Michael Carneal v. Commonwealth of Kentucky ( 2008 )

RENDERED : NOVEMBER 26, 2008
TO BE PUBLISHED
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2006-SC-000653-DG
2007-SC-000203-DG
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLANT/ CROSS-APPELLEE
ON REVIEW FROM COURT OF APPEALS
V. CASE NO . 2004-CA-001534-MR
McCRACKEN CIRCUIT COURT NO . 97-CR-00350
MICHAEL CARNEAL APPELLEE/CROSS-APPELLANT
OPINION OF THE COURT BY JUSTICE CUNNINGHAM
AFFIRMING IN PART AND REVERSING IN PART
The Commonwealth appeals from a decision of the Court of Appeals
reversing the McCracken Circuit Court's denial of Michael Carneal's motion for
post-conviction relief. In that motion, Carneal moved the trial court to allow
him to withdraw his guilty plea on the grounds of ineffective assistance of
counsel, and that new, previously unavailable psychological information called
into question his competency at both the time of his plea and the time of the
offense . The Court of Appeals reversed, and this Court granted discretionary
review. For the reasons set forth herein, we affirm in part and reverse in part.
Background
Carneal admitted to stealing several guns from a friend's garage and
hiding them for three days in his bedroom . On the morning of December 1,
1997, Carneal, who was then fourteen-years old, took the guns to school and
opened fire on students congregated in the main lobby, many of whom were
participating in a prayer circle . He killed three of his classmates and wounded
five others, two of whom were very seriously and permanently disabled.
On October 5, 1998, Carneal pled guilty but mentally ill to three counts
of murder, five counts of attempted murder, and first-degree burglary. He
entered his guilty plea pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U .S . 25
(1970) . He received a combined sentence of life in prison without the
possibility of parole for at least twenty-five years. At the time his judgment of
sentence was entered on December 21, 1998, Carneal was fifteen-years old
and, therefore, placed in a juvenile facility. Following an 18-year-old hearing
on June 1, 2001, Carneal was transferred to the custody of adult corrections .
On June 1, 2004, Carneal moved for relief from his sentence .
Carneal advances four theories supporting a withdrawal of his guilty
plea. Under RCr 10.02 and 10.06, he argues that newly discovered evidence
calls into question his competency at the time of the offense. Second, he raises
his competency to plead guilty as a basis for RCr 11 .42 relief. Third, Carneal
claims his trial counsel was incompetent for advising him to plead guilty. This
claim is also brought pursuant to RCr 11 .42 . Finally, Carneal moves for relief
pursuant to CR 60.02(fl on the ground that new information about his mental
state at the time of sentencing demands the extraordinary relief contemplated
by the rule . He has submitted . two psychological evaluations to support the
motion.
The thrust of Carneal's post-conviction motion is that he was
misdiagnosed when evaluated following the crime . Prior to his guilty plea,
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Carneal was evaluated by five mental health professionals, two of whom were
hired by defense counsel . All five concluded that Carneal was mentally
competent at the time of the offense; that is, he had the capacity to either
his
appreciate the criminality of conduct or to conform such conduct to the
requirements of law. KRS 504-020(l) . Their opinions of Carneal's mental
condition, however, varied . The Commonwealth's experts, who included two
psychiatrists and one psychologist, submitted a combined report that indicated
Carneal was maladjusted and prone to paranoia, anxiety, and depression. The
report offered no formal clinical diagnosis of a mental disorder.
The defense experts, Dr . Cornell and Dr. Schetky, diagnosed Carneal
with schizotypal personality disorder and depression . Schizotypal personality
disorder is defined as "a pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits
marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships
as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior,
beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts ." American
Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(4th ed. 2000) . As explained by Dr. Cornell in his 1998 evaluation, the signs of
schizotypal personality disorder may be an indication of underlying or
emerging schizophrenia, a much more severe mental illness. In fact, he
specifically stated, "It is possible that Michael is in the early states of
Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder, which usually develop in early
adulthood, but such a diagnosis would only be confirmed if he exhibits more
clear-cut and unequivocal symptoms of psychosis, accompanied by a
substantial decline in his day-to-day functioning." Dr. Cornell did not render
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the more severe diagnosis, however, because Carneal had not reported any
auditory or visual hallucinations or any psychotic episodes .
After these evaluations were conducted, Carneal agreed to enter an
Alford plea of guilty but mentally ill to all charges . The trial court appointed
Dr. Cornell to further evaluate Carneal concerning his competency to plead
guilty. At sentencing, Dr. Cornell testified that Carneal understood the nature
of his crimes, the proceedings against him, and the consequences of his guilty
plea . The trial court deemed him competent to enter the plea.
Dr . Cornell and Dr. Schetky re-evaluated Carneal in 2004 . Carneal
claimed that, as a result of taking more powerful antipsychotic medication, his
reality testing was greatly improved, and he was better able to convey details
concerning his mental state in 1997 and 1998 . He recounted a history of
psychotic symptoms, complex visual and auditory hallucinations, and paranoia
that began about six months prior to the shootings. He detailed his delusional
thinking at the time of the crime and the auditory hallucinations that were
directing his actions. Carneal explained that, at the time of his sentencing, he
was unable to reveal the delusions because of threatening auditory
hallucinations which he feared .
Based on these new revelations, Dr. Cornell and Dr. Schetky revised
their previous diagnosis . Dr. Schetky concluded that, at the time of the
offense, Carneal was experiencing the onset of schizophrenia and was unable
to reveal the extent of his delusions because he believed them to be true. She
concluded that Carneal lacked the substantial capacity to appreciate the
criminality of his conduct, and that he was unable to conform his conduct to
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the requirements of the law because he was responding to command
hallucinations . In her 2004 evaluation, Dr. Schetky did not offer any opinion
about Carneal's competency to stand trial in 1998 .
Dr. Cornell, likewise, revised his diagnosis to one of full-blown
schizophrenia. He stated that "had I known of [Carneal's] auditory
hallucinations and their effect on his judgment and behavior, I would have
recommended that he be found incompetent to stand trial ." Further, Dr.
Cornell concluded that "there is now sufficient evidence to support an insanity
defense."
The trial court denied the motion as untimely, summarily noting that
Carneal's claims were "otherwise refuted by the record ." No evidentiary hearing
was conducted.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's dismissal of Carneal's CR
60-02 and RCr 10 claims as untimely. It reversed the trial court with respect
to the RCr 11 .42 claim, however, determining that the three-year limitations
period of subsection (10) did not begin to run until Carneal's 18-year-old
hearing in 2001 . Further, Carneal had presented sufficient evidence to create
a real and substantial doubt about his competency to plead guilty, warranting
an evidentiary hearing. The Court of Appeals remanded the matter to the
McCracken Circuit Court to determine the feasibility of a retrospective
competency hearing. The Commonwealth appealed and this Court granted
discretionary review; Carneal cross-appealed the issue of the timeliness of his
RCr 10 and CR 60 .02 claims .
RCr 11 .42 Claims
Timeliness
We turn first to Carneal's claims brought pursuant to RCr 11 .42 .
Carneal claims that he was mentally incompetent to plead guilty, and that his
counsel was incompetent for advising him to accept the plea agreement.
Generally, RCr 11 .42 claims must be brought "within three years after the
judgment becomes final." RCr 11 .42(10) . According to Carneal, this statute of
limitations was triggered when he was transferred to adult custody following
his 18-year-old hearing. Alternatively, he advances two arguments in favor of
tolling the three-year limitation. Finally, Carneal argues that this statute of
limitations is inapplicable to the motion because its factual basis was
"unknown to the movant and could not have been ascertained by the exercise
of due diligence." RCr 11 .42 (10)(a) . If true, the general three-year limitation on
RCr 11 .42 motions does not apply .
Finality of Judgment
In order to determine if the RCr 11 .42 claim was timely, we must identify
when Carneal's sentencing judgment became final . The Commonwealth argues
that final judgment occurred in 1998, when the trial court sentenced Carneal
to life without the possibility of parole for twenty-five years . Carneal contends
final judgment occurred when he was transferred to adult custody in 2001,
following the hearing held pursuant to KRS 640.030(2), commonly called the
"18-year-old hearing ."
This Court has yet to squarely address this issue in a published opinion.
In Turner v. Commonwealth, an unpublished opinion, we considered a
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youthful offender's untimely RCr 11 .42 motion challenging the validity of his
guilty plea. 2004 WL 315154 (Ky. 2004) . "[W]e thus hold that the court's
judgment of conviction [and] sentence was a final judgment for RCr 11 .42
purposes notwithstanding the possibility that the trial court [could] have
modified the terms of Turner's sentence at a subsequent KRS 640.030
proceeding." Id . at 2. No further analysis was offered, however.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed the issue in
Jennings v. Morgan , 2007 WL 4292038 (6th Cir. 2007), though in the context of
a federal habeas corpus petition brought pursuant to 28 U.S .C . §§ 2254 and
2244(d)(1) . Interpreting the U.S . Supreme Court ruling in Burton v. Stewart,
549 U .S. 147 (2007), the Sixth Circuit held that Jennings' conviction and
sentence as a youthful offender was not final for purposes of federal post-
conviction relief until the 18-year-old hearing was held. We disagree with this
application of Burton in the context of Kentucky's post-conviction statutes. In
Burton, a Washington state case, it was held that the one-year grace period
established by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act ("AEDPA") did
not begin to run until Burton's conviction and sentence became final . Id . at
Accordingly, where the Washington Court of Appeals remanded Burton's
case for re-sentencing, the AEDPA statute of limitations did not begin to run
until all direct appeals of the new sentence were exhausted. We do not believe
the 18-year-old hearing mandated by KRS 640.030(2) is comparable, in
purpose or effect, to the re-sentencing proceedings for an adult offender.
"A final or appealable judgment is a final order adjudicating all the rights
of all the parties in an action or proceeding, or a judgment made final under
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Rule 54 .02 ." CR 54 .01 . "Final judgment in a criminal case means sentence.
The sentence is the judgment." Burton v. Stewart, 549 U .S. 147, (quoting
Berman v . United States, 302 U.S. 211, 212 (1937)) . Carneal was sentenced
on December 16, 1998, as a youthful offender pursuant to KRS 635 .020(4) . At
that point, all issues relating to Carneal's guilt and his sentence were
adjudicated . Moreover, though Carneal entered an unconditional guilty plea,
this order is a final and appealable judgment from which youthful offenders
customarily file matter-of-right appeals . See e .g. Murphy v. Commonwealth , 50
S .W .3d 173 (Ky. 2001); Shepherd v. Commonwealth , 251 S .W .3d 309 (Ky.
2008) .
We are unconvinced that the statutorily mandated 18-year-old hearing is
final sentencing, as Carneal argues . Under the 2001 version of KRS 640 .030,
the trial court had the authority to place a youthful offender on probation or
conditional discharge, to return the youthful offender to juvenile custody to
complete a treatment plan whereupon he would be finally discharged, or to
order transfer to adult corrections . KRS 640.030(2) . The circuit court did not
have authority to modify, alter, or otherwise dismiss the underlying sentence .
Cf. KRS 610 .120(1) (juvenile disposition orders "may be continued or
terminated at any time prior to expiration on the court's own initiative or on
motion") .
In Carneal's case, the trial court was even more limited . Carneal had
accepted a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for twenty-five
years. This sentence is permissible under KRS 640 .040(3) because the
limitations on probation and parole were imposed by the sentence, and not as
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a function of KRS 532 .060 as prohibited by the statute- I Therefore, at
Carneal's 18-year-old hearing, the trial court did not have the option of
ordering probation or conditional discharge, nor did it have the ability to return
him to juvenile custody to complete a treatment program whereupon he would
be finally discharged. Indeed, by virtue of the sentence itself, the trial court's
only option was to transfer Carneal to adult custody. 2
The 18-year-old hearing is simply a "second look" at the manner in which
the youthful offender is serving his sentence and provides the trial court the
opportunity to consider alternative methods of fulfilling the sentence, other
than simply transferring the youthful offender to adult corrections. Indeed,
this Court has described the provisions of KRS 640 .040 as "ameliorative." Britt
v. Commonwealth , 965 S.W.2d 147, 149 (Ky. 1998) . It is not a "re-sentencing"
procedure in the strict sense, as nothing in the language of KRS 640 .040
renders the original sentence void .
Furthermore, to declare a youthful offender's 18-year-old hearing the
final judgment unduly restricts the juvenile's ability to collaterally attack the
1 Cf. Commonwealth v. Merriman , S.W .3d (Ky. 2008) . In Merriman, we held that the
violent offender statute, KRS 439.3401, does not apply to juveniles who are adjudicated
youthful offenders. KRS 640.040(3) states that no youthful offender "shall be subject to
limitations on probation, parole or conditional discharge as provided for in KRS 533.060." We
reasoned that the prohibited dispositions found at KRS 640.040(3) include application of the
violent offender statute to youthful offenders. Here, however, Carneal's restriction on
probation, conditional discharge, and parole were not imposed by virtue of KRS 533.060 or
KRS 439.3401 ; the restriction was imposed by the sentence itself. We have recognized that life
without the possibility of parole for twenty-five years' is an allowable sentence for youthful
offenders . See Shepherd v. Commonwealth , 251 S .W.3d 309 (Ky. 2008) .
2 This circumstance is unique to Carneal's case as the statute has since been revised to offer
the sentencing court more alternatives . Section (2)(b) of the statute allows the trial court to
send a youthful offender back to juvenile custody for the completion of a treatment program .
However, pursuant to legislative changes in 2001, upon completion of the program, the
youthful offender is no longer discharged. Rather, he is returned to the trial court "for a
determination under paragraph (a) or (c) of this subsection ."
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conviction in a timely manner . Conversely, such a rule would impair
meaningful review, as the trial court would be required to consider matters
germane only to the original sentencing up to three years after the 18-year-old
hearing is complete . Indeed, the claims of error underlying Carneal's motion
solely concern his original sentencing proceedings, yet were raised six years
after he pled guilty. Youthful offenders, in almost every procedural aspect, are
treated as adult offenders : "If convicted in the Circuit Court, [the youthful
offender] shall be subject to the same penalties as an adult offender[.]" KRS
635.020(4) . It follows that they should enjoy the same rights as adult criminal
defendants, including the ability to collaterally attack the sentence in a timely
manner . See Jefferson Cty. Dep't. for Human Services v. Carter , 795 S.W .2d
59, 61 (Ky. 1990) ("If the juvenile court finds that an individual should be
proceeded against as a "youthful offender" the case is transferred to circuit
court where all of the constitutional rights guaranteed to adults come into
play .") .
We hold that for purposes of post-conviction relief, a youthful offender's
original sentencing order is a final judgment .3 Therefore, Carneal's RCr 11 .42
motion is untimely, as it was filed more than three years after his sentencing.
Nonetheless, Carneal argues, and the Court of Appeals agreed, that the time for
filing his RCr 11 .42 action was tolled while he remained a minor. Carneal also
argued to the trial court that equitable tolling was required because he suffered
from an ongoing mental incompetence .
3 This holding is limited to the sentencing of youthful offenders. We do not address the
separate issue of whether a juvenile disposition is a final judgment subject to collateral attack
or if RCr 11 .42 is available for that purpose.
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Equitable Tolling During Minority
The Court of Appeals held that regardless of when the statute of
limitations was triggered, it was tolled during Carneal's minority. This
argument was not presented to the trial court in Carneal's motion . Rather,
with respect to the ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Carneal argued that
tolling was necessary because he retained trial counsel until after his 18-year-
old hearing, at which point new counsel was retained and he became aware of
the prior deficiency. On appeal, this argument has shifted focus from the
ongoing attorney-client relationship as the reason for tolling, to Carneal's age.
Insofar as Carneal requests tolling of the statute of limitations for his RCr
11 .42 claim of incompetence to stand trial due to minority, we will not consider
these arguments on appeal as they were not presented to the trial court.
Kennedy . Commonwealth, 544 S .W .2 d 219, 222 (Ky . 1976) . The holding of
the Court of Appeals that the RCr 11 .42(10) statute of limitations was tolled
until Carneal attained the age of eighteen is reversed .
Equitable Tolling During Ongoing Mental Incompetence
The trial court also rejected Carneal's argument that his ongoing mental
incompetence saved an otherwise untimely RCr 11 .42 motion. This Court has
recognized the doctrine. of equitable tolling as applicable to post-conviction
motions . Robertson v. Commonwealth, 177 S.W .3d 789, 792 (Ky. 2005) . While
an ongoing mental incompetence may warrant equitable tolling, "a claim of
mental incompetence does not constitute a per se reason to toll a statute of
limitations." Commonwealth v. Stacey, 177 S.W .3d 813, 817 (Ky. 2005) .
