Nestor Sanchez v. State ( 2013 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 39381
NESTOR SANCHEZ, ) 2013 Unpublished Opinion No. 606
)
Petitioner-Appellant, ) Filed: July 31, 2013
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
STATE OF IDAHO, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
Respondent. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho, Gem
County. Hon. Juneal C. Kerrick, District Judge.
Order summarily dismissing petition for post-conviction relief, affirmed.
Nestor Sanchez, Boise, pro se appellant.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; John C. McKinney, Deputy
Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________
GRATTON, Judge
Nestor Sanchez appeals from the district court’s order summarily dismissing his petition
for post-conviction relief. We affirm.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Sanchez entered an Alford plea 1 to one count of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen,
Idaho Code § 18-1508. Prior to sentencing, Sanchez filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea
which was denied by the district court. Thereafter, Sanchez filed a renewed motion to withdraw
his guilty plea and the district court denied it as well. The district court imposed a unified
sentence of twenty years with ten years determinate. Sanchez filed an Idaho Criminal Rule 35
motion for reduction of sentence which was denied by the district court. This Court affirmed
1
See North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970).
1
Sanchez’s conviction and sentence in State v. Sanchez, Docket No. 32181 (Ct. App. 2007)
(unpublished).
Subsequently, Sanchez filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief. The district court
appointed counsel to represent Sanchez. The State filed a motion to dismiss the petition.
Thereafter, the district court entered an order summarily dismissing Sanchez’s petition for post-
conviction relief. Sanchez timely appeals.
II.
ANALYSIS
Sanchez claims that: (1) the district court erred by summarily dismissing his petition for
post-conviction relief prior to holding an evidentiary hearing; (2) his post-conviction counsel
provided ineffective assistance; and (3) the district court erred by allowing a conflict of interest
with post-conviction counsel to continue. 2 A petition for post-conviction relief initiates a civil,
rather than criminal, proceeding, governed by the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure. State v.
Yakovac, 145 Idaho 437, 443, 180 P.3d 476, 482 (2008). See also Pizzuto v. State, 146 Idaho
720, 724, 202 P.3d 642, 646 (2008). Like plaintiffs in other civil actions, the petitioner must
prove by a preponderance of evidence the allegations upon which the request for post-conviction
relief is based. I.C. § 19-4907; Stuart v. State, 118 Idaho 865, 869, 801 P.2d 1216, 1220 (1990);
Goodwin v. State, 138 Idaho 269, 271, 61 P.3d 626, 628 (Ct. App. 2002). A petition for post-
conviction relief differs from a complaint in an ordinary civil action, however, in that it must
contain more than “a short and plain statement of the claim” that would suffice for a complaint
under I.R.C.P. 8(a)(1). State v. Payne, 146 Idaho 548, 560, 199 P.3d 123, 135 (2008); Goodwin,
138 Idaho at 271, 61 P.3d at 628. The petition must be verified with respect to facts within the
personal knowledge of the petitioner, and affidavits, records or other evidence supporting its
allegations must be attached, or the petition must state why such supporting evidence is not
included. I.C. § 19-4903. In other words, the petition must present or be accompanied by
2
Sanchez stated in his brief to this Court that “[t]he petitioner/appellant re-asserts every
issue in his district court petition.” This statement is not sufficient to raise on appeal every issue
argued in the petition. A party must provide argument and authority to raise an issue. A party
waives an issue on appeal if either argument or authority is lacking. Powell v. Sellers, 130 Idaho
122, 128, 937 P.2d 434, 440 (Ct. App. 1997) (citing State v. Zichko, 129 Idaho 259, 263, 923
P.2d 966, 970 (1996)).
2
admissible evidence supporting its allegations, or it will be subject to dismissal. Wolf v. State,
152 Idaho 64, 67, 266 P.3d 1169, 1172 (Ct. App. 2011); Roman v. State, 125 Idaho 644, 647, 873
P.2d 898, 901 (Ct. App. 1994).
Idaho Code § 19-4906 authorizes summary dismissal of a petition for post-conviction
relief, either pursuant to motion of a party or upon the court’s own initiative, if “it appears from
the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions and agreements of facts,
together with any affidavits submitted, that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” I.C. § 19-4906(c). When considering
summary dismissal, the district court must construe disputed facts in the petitioner’s favor, but
the court is not required to accept either the petitioner’s mere conclusory allegations,
unsupported by admissible evidence, or the petitioner’s conclusions of law. Payne, 146 Idaho at
561, 199 P.3d at 136; Roman, 125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901. Moreover, because the district
court rather than a jury will be the trier of fact in the event of an evidentiary hearing, the district
court is not constrained to draw inferences in the petitioner’s favor, but is free to arrive at the
most probable inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Yakovac, 145 Idaho at 444, 180 P.3d at
483; Wolf, 152 Idaho at 67, 266 P.3d at 1172; Hayes v. State, 146 Idaho 353, 355, 195 P.3d 712,
714 (Ct. App. 2008). Such inferences will not be disturbed on appeal if the uncontroverted
evidence is sufficient to justify them. Chavez v. Barrus, 146 Idaho 212, 218, 192 P.3d 1036,
1042 (2008); Hayes, 146 Idaho at 355, 195 P.2d at 714; Farnsworth v. Dairymen’s Creamery
Ass’n, 125 Idaho 866, 868, 876 P.2d 148, 150 (Ct. App. 1994).
Claims may be summarily dismissed if the petitioner’s allegations are clearly disproven
by the record of the criminal proceedings, if the petitioner has not presented evidence making a
prima facie case as to each essential element of the claims, or if the petitioner’s allegations do
not justify relief as a matter of law. Kelly v. State, 149 Idaho 517, 521, 236 P.3d 1277, 1281
(2010); McKay v. State, 148 Idaho 567, 570, 225 P.3d 700, 703 (2010); DeRushé v. State, 146
Idaho 599, 603, 200 P.3d 1148, 1152 (2009); Charboneau v. State, 144 Idaho 900, 903, 174 P.3d
870, 873 (2007); Berg v. State, 131 Idaho 517, 518, 960 P.2d 738, 739 (1998); Murphy v. State,
143 Idaho 139, 145, 139 P.3d 741, 747 (Ct. App. 2006); Cootz v. State, 129 Idaho 360, 368, 924
P.2d 622, 630 (Ct. App. 1996). Thus, summary dismissal of a claim for post-conviction relief is
appropriate when the court can conclude, as a matter of law, that the petitioner is not entitled to
relief even with all disputed facts construed in the petitioner’s favor. For this reason, summary
3
dismissal of a post-conviction petition may be appropriate even when the State does not
controvert the petitioner’s evidence. See Payne, 146 Idaho at 561, 199 P.3d at 136; Roman, 125
Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901.
Conversely, if the petition, affidavits, and other evidence supporting the petition allege
facts that, if true, would entitle the petitioner to relief, the post-conviction claim may not be
summarily dismissed. Charboneau v. State, 140 Idaho 789, 792, 102 P.3d 1108, 1111 (2004);
Berg, 131 Idaho at 519, 960 P.2d at 740; Stuart v. State, 118 Idaho 932, 934, 801 P.2d 1283,
1285 (1990); Sheahan v. State, 146 Idaho 101, 104, 190 P.3d 920, 923 (Ct. App. 2008); Roman,
125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901. If a genuine issue of material fact is presented, an evidentiary
hearing must be conducted to resolve the factual issues. Kelly, 149 Idaho at 521, 236 P.3d at
1281; Payne, 146 Idaho at 561, 199 P.3d at 136; Goodwin, 138 Idaho at 272, 61 P.3d at 629.
On appeal from an order of summary dismissal, we apply the same standards utilized by
the trial courts and examine whether the petitioner’s admissible evidence asserts facts which, if
true, would entitle the petitioner to relief. Ridgley v. State, 148 Idaho 671, 675, 227 P.3d 925,
929 (2010); Berg, 131 Idaho at 519, 960 P.2d at 740; Sheahan, 146 Idaho at 104, 190 P.3d at
923; Roman, 125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901. Over questions of law, we exercise free review.
Rhoades v. State, 148 Idaho 247, 250, 220 P.3d 1066, 1069 (2009); Downing v. State, 136 Idaho
367, 370, 33 P.3d 841, 844 (Ct. App. 2001); Martinez v. State, 130 Idaho 530, 532, 944 P.2d
127, 129 (Ct. App. 1997).
A. Summary Dismissal
Sanchez asserts that the district court erred in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing. In
his petition, Sanchez alleged seventeen instances of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, with
multiple subparts, four claims of ineffective counsel caused by the court, five failings of
appellate counsel, and multiple constitutional rights violations. The district court addressed and
dismissed each of these claims in a twenty-nine page decision. On appeal, Sanchez does not
contest any of the findings or conclusions of the district court. 3 Instead, Sanchez claims only
3
In his reply brief, Sanchez references a Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966)
violation and attaches a purported partial transcript of a police interview. However, while we
will not entertain a contention raised for the first time in a reply brief, we note that the district
court determined that Sanchez was not in custody and so no Miranda violation occurred.
Sanchez does not directly challenge or provide facts contrary to the district court’s
determination.
4
that his post-conviction counsel failed to submit certain evidence to the district court which, had
counsel done so, would have demonstrated his innocence.
Specifically, Sanchez argues that had an evidentiary hearing been held, he would have
produced transcripts and a tape recording demonstrating that the victim was untruthful and that
medical records submitted in his case were false. We have held:
[T]o justify an evidentiary hearing in a post-conviction relief proceeding,
it is incumbent upon the applicant to tender a factual showing based upon
evidence that would be admissible at the hearing. [An] application must be
supported by written statements from witnesses who are able to give testimony
themselves as to facts within their knowledge, or must be based upon otherwise
verifiable information.
Hall v. State, 126 Idaho 449, 453, 885 P.2d 1165, 1169 (Ct. App. 1994) (quoting Drapeau v.
State, 103 Idaho 612, 617, 651 P.2d 546, 551 (Ct. App. 1982)). Sanchez failed to provide the
district court with the alleged evidence. It is not enough for Sanchez to avoid summary
disposition based upon evidence he could have provided to the district court, but did not.
Sanchez’s failure to provide admissible evidence to support his claim made the summary
dismissal of his petition appropriate.
B. Ineffective Assistance of Post-Conviction Counsel
As noted above, rather than contesting the district court’s findings and conclusions
directly, Sanchez claims his post-conviction counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to
provide the district court with the following evidence: (1) the alleged tape recording
demonstrating his innocence; (2) an interview with a St. Luke’s nurse who treated the victim;
(3) the confrontation call between him and the victim; (4) the victim’s medical records; (5) a
videotape of the victim talking with counsel; (6) the presentence investigation report;
(7) telephone calls between himself and the arresting police officer; and (8) the recording of his
interrogation. Sanchez claims that had his post-conviction counsel presented this evidence to the
district court, his petition would have survived summary dismissal and proceeded to an
evidentiary hearing. He further claims that the evidentiary hearing would have resulted in his
exoneration. 4
4
In his reply brief, Sanchez asserts a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel for failing
to submit a word-for-word transcript of his interrogation by police officers. It is unclear whether
Sanchez is arguing that his trial counsel was ineffective, or his post-conviction counsel was
5
There is no constitutionally-protected right to the effective assistance of counsel in post-
conviction relief proceedings. Rios-Lopez v. State, 144 Idaho 340, 343, 160 P.3d 1275, 1278 (Ct.
App. 2007). Thus, such an allegation, in and of itself, is not among the permissible grounds for
post-conviction relief. See Griffin v. State, 142 Idaho 438, 441, 128 P.3d 975, 978 (Ct. App.
2006); Wolfe v. State, 113 Idaho 337, 339, 743 P.2d 990, 992 (Ct. App. 1987). We will,
therefore, not entertain claims of ineffective assistance of post-conviction counsel in the direct
appeal of the post-conviction case.
C. Conflict of Interest
Prior to summarily dismissing Sanchez’s petition, the district court held a hearing to
discuss Sanchez’s request for substitute counsel due to an alleged conflict of interest. Sanchez
alleged that his attorney performed a home inspection of Sanchez’s home with the Idaho
Department of Health & Welfare prior to beginning his representation. The attorney denied
performing a home inspection and confirmed with health and welfare that he was not present for
any home inspections. The district court found that no conflict of interest existed. However,
Sanchez also expressed his dissatisfaction with his attorney’s alleged lack of communication. In
order to allay any concerns about communication, the district court asked the attorney to reassign
the case to another associate. The attorney did so and a different attorney represented Sanchez
for the remainder of the case.
On appeal, Sanchez claims that a conflict of interest existed between himself and his
appointed counsel. He argues that the district court erred by appointing a new attorney from the
same law firm to represent him instead of appointing conflict-free counsel. 5 We disagree. There
ineffective, for allegedly failing to submit these transcripts. Nonetheless, as Sanchez raises this
issue for the first time in his reply brief, we decline to address it. “[T]his court will not consider
arguments raised for the first time in the appellant’s reply brief.” Suitts v. Nix, 141 Idaho 706,
708, 117 P.3d 120, 122 (2005) (citing Myers v. Workmen’s Auto Ins. Co., 140 Idaho 495, 508, 95
P.3d 977, 990 (2004)).
5
The State argues that the doctrine of invited error precludes Sanchez from raising this
issue. The doctrine of invited error applies to estop a party from asserting an error when his or
her own conduct induces the commission of the error. Thomson v. Olsen, 147 Idaho 99, 106, 205
P.3d 1235, 1242 (2009). One may not complain of errors one has consented to or acquiesced in.
Id. In short, invited errors are not reversible. Id. Indeed, Sanchez stated on the record that he
wanted to keep his second attorney, although he requested better communication.
6
is no constitutionally-protected right to the effective assistance of counsel in post-conviction
relief proceedings. Rios-Lopez, 144 Idaho at 343, 160 P.3d at 1278. Regardless of whether
Sanchez has a right to conflict-free representation in his post-conviction case, Sanchez has failed
to demonstrate that a conflict existed. The district court found that Sanchez’s attorney did not
perform a home inspection with health and welfare. Substantial evidence supports the district
court’s finding. The district court’s request to appointed counsel asking that he assign the case to
a different attorney was not a determination that a conflict existed, but instead was an attempt to
make Sanchez more comfortable with his representation.
III.
CONCLUSION
Sanchez has failed to demonstrate reversible error. Accordingly, the district court’s order
summarily dismissing Sanchez’s petition for post-conviction relief is affirmed.
Chief Judge GUTIERREZ and Judge MELANSON CONCUR.
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