plea offer even though it was not what you wanted.
Your postconviction counsel further reviewed the records and your trial
counsel’s case activity log and found that the prosecutor made an offer of 1) a life
recommendation with a presentence investigation, or 2) eight years at Level V. The
case activity log also mentions a potential offer of five years with supervisory
approval. This information is consistent with your trial counsel’s version of the
events. Moreover, a defendant has no constitutional right or other legal entitlement
to a plea offer.5 In State v. Matthews this Court held that a defendant was not entitled
to postconviction relief after the defendant claimed his trial counsel was ineffective
for failing to convince the State to offer a plea to the defendant.6 In denying
postconviction relief, this Court held: “Since the State does not have a duty to extend
5
Washington v. State, 844 A.2d 293, 295 (Del. 2004).
6
State v. Matthews, 2014 WL 2538716, at *5 (Del. Super. May 29, 2014).
4
any plea offer to a defendant, this Defendant cannot complain that his counsel was
ineffective because counsel could not convince the State to offer the plea Defendant
wanted to accept.”7 Your trial counsel’s handling of the State’s plea offer did not
leave you with no option but to plead guilty. This allegation is without merit.
B. Subpoena Witnesses
You allege that your trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to subpoena
two witnesses you wanted for trial. Specifically, you allege that you told your trial
counsel to subpoena Leanna Bishop and Walter Richardson. You contend that they
would have testified to living in the same house as you and to the fact that the house
was infested with bed bugs. You claim that the reason you were sharing a bed with
the victim was because you were getting bitten by bed bugs in your bed. Your trial
counsel subpoenaed Robert Bangs, the victim’s father, and Dr. Hector Maya. Your
trial counsel stated that Robert Bangs would have testified that there were bugs in the
house and that Dr. Hector Maya would have testified that you had a “nonspecific skin
eruption,” which you allege was from the bed bug bites. It is unclear what more your
two witnesses could have offered that would have been helpful and not redundant.
Nevertheless, while there may have been a bed bug problem in the house, the
proposed testimony does not persuasively address any of the charges against you.
7
Id.
5
Indeed, even if there were bugs in your bed, that does not justify you crawling into
bed with a child. There is no doubt that a jury would not have found that to be much
of an excuse. Your trial counsel subpoenaed witnesses who were going to provide
the testimony you wanted. Your trial counsel’s representation in this matter did not
leave you with no other option than to pled guilty. This allegation is without merit.
C. Wanted to go to Trial
You allege that your trial counsel was ineffective because he forced you to take
a plea when you wanted to go to trial. Nothing in your actions prior to accepting the
plea offer or in your current motion supports your allegation. The basis of this
allegation seems to be that your trial counsel told you that you were facing a life
sentence. That was the unpleasant reality you were facing. The following are the
applicable portions of the Truth-in-Sentencing Guilty Plea Form that address the
voluntary nature of your plea:
Have you freely and voluntarily decided to plead guilty to the charges
listed in your written plea agreement?
You answered “yes.”
Have you been promised anything that is not stated in your written plea
agreement?
You answered “no.”
Has your lawyer, the State, or anyone threatened or forced you to enter
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this plea?
You answered “no.”
**********
The following are the applicable portions of your plea colloquy that address the
voluntary nature of your plea:
THE COURT: Mr. Cooper, I understand you have decided to plead
guilty to charges of failing to register or re-register as a sex offender,
and sex offender-unlawful sexual conduct against a child.
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.8
**********
THE COURT: Did anybody force you to take this plea?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
THE COURT: Did anybody promise you anything in exchange for it?
THE DEFENDANT: No.9
**********
THE COURT: Are you sure that this is how you wish to resolve the
charges against you?
8
Plea Transcript at 4 (July 3, 2013).
9
Id. at 5-6.