Rather, the "critical inquiry remains whether the circumstances preventing a
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petitioner from making a timely filing were both beyond the petitioner's control
and unavoidable despite due diligence ." Id. Carneal has not satisfied this
burden .
Dr. Cornell's report concerns Carneal's mental state at the time of the
offense and the sentencing, with some analysis of his current mental condition.
What reference is made to Carneal's mental condition during the intervening
six years does not support a finding of ongoing mental incompetence . Carneal
has been medicated since 1999, and all psychological reports indicate that the
intensity of his mental disorder ebbs and flows, logically indicating at least
temporary periods of mental competency. Reports filed at the 18-year-old
hearing indicate Carneal's mental condition stabilized during his juvenile
detention, that he was able to meaningfully participate in group therapy, and
that he earned a high school diploma and GED . In adult corrections, Carneal
has been treated with more effective medication and has earned credits
towards an associate's degree .
In his report, Dr . Cornell explains that "schizophrenia is a severe mental
illness that is characterized by episodes of psychosis followed [by] less severe
periods when the patient may have residual symptoms or in some cases,
relatively normal functioning." As is consistent with the disorder, Carneal has
experienced temporary periods of mental incompetence since the time of the
offense, but has not been totally incompetent for the uninterrupted duration.
He has been aware of his mental disability for many years and has actively
sought treatment. In light of Carneal's intermittent competence, we are
unconvinced that his condition prevented compliance with the RCr 11 .42 time
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limitation such that equitable tolling would be appropriate. Further, because
the evidence in the record refutes Carneal's claim of an ongoing mental
incompetence, an evidentiary hearing on this issue was unnecessary. Stanford
v. Commonwealth , 854 S.W.2d 742, 744 (Ky. 1993) .
Claim ofIncompetence to Enter Guilty Plea
Having determined that Carneal's RCr 11 .42 motion is untimely, and
that insufficient evidence has been presented to toll the three-year statute of
limitations, we now must determine if the record establishes that "the facts
upon which the claim is predicated were unknown to the movant and could not
have been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence[ .]" RCr 11 .42(10)(x) .
Carneal argues that he was mentally incompetent at the time of the guilty plea,
and that this fact was unknown to him until he was evaluated in 2004 by Dr.
Cornell and Dr. Schetky.
The pertinent question is whether the facts presented in the reports (i.e.,
the recent revelation that he was incompetent to plead guilty) were unknown to
Carneal and could not have been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence .
The trial court found that the claims were "refuted by the record" and declined
to hold an evidentiary hearing. When an RCr 11 .42 motion is denied without a
hearing, this Court must determine whether there is "a material issue of fact
that cannot be conclusively resolved, i .e ., conclusively proved or disproved, by
an examination of the record ." Fraser v. Commonwealth, 59 S.W.3d 448, 452
(Ky. 2001) .
An evidentiary hearing was unnecessary, as the record does not support
a finding that the facts underlying this motion were unknown to Carneal or
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could not have been ascertained during the statutory time period . Carneal was
aware of a mental deficiency at the time of his guilty plea; indeed, he pled
"guilty but mentally ill" to all nine charges . Carneal avoided trial for the
express purpose of receiving mental health treatment as soon as possible. Dr.
Cornell and Dr. Schetky diagnosed Carneal with schizotypal personality
disorder in 1998 . While this condition is less severe than their current
diagnosis of schizophrenia, it is nonetheless a very grave diagnosis for a fifteen-
year-old and certainly put Carneal on notice of his mental condition. In fact,
as early as 1999, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by his
attending psychiatrist and began pharmaceutical therapy for his condition at
that time. Considering the numerous sources informing Carneal of his mental
condition, we cannot conclude that any alleged incompetence was "unknown"
to Carneal or could not have been ascertained through the exercise of due
diligence .
Nonetheless, Carneal insists that the true severity of his mental
condition was undiscoverable because he was unable to reveal important
aspects of it until recently. This argument is a conceptual "Catch-22 ." The
claim that he was unable to ascertain that he was incompetent to plead guilty
rests solely on his own disclosures about his own thought processes . Common
sense disfavors the conclusion that one's own memories and thoughts are not
ascertainable by oneself, except in an extreme circumstance such as a
prolonged coma . Carneal has not presented such circumstances. Increased
medication has improved his perception of reality and has permitted him to
gain some level of personal control over a very debilitating and severe mental
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condition . This deeper insight, however, does not constitute a fact which was
unknown to Carneal, or a fact which he was unable to ascertain prior to 2001 .
