Fernando Martinez Parker v. State of Mississippi ( 2008 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2008-KA-00409-SCT
FERNANDO MARTINEZ PARKER a/k/a TAL
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02/08/2008
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. KENNETH L. THOMAS
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: COAHOMA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: KELSEY LEVOIL RUSHING
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: DEIRDRE McCRORY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: LAURENCE Y. MELLEN
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED; REMANDED FOR
RESENTENCING AS TO COUNT II -
03/25/2010
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE WALLER, C.J., LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ.
PIERCE, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Fernando Martinez Parker was indicted by a grand jury of Coahoma County in
November 2004 for possession of a firearm on educational property in violation of
Mississippi Code Section 97-37-17, for murder of Jarvis Moore in violation of Mississippi
Code Section 93-3-19, and for aggravated assault of Justin Moore in violation of Mississippi
Code Section 97-3-7(2)(b). Parker was tried and convicted of all three charges. The
Honorable Kenneth Thomas sentenced Parker to life without parole for the murder of Jarvis
Moore, three years for possession of a firearm on educational property, and fifteen years for
aggravated assault of Justin Moore. Aggrieved, Parker appeals his conviction and sentence.
FACTS
¶2. On October 26, 2004, four Coahoma Community College students, Justin Moore,
Jarvis Moore, Ketrick Buck, and John Jamison, walked across campus from their dorm,
Friends Hall, to Moore Hall to get a video game from their friend, Kendrick Harris.1
Kendrick lived on the bottom floor of Moore Hall. When these four men arrived at Moore
Hall, a verbal altercation began between them and a group of students congregating on the
second-floor balcony. The group on the second floor included Vincent Cross, Jonathan
Haney, and Fernando Parker.
¶3. Justin Moore, Buck, and Haney testified at trial that the verbal altercation quickly
turned into a physical altercation, after which Parker pulled out a gun and began shooting.
Justin Moore and Buck also testified that Parker shot and killed Jarvis Moore and shot and
injured Justin Moore. Both Justin Moore and Buck testified that Parker aimed directly at
Jarvis Moore. Haney hid in a dorm room during the actual shooting, but he testified to seeing
Parker with the gun immediately after the shooting ceased.
¶4. According to law enforcement testimony, officers arrested Parker the following day.
Parker gave a written statement to police after waiving his rights. Parker’s statement, dated
October 27, 2004, reads as follows:
1
The record is inconsistent regarding this friend’s name. The State refers to this friend as
Steve Harrison in its opening statement, but two witnesses, Ketrick Buck and Justin Moore, stated
that the friend’s name was Kendrick Harris.
2
I have been going to school at Coahoma Community College for 2 years. I
have lived in the Moore Building the whole time I have been in school. I
started having problems with these guys about a week ago. I only know one
guy’s nickname which is “J Streel”. There are four other guys but I do not
know their names. I was in the dorms, laying on the bench outside my
bedroom when I heard cussing and yelling outside on the balcony. I walked
to the door, which was open, and I got punched in the face. J Streel and
another guy started punching me and I punched them back. I had been
carrying a .380 pistol in my pocket for about a week, and it fell out of my
pocket. I saw J Streel and the guy and I had been fighting punching Vincent
Cross, and I picked up the gun, aimed at the guy I had been fighting, and shot
at least five times. I did not see any other weapons, only people throwing
punches. I shot the guy to get him off me. Everybody started running, and I
ran down the stairs and behind the dorm building. I threw the gun into the
woods, hoping it would land in the water. I ran back to my room, and locked
myself in the closet because I was scared the police would come and I did not
know what they would do. I stayed in the closet a long time until I called my
mother. I told her what happened, and she told me to turn myself in to the
police. I came out the door and did what the officers told me to do.
The statement was signed by Parker and witnessed by then-Officer John Marsh of the
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Marsh testified at trial and identified the statement as
having been made by Parker.
¶5. According to trial testimony, the gun used at the shooting was never found. An
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms trace, however, revealed that Parker owned a Cobra FS380
(or a .380 caliber pistol), which officers identified as the same type of weapon used to kill
Jarvis Moore. The trace document also was entered into evidence. Further, Mississippi
Bureau of Investigation Officer Allen Thompson testified to finding a box of .380 cartridges
in Parker’s dorm room, and Ken Gill, the forensic lab technician, testified to finding six .380
caliber shell casings at the scene. Parker did not testify on his own behalf.
COURSE OF PROCEEDINGS
3
¶6. A grand jury returned an indictment on November 30, 2004, charging Parker with: