State of Louisiana Versus Marvin Robinson ( 2023 )

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 23-KH-277
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
MARVIN ROBINSON COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY REVIEW FROM THE
TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO. 05-2673, DIVISION "L"
HONORABLE DONALD A. ROWAN, JR., JUDGE PRESIDING
June 28, 2023
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker,
Jude G. Gravois, and Robert A. Chaisson
WRIT DENIED
JGG
FHW
RAC
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT,
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Honorable Paul D. Connick, Jr.
Thomas J. Butler
Darren A. Allemand
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/RELATOR,
MARVIN ROBINSON
Christopher F. Edmunds
Colin Reingold
Erica Navalance
GRAVOIS, J.
Relator, Marvin Robinson, seeks this Court’s supervisory review of the trial
court’s March 17, 2023 oral ruling which denied his ineffective assistance of
counsel claim raised in his application for post-conviction relief (“APCR”). For
the reasons that follow, we deny this writ application.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On August 21, 2008, a jury found relator guilty of simple burglary of a
vehicle in violation of La. R.S. 14:62. On October 17, 2008, the trial court
sentenced relator to eleven years imprisonment at hard labor. On that same date,
the State filed a habitual offender bill of information, alleging relator to be a third-
felony offender based on relator’s predicate offenses for armed robbery in violation
of La. R.S. 14:64 and first degree robbery in violation of La. R.S. 14:64.1. On
December 12, 2008, the trial court found relator to be a third-felony offender,
vacated the original sentence, and resentenced relator to life imprisonment at hard
labor, without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, under La.
R.S. 15:529.1.
On his first appeal, this Court vacated relator’s conviction, habitual offender
adjudication, and sentence, finding that the trial court failed to make a
determination of relator’s competency to stand trial and remanded the case for a
new trial. State v. Robinson, 09-371 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/23/10), 39 So.3d 692. On
review, the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed and remanded the matter to the trial
court to determine whether a meaningful, retrospective competency hearing was
possible, and if so, to conduct a hearing on the issue. State v. Robinson, 10-924
(La. 12/17/10), 50 So.3d 156. On remand, the trial court found that relator was
competent to stand trial and could assist his counsel during his trial held in August
of 2008. On appeal, relator’s conviction and habitual offender sentence were
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affirmed. State v. Robinson, 12-22 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/16/12), 102 So.3d 922, writ
denied, 12-2434 (La. 4/12/13), 111 So.3d 1017.
Thereafter, relator filed a Motion to Correct an Illegal Sentence and Hold a
Dorthey Hearing, arguing that the trial court erred in refusing to recognize its
authorization to use discretion and reduce his sentence pursuant to State v.
Dorthey, 623 So.2d 1276, 1280-81 (La. 1993),1 and further failing to articulate a
basis under La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1(C) for not deviating from the maximum
sentence.2 On October 26, 2020, the trial court denied relief, and relator filed a
counseled writ application with this Court seeking review. On November 27,
2020, relator filed a letter directed to this Court’s Clerk of Court pursuant to
Uniform Rules–Courts of Appeal, Rule 2-12.6.1,3 advising the Court of the
Louisiana Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Cardell Robinson, 19-1330 (La.
11/24/20), 304 So.3d 846 (per curiam), decided on the same day that relator’s writ
application was filed with this Court. In State v. Cardell Robinson, the Supreme
Court concluded that the relator was entitled to an evidentiary hearing concerning
his claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel at sentencing in light of its
decision in State v. Harris, 18-1012 (La. 7/9/20), 340 So.3d 845. Based on this
1
In Dorthey, 623 So.2d at 1281, the Supreme Court held that a trial court has the
authority to determine whether a mandatory minimum sentence is unconstitutionally excessive as
applied to a particular defendant.
2
La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1(C) requires the sentencing court “to state for the record the
considerations taken into account and the factual basis therefor in imposing sentence.”
3
Rule 2-12.6.1 provides, in pertinent part:
A. If pertinent and significant authorities come to a party’s attention after all
original and reply briefs have been filed - or after oral argument but before
decision - a party may promptly advise the clerk by letter, with a copy to all
other parties, setting forth the citations.