For us to interpret information previously suppressed in Carneal's mind as
unknown facts under RCr 11 .42 (10) (a) would set an explosive precedent.
Therefore, his RCr 11 .42 motion was untimely.
Constitutionality of RCr 11 . 42(10)
Finally, Carneal challenges the constitutionality of the limitations period
of RCr 11 .42(10), claiming it violates the doctrine of separation of powers . He
argues that RCr 11 .42(10) is a substantive law that restricts a petitioner's
access to habeas corpus relief, in violation of Sections 16, 26 and 27 of the
Kentucky Constitution . Section 16 states that "the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless when, in case of rebellion or
invasion, the public safety may require it."
RCr 11 .42 does not restrict a petitioner's access to habeas corpus relief
pursuant to KRS 419 .020 or Section 16 of the Kentucky Constitution . Rather,
it exists simultaneously:
[W]e recognize as the general rule that the RCr 11 .42 procedure is
adequate for a collateral attack by a prisoner in custody under a
judgment which he believes to be defective for one reason or
another . But we recognize as an exception that the prompt relief
available by writ of habeas corpus remains for a prisoner who can
establish in a summary procedure that the judgment by which he
is detained is void ab initio.
Commonwealth v . Marcum, 873 S .W.2d 207, 211-12 (Ky. 1994) . In
cases where habeas corpus relief is appropriate, "the existence of RCr
11 .42 should not, and shall not, deprive the petitioner of his right to its
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use ." Id . at 212 . The argument that RCr 11 .42 is unconstitutional on
these grounds is without merit.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
Carneal-also advances a claim of ineffective assistance, of counsel as
warranting RCr 11 .42 relief. He argues trial counsel was ineffective for
advising him to accept a plea of "guilty but mentally ill." Carneal claims he
accepted the plea agreement in the hopes of receiving immediate mental health
treatment, but that a "guilty but mentally ill" plea carries with it no benefits
differentiating it from a normal plea of guilty. He insists that counsel was
ineffective for not explaining that a "guilty but mentally ill" label is meaningless
and, had no bearing on the type of medical treatment he would receive in adult
corrections .
Regardless of any timeliness issue with respect to this claim, Carneal
would not be entitled to relief. The familiar test of ineffective assistance of
counsel espoused in Strickland v . Washington contains a "prejudice" prong.
466 U .S . 668, 694 (1984) . In the context of guilty pleas, the prejudice prong is
satisfied when the defendant shows "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, 59 (1985) . The record
refutes any such conclusion . Having presided over Carneal's guilty plea and
his 18-year-old hearing, the trial court was well aware that Carneal expressed
no desire to lessen his sentence . As indicated in all the mental health
evaluations prior to his plea, Carneal felt incredible remorse and guilt for his
crime and believed that he deserved the maximum penalty. His trial counsel
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indicated to the court the desire of the entire Carneal family that Michael
receive treatment as soon as possible, and that a public trial be avoided . The
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel was properly rejected.
RCr 10.02 and 10.06 Motion for a New Trial
Carneal moved for a new trial. pursuant to RCr 10.02 and 10.06 on the
ground that he was mentally incompetent at the time of the shootings, as
established by the reports of Dr . Cornell and Dr. Schetky . Motions for a new
trial brought pursuant to RCr 10.02 and 1006 must be "served not later live
(5) days after return of the verdict." Claims premised on newly discovered
evidence may be brought within one year of the judgment, or at a later time if
the trial court finds that "good cause so permits ." RCr 10 .06{ l) . Carneal
argues that such good cause exists. Though not expressly stated, the trial
court evidently concluded that good cause did not exist to extend the time
period for the motion. The decision to grant a new trial lies within the sound
discretion of the trial court, and there must be a showing that this discretion
was abused to warrant reversal . Foley v. Commonwealth, 55 S .W.3d 809 (Ky.
2000) .
"[I]n order for newly discovered evidence to support a motion for a new
trial it must be ``of such decisive value or force that it would, with reasonable
certainty, have changed the verdict or that it would probably change the result
if a new trial should be granted .' Commonwealth v. Harris, 250 S.W.3d 637,
640-41 (Ky. 2008), quoting
, Jennings v. Commonwealth, 380 S.W.2d 284, 285-
86 (Ky. 1964). -Further, a motion for new trial based upon newly discovered
evidence must be accompanied by an affidavit shoving that Appellant exercised
17
sufficient dilige nce to obtain the evidence prior to his trial." Collins v.