7
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.10
You are bound by the answers you gave to the questions on the Truth-in-
Sentencing Guilty Plea Form and during your plea colloquy. 1 1 Based on the answers
that you gave, I conclude that your guilty plea was made voluntarily.
D. Postconviction Counsel
You allege that your postconviction counsel was ineffective due to her failure
to communicate with you and to defend you. You were assigned counsel for your
postconviction relief motion. Your postconviction counsel undertook a thorough
analysis of the record and evaluated your claims. After this review, your
postconviction counsel determined there was not enough merit to your claims to be
ethically advocated. Furthermore, she could not find any other potential meritorious
grounds for relief. As a result, you postconviction counsel filed a motion to withdraw
as your counsel. I reviewed that motion and granted it. This allegation is without
merit and had no bearing on your decision to accept the State’s plea deal.
In summary, I conclude that your trial counsel’s representation of you did not
leave you with no choice but to plead guilty and that your postconviction counsel
correctly concluded that there was no merit to your allegations.
10
Id.
11
Savage v. State, 815 A.2d 349, 2003 WL 214963, at *2 (Del. Jan. 31, 2003)(Table).
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II. Waiver of Rights
I have reviewed the Truth-in-Sentencing Guilty Plea Form and the plea
colloquy and determined it is clear that you made a knowing, intelligent and
voluntary waiver of your trial rights. Before accepting a guilty plea, the trial court
must engage the defendant in a series of questions in open court in order to determine
the voluntariness of the plea.12 This plea colloquy must be preserved on the record
and the judge must determine that the defendant realizes and understands the nature
of the charges and the various penalties provided for that offense.13 “The record must
reflect that a defendant understands that the guilty plea constitutes a waiver of a trial
on the charges and the various constitutional rights to which he would have been
entitled had he gone to trial.”14 “A defendant’s statements to the Superior Court
during the guilty plea colloquy are presumed to be truthful.”15 Where the defendant
has signed his Truth-in-Sentencing Guilty Plea Form and answered at the plea
colloquy that he understands the effects of the plea, the defendant must show by clear
and convincing evidence that he did not sign this form knowingly and voluntarily. 16
12
Weeks v. State, 653 A.2d 266, 269 (Del. 1995).
13
Sullivan v. State, 636 A.2d 931, 937 (Del. 1994).
14
Id.
15
Somerville v. State, 703 A.2d 629, 632 (Del. 1997).
16
Savage v. State, 815 A.2d 349, 2003 WL 214963, at *2 (Del. Jan. 31, 2003)(Table).
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The record demonstrates that you understood the rights you waived and did so
knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily. This is demonstrated by your answers on
the Truth-in-Sentencing Guilty Plea Form and your answers during the plea colloquy.
The following are the applicable questions and your answers on the Truth-in-
Sentencing Guilty Plea Form:
Have you freely and voluntarily decided to plead guilty to the charges
listed in your written plea agreement?
You answered “yes.”
Have you been promised anything that is not stated in your written plea
agreement?
You answered “no.”
Has your lawyer, the State, or anyone threatened or forced you to enter
this plea?
You answered “no.”
Do you understand that because you are pleading guilty you will not
have a trial, and you therefore waive (give up) your constitutional rights:
(1) to have a lawyer represent you at trial;
(2) to be presumed innocent until the State can prove each and every
part of the charge(s) against you beyond a reasonable doubt;
(3) to a speedy and public trial by jury;
(4) to hear and question the witnesses against you;
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(5) to present evidence in your defense;
(6) to testify or not testify yourself; and
(7) to appeal, if convicted, to the Delaware Supreme Court with the
assistance of a lawyer?
You answered “yes.”
The following is an excerpt of your plea colloquy:
THE COURT: Mr. Cooper, I understand you have decided to plead
guilty to charges of failing to register or re-register as a sex offender,
and sex offender-unlawful sexual conduct against a child.
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Do you understand the nature of each one of those
offenses?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You understand the charge you are pleading guilty to; is
that correct?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: All right. You understand that because of your status as
a habitual offender on the first charge, failing to register or re-register
as a sex offender, you face a sentence of up to life in prison? Do you
know that?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Do you understand that on the other charge you face a
sentence from two to 25 years in jail?
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THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You have certain rights, Mr. Cooper; those rights are
listed on the Truth-In-Sentencing Guilty Plea Form that you have
already signed.
Have you discussed those rights with [Counsel]?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Do you understand all of those rights?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Do you understand that by pleading guilty to these two
offenses you are waiving all of those rights and there won’t be a trial?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Did anybody force you to take this plea?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
THE COURT: Did anybody promise you anything in exchange for it?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
THE COURT: Did you commit these two offenses?
THE DEFENDANT: I’m taking a plea. Yes.
THE COURT: Is that a yes?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: All you satisfied with [Counsel’s] representation of you?
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THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Are you sure that this is how you wish to resolve the
charges against you?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: All right. Based on that, I will accept your plea as being
made knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily.17
One of the rights you waived was the right to have a trial on the charges against
you. If you had wanted to have had a trial, you certainly could have done so. All you
had to do was turn down the State’s plea offer and proceed to trial. You chose not to
do that. I am satisfied now, as I was on July 3, 2013, that you made a knowing,
intelligent and voluntary decision to waive your rights and plead guilty. Your
allegation is without merit.
III. The Real Perpetrator
You allege that Victor Kyle actually committed the sex offense in this case.
Apparently, Mr. Kyle was incarcerated on similar charges and, according to you, may
have been a possible witness for the State. There is no evidence in the record to
support your allegation. The victim in this case identified you as the person who
sexually assaulted her, and no one else. Additionally, you admitted during your plea
17
Plea Transcript at 4-6 (July 3, 2013).
13
colloquy that you committed the crimes charged. This allegation is without merit and
was knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived by pleading guilty.
IV. The Court’s Sentence
You allege that the Court’s sentence does not match the plea deal you accepted.
I sentenced you to 161 days on the Failing to Register as a Sex Offender charge with
credit for 161 days served, and 25 years at Level V, suspended after eight years at
Level V, on the Unlawful Sexual Contact charge. The plea agreement, which you
signed, set forth the exact sentence I gave you. You have presented no evidence that
you received a sentence other than the one you agreed to and which you stated you
understood during the plea colloquy. Additionally, this Court is not bound by the
plea agreement. I could have given you a longer sentence, but I did not. This
allegation is without merit and was knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived
by pleading guilty
V. Conflicting Facts
You allege that there was a contradiction in the facts which placed you in two
different locations at the same time. You could have challenged those facts at trial,
but chose to accept a plea deal instead, thereby waiving your right to do this.
Moreover, the victim in this case identified you as the person who molested her.
Even worse, you actually placed yourself in her bed, claiming you were sleeping there
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because of the bed bug problem. This allegation is without merit and was
knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived by pleading guilty
VI. Delay in Contacting the Police
You allege that the victim’s family delayed in contacting the police so that they
could concoct a story to frame you. A victim in a sexual assault case can have
numerous reasons for not contacting the police immediately after the assault. The
facts demonstrate that you sexually assaulted the victim at night on July 5, 2012. The
victim informed her mother about the assault on July 6, 2012. The victim’s mother
reported the sexual assault to the Delaware State Police on July 8, 2012. There could
be any number of reasons why the victim and her family waited a mere two days to
contact the police. There is nothing unusual about this. Moreover, you have not
identified any facts supporting your allegations that the victim’s family was out to
frame you. This allegation is without merit and was knowingly, intelligently and
voluntarily waived by pleading guilty.
CONCLUSION
Your Motion for Postconviction Relief is DENIED.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Very truly yours,
/s/ E. Scott Bradley
E. Scott Bradley
ESB/sal
cc: Prothonotary
Counsel
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