B. The letter shall be limited to: (1) the name and citation of the opinion or
authority; (2) the issue raised by the case which is pertinent to the issues
raised in the case pending before this Court; and (3) a citation to the page
number of where this point has been raised in briefs before this Court or, if not
raised in briefs and dealt with in oral argument only, where and how this issue
arose during oral argument. The letter shall not include attachments,
including but not limited to the documents cited within the letter.
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“new binding authority,” relator submitted an alternative prayer of relief: “an
evidentiary hearing to determine whether he received ineffective assistance of
counsel at sentencing.”
On March 8, 2021, this Court granted the writ application for a limited
purpose, finding that relator had presented a prima facie claim of ineffective
assistance of trial and appellate counsel, citing Harris, supra, in which the
Supreme Court held that an “ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing claim
is cognizable on collateral review.” However, this Court found that the issue was
not properly before it and granted relator’s writ for the limited purpose of
remanding the matter to the trial court and ordering the trial court to grant relator
leave of court to either amend his motion to correct an illegal sentence or file an
APCR and hold an evidentiary hearing on relator’s claims of ineffective assistance
of counsel. See State v. Robinson, 20-427 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/8/21), 2021 WL
863395, writ denied, 21-485 (La. 5/25/21), 316 So.3d 443.
On July 9, 2021, relator filed an APCR with the trial court in which he
argued that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to conduct a
reasonable sentencing investigation and present mitigation information under
Harris and Dorthey.
The State filed a response to relator’s APCR, arguing that relator’s APCR
was untimely, and alternatively, lacked merit given that relator’s violent criminal
history outweighed any mitigating evidence which relator claimed trial counsel
failed to present at the habitual offender sentencing hearing. The State also
pointed out that relator had prior convictions besides those charged in the habitual
offender bill of information and included an arrest register that showed relator was
charged with aggravated rape and aggravated crime against nature in 1984.
According to the State, relator pled guilty to aggravated crime against nature and
the aggravated rape charge was dismissed.
23-KH-277 3
On March 17, 2023, Judge Rowan, who also sentenced relator as a third-
felony offender in 2008, conducted an evidentiary hearing on relator’s claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel at his habitual offender sentencing. First, relator’s
counsel requested that the trial court limit the scope of the evidentiary hearing to
relator’s claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness under Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), without consideration as to
whether relator’s case would meet Dorthey’s departure standards. After hearing
argument from the State and relator, the trial court stated, “Let’s just do this
Strickland hearing first to see.” Next, the trial court denied the State’s
untimeliness objection to relator’s APCR, noting that an evidentiary hearing had
been ordered on relator’s claim.
Relator called Johnny Robinson, his older brother, as a witness. Mr.
Robinson testified about his knowledge of relator’s drug use with respect to
marijuana and cocaine. He testified that relator’s trial counsel never questioned
him about relator, nor was he aware if trial counsel had spoken with any other
family members. Mr. Robinson stated that he would have been willing to testify at
relator’s sentencing hearing.
Relator also introduced exhibits, including the police report and preliminary
hearing transcript from his 1985 armed robbery conviction and the police report
from his 1996 first degree robbery conviction, which were the predicate offenses
charged in the State’s habitual offender bill of information. According to relator,
the facts of these offenses revealed that the crimes were committed without an
actual weapon and that the victims sustained no physical injuries. Relator also
introduced the following documents: (1) his 2002-03 medical records from the
West Jefferson Mental Health Clinic; (2) his 2008 clinical screening appraisal from
the Hunt Correctional Center indicating his IQ was measured between 71 and 75;
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(3) relator’s letters to Judge Cusimano,4 dated July 12, 2005 and May 27, 2008,5 in
which he requested drug abuse treatment; (4) an affidavit from Dr. Marcus
Kondkar, the sociology department chair at Loyola University, who provided data
regarding sentences received by similarly situated inmates and concluded relator
was one of only two inmates in Jefferson Parish serving a life sentence for simple
burglary; (5) the mental health care policy of the Department of Corrections
(“DOC)”; and (6) an excerpt from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders concerning cocaine use and dependency.