Commonwealth, 951 S.W .2d 569, 576 (Ky. 1997). Carneal's motion for a new
trial challenges his competency at the time of the offense, as opposed to his
RCr 11 .42 motion, which is directed towards his competency to plead guilty.
However, both motions fail for the same reason - a lack of diligence in
discovering the supposed new evidence .
We look to the factually analogous case of United States v . Allen, 554
F.2d 398 (loth Cir. 1977) . There, the trial court rejected a petition for a new
trial on the ground that new psychiatric reports declaring Allen insane at the
time of the offense were not previously undiscoverable . Prior to trial, questions
were raised about Allen's competency to stand trial and his competency at the
time of the offense . His treating psychiatrist submitted a pre-trial evaluation
diagnosing Allen with "manic depressive reaction" which caused intermittent
periods of depression and an inability to function normally. A psychiatrist who
evaluated Allen five months after trial, however, opined that he suffered from
"schizophrenic reaction" that involved a "disabling psychotic process."
Further, the new evaluation indicated that Allen's failure to highlight his illness
to counsel was the result of the illness itself. The trial court denied the
petition, concluding that the severity of Allen's mental condition could have
been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence prior to trial.
In upholding the trial court, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals did not
challenge the validity of the new psychiatric evaluations : "It is true that a
factual basis for a substantial insanity defense was developed in the post-trial
affidavits of Dr. Martin and the psychologist." Id . at 403 . However, the
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evaluations did not constitute new evidence warranting a re-trial, as Allen and
trial counsel were both made aware of his mental condition prior to trial . Allen
had previously been hospitalized for mental illness and had even undergone
electroshock, therapy-for his-condition . The trial court further noted that, "even
assuming it is in the nature of .Allen's illness to conceal its nature and severity,
there is no contention that his attorneys . . . labored under the same
handicap ." Id .
Even if we assume that Dr . Cornell's report constitutes newly discovered
evidence, we cannot agree that it was undiscoverable at the time Carneal pled
guilty. Obviously, Carneal and his trial counsel were aware of a mental
condition, ultimately accepting a plea of "guilty but mentally ill." Before the
plea, Dr. Cornell diagnosed Carneal with schizotypal personality disorder,
which he indicated may involve temporary psychotic episodes . While his
present diagnosis of schizophrenia is much more severe, the possibility that
Carneal was in the midst of a psychotic episode at the time of the shooting was
recognized prior to sentencing. More notably, Carneal was given the more
severe diagnosis of schizophrenia as early as 1999, yet his motion for a new
trial was not filed until 2004 . For these reasons, we do not believe the trial
court abused its discretion in rejecting CaxneaFs motion for a new trial as
untimely.
CR 60.02 Motion
Finally, Carneal reiterated his claims for relief under RCr 11 .42 and RCr
10 .06, arguing they also constitute a "reason of an extraordinary nature
justifying relief" under CR 60.02(f) . CR 60 .02(f) requires the motion be brought
19
within "a reasonable time ." What constitutes a reasonable time is left to the
discretion of the trial court, and a hearing on this issue is not required. Gross
v . Commonwealth, 648 S .W.2d 853, 858 (Ky. 1983) . For the reasons explained
supra, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's determination that
Carneal's CR 60 .02 motion was untimely .
Conclusion
The opinion of the Court of Appeals is reversed as to Carneal's RCr 11 .42
motion. We affirm the Court of Appeals with respect to the CR 60.02 and RCr
10 .02 motions. The judgment of the McCracken Circuit Court is reinstated .
Abramson, Noble, Schroder, Scott, Venters, JJ., concur . Minton, C .J.,
not sitting.
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT/CROS APPELLEE :
Jack Conway
Attorney General
David A . Smith
Assistant Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Criminal Appellate Division
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601-8204
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE/CROSS-APPELLANT :
David Hare Harshaw, III
Assistant Public Advocate
Department of Public Advocacy
207 Parker Drive, Suite 1
LaGrange, KY 40031
Timothy G. Arnold
Assistant Public Advocate
Department of Public Advocacy
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 302
Frankfort, KY 40601