At the hearing, the State called no witnesses, but introduced the following
exhibits: (1) the habitual offender bill of information and the transcript from the
December 12, 2008 habitual offender hearing and sentencing; (2) the transcript
from relator’s June 23, 2008 bond hearing which included a reference to relator’s
1984 aggravated crime against nature conviction; (3) the arrest register showing
relator was charged with aggravated rape and aggravated crime against nature in
1984; (4) a packet including the 1985 indictment for aggravated rape and
aggravated crime against nature, the 1985 bill of information and guilty plea
transcript for relator’s three armed robbery convictions which relator pled to on the
same day; (5) the bill of information and guilty plea transcript from relator’s 1996
first degree robbery conviction; (6) relator’s rap sheet from the DOC; and (7) the
entire record from relator’s case.
Following argument from relator and the State, the trial court found relator’s
trial counsel was not ineffective and that “based upon what he did, there was no
prejudice” to relator. In doing so, the trial court stated:
4
The record reveals that relator’s case was initially allotted to Judge Cusimano, and
Judge Rowan presided over relator’s case starting in January of 2008.
5
At the evidentiary hearing, relator’s counsel explained that the May 27, 2008 letter was
in reference to case number 07-5941 concerning relator’s charge for cocaine possession in
violation of La. R.S. 40:967(C).
23-KH-277 5
I do not find that Mr. Fleming was ineffective in any matter, during
the trial, at the sentencing, at the Multiple Bill, I don’t find him to be
ineffective. I think he did everything that he could do. The problem
that he couldn’t overcome was the priors, the priors.
Relator, through counsel, filed the instant writ application requesting review
of the trial court’s March 17, 2023 ruling denying his post-conviction claim of
ineffective counsel at his habitual offender sentencing. The State filed an
opposition to the writ application with this Court in which it argued that Harris is
not retroactively applicable to relator’s case, and in the alternative, argued that
relator’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim was without merit.
ANALYSIS
Under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
§ 13 of the Louisiana Constitution, a defendant is entitled to effective assistance of
counsel. State v. Casimer, 12-678 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/13/13), 113 So.3d 1129,
1141. To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must satisfy the two-
prong test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, supra. Casimer, 113 So.3d at
1141. Under the Strickland test, the defendant must show: (1) that counsel’s
performance was deficient, that is, that the performance fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms; and (2) that the
deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Id. An error is considered
prejudicial if it was so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, or “a trial
whose result is reliable.” Id. To prove prejudice, the defendant must demonstrate
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional conduct, the outcome of the trial would have
been different. Id. (citing Strickland v. Washington, supra).As applied to ineffective assistance at sentencing claims, the Supreme Court
explained in Harris, 340 So.3d at 858, that:
An objectively reasonable standard of performance requires that
counsel be aware of the sentencing options in the case and ensure that
all reasonably available mitigating information and legal arguments
are presented to the court. Since Louisiana law prohibits excessive
23-KH-277 6
sentences, and requires that individual circumstances be considered,
counsel acts unprofessionally when he fails to conduct a reasonable
investigation into factors which may warrant a downward departure
from the mandatory minimum.
A sentence may be excessive under Article I, § 20 of the Louisiana
Constitution even if it falls within the statutory range established by the legislature.
State v. Johnson, 97-1906 (La. 3/4/98), 709 So.2d 672, 676; State v. Sepulvado,
367 So.2d 762, 767 (La. 1979). In Dorthey, 623 So.2d at 1280-81, the Supreme
Court held that this extends to the minimum sentences mandated by the Habitual
Offender Law and that the trial court must reduce a sentence to one not
unconstitutionally excessive if the trial court finds that the sentence mandated by
the Habitual Offender Law “makes no measurable contribution to acceptable goals
of punishment,” or is nothing more than “the purposeful imposition of pain and
suffering” and “is grossly out of proportion to the severity of the crime.”
As an initial matter, in this writ application, relator argues that this Court’s
finding that relator had presented a prima facie claim of trial counsel’s ineffective
assistance, see Robinson, 20-427, supra, amounted to a finding that trial counsel’s
performance was deficient under Strickland and thereby precluded the trial court
from concluding otherwise at the evidentiary hearing. Thus, in relator’s view, the
evidentiary hearing was limited to whether trial counsel’s deficient performance at
the habitual offender hearing satisfied Strickland’s prejudice prong.
Prima facie evidence is defined as evidence sufficient to establish a given
fact, which if not rebutted or contradicted, will remain sufficient. See State v.
Williams, 400 So.2d 575, 679 (La. 1981). While relator’s prima facie showing of
trial counsel’s ineffective assistance at the habitual offender sentencing was
sufficient to warrant a remand for a determination of that claim, nothing in this
Court’s disposition in Robinson, 20-427, supra, limits the parameters of the
evidentiary hearing. At any rate, as noted above, the trial court addressed both
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Strickland prongs, finding that trial counsel’s performance was not deficient nor
prejudicial.
Relator now re-urges his clam that trial counsel’s failure to present any
mitigating evidence or file a motion to reconsider sentence at the habitual offender
sentencing was both deficient and prejudicial. With respect to mitigation, relator
argues that trial counsel was aware of relator’s history of drug addiction and
mental illness, but failed to bring these factors to the trial court’s attention at the
habitual offender sentencing hearing. In addition, relator contends that counsel
failed to investigate relator’s “cognitive limitations,” which would have revealed
his limited intellectual functioning. Relator further faults counsel for failing to
investigate the underlying facts of the predicate offenses, armed robbery and first
degree robbery, to show that these prior convictions were “nominally” crimes of
violence because relator did not physically harm the victims, he stole small
amounts of money, and he did not have an actual weapon during the commission
of the offenses.
According to the December 12, 2008 transcript from relator’s habitual
offender sentencing, trial counsel, Mr. Fleming, first raised an objection to the trial
court finding relator to be a habitual offender. With respect to the trial court’s
imposition of a life sentence, Mr. Fleming argued:
Mr. Robinson was convicted of Simple Burglary of a car, in which it
was alleged that he took an identification or from which he took an
identification card. That is not a crime of violence. And I would
respectfully submit that, to give this man an enhanced sentence of life
for a simple burglary, which is what this-this is essentially tantamount
to, would be an overly harsh sentence.
Further, Mr. Fleming asserted, “[I]t is not mandatory to impose a life
sentence on this gentleman. I believe the Court has leeway, under State versus
Dorothea [sic], to not sentence him to life imprisonment.” In support of that
contention, Mr. Fleming stated that “there was another conviction” not included in
23-KH-277 8
the State’s habitual offender bill of information, but relator “was not subjected to a
life sentence of that imposition.” Thus, Mr. Fleming argued, “I question, given
that fact, whether this should be treated as a mandatory imprisonment of life
without benefit of probation and parole.” In response, the trial court stated, “Well,
I told you at the bench that I would not consider State versus Dorothea [sic]. I
don’t believe this is a case for that.” In doing so, the trial court pointed out that
because the predicate offenses were both crimes of violence under the habitual
offender statute a life sentence was mandated, explaining, “I don’t have any
discretion, nor would I want discretion on this. I believe that that is the appropriate
sentence. Appropriate sentence for this case with the two priors is life.” Mr.
Fleming then noted his objection.
Against that backdrop, we find that relator’s emphasis on the non-violent
nature of the underlying offense, simple burglary, is misplaced. As the trial court
noted at the habitual offender sentencing, it is relator’s history of violent or non-
violent offenses that is taken into account under the Habitual Offender Law for
third and fourth offenders, punishing those with a history of violent offenses more
severely than those with a history of non-violent offenses. See State v. Jerome, 03-
126 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/29/03), 845 So.2d 1194, 1198-99.
At the time of relator’s offense, La. R.S. 15:529.1(A)(1)(b)(ii) provided:
If the third felony and the two prior felonies are felonies defined as a
crime of violence under R.S. 14:2(13), a sex offense as defined in R.S.
15:540 et seq. when the victim is under the age of eighteen at the time
of commission of the offense, or as a violation of the Uniform
Controlled Dangerous Substances Law punishable by imprisonment
for ten years or more, or any other crimes punishable by imprisonment
for twelve years or more, or any combination of such crimes, the
person shall be imprisoned for the remainder of his natural life,
without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Relator was found to be a third-felony offender. His underlying offense of
simple burglary was punishable by imprisonment for up to twelve years, under La.
R.S. 14:62, and his predicate offenses for armed robbery and first degree robbery
23-KH-277 9
are considered crimes of violence under La. R.S. 14:2(B). The trial judge placed
an emphasis on the fact that relator fell directly within the category of offenders
the Habitual Offender Law intended to punish more severely. At any rate, the lack
of violence involved in the underlying offense does not provide adequate grounds
for departing from the mandatory sentence. See State v. Warren, 99-557 (La. App.
4 Cir. 9/8/99), 742 So.2d 722, 728. This is in part because the legislature has
already taken into account the violent nature of certain crimes in the habitual
offender statute. Id.Furthermore, we find relator’s reliance on State v. Thompson, 22-1391 (La.
5/2/23), 359 So.3d 1273, unpersuasive. In Thompson, the Supreme Court found
that counsel’s failure to file a motion to reconsider the mandatory life sentence
imposed under the habitual offender statute prejudiced the defendant because
counsel’s deficient performance resulted in a mandatory life sentence that was
unconstitutionally excessive as applied to the defendant. However, unlike in
relator’s case, none of the defendant’s predicate offenses in Thompson were
enumerated crimes of violence or sexual in nature. The instant case is also
distinguishable from State v. Allen, 22-508 (La. 11/1/22), 348 So.3d 1274, 1276, in
which the Supreme Court found that counsel’s deficient performance resulted in a
life sentence that was excessive as applied to the defendant based, in part, on
counsel’s failure to argue in the motion to reconsider sentence that relator’s
predicate offenses were not violent or sexual in nature. The mere failure to file a
motion to reconsider sentence does not alone constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel. A defendant must also “show a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s error, his sentence would have been different.” Casimer, 113 So.3d at
1142. As such, we find that it was not likely the trial court would have reduced
relator’s sentence had counsel filed a motion to reconsider sentence on grounds
that the instant offense was non-violent when relator’s predicate offenses were
23-KH-277 10
both robberies, and relator’s prior criminal history also included an aggravated
crime against nature conviction.
With respect to Mr. Fleming’s omission of mitigating evidence at the
habitual offender sentencing, the record reveals that the trial court was already
aware of relator’s history of substance abuse. In relator’s statement to the police,
he admitted to committing the instant offense because he was addicted to crack,
and a crack pipe was found on him at the time of his arrest.6 Although relator later
claimed that his statement was coerced, at the motion to suppress hearing, he
admitted to having a crack pipe on him and that he was high at the time of his
arrest. Relator also admitted to his prior conviction for crack cocaine possession
during the motion to suppress hearing. In addition, during the June 23, 2008 bond
hearing, the State referenced the 1996 crack possession conviction as part of
relator’s criminal history. Finally, at relator’s original sentencing hearing on
October 17, 2008, the trial court noted that at that time relator had outstanding
charges of possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia in an
unrelated case.
Similarly, as noted by relator in the instant application, the issue of relator’s
mental health arose during trial when Mr. Fleming filed a motion to appoint a
sanity commission because relator “admitted in open court he is a drug user” who
“suffers from anxiety and depression, but has not taken any prescribed medications
in a long time.”
As such, we find that relator fails to meet his post-conviction burden of
proof of showing that counsel’s failure to present evidence of relator’s history of
drug abuse and mental health record prejudiced relator at the habitual offender
6
The issue of relator’s admission to being a crack user occurred during the motion to
suppress hearing when the State moved to introduce it as other crimes evidence, which the trial
court denied.
23-KH-277 11
sentencing given that the trial court was already aware of these factors. See La.
C.Cr.P. art. 930.2. Therefore, we conclude that relator’s claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel at sentencing does not warrant relief.
CONCLUSION
Based on the forgoing, we find that there was no error in the trial court’s
ruling. Accordingly, this writ application is denied.
WRIT DENIED
23-KH-277 12
SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
CORNELIUS E. REGAN, PRO TEM FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY
JUNE 28, 2023 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT
REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
23-KH-277
E-NOTIFIED
24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)
HONORABLE DONALD A. ROWAN, JR. (DISTRICT JUDGE)
DARREN A. ALLEMAND (RESPONDENT) THOMAS J. BUTLER (RESPONDENT) CHRISTOPHER F. EDMUNDS (RELATOR)
MAILED
COLIN REINGOLD (RELATOR) HONORABLE PAUL D. CONNICK, JR.
ERICA NAVALANCE (RELATOR) (RESPONDENT)
ATTORNEYS AT LAW DISTRICT ATTORNEY
THE PROMISE OF JUSTICE INITIATIVE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
1024 ELYSIAN FIELDS 200 DERBIGNY STREET
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70117 GRETNA, LA 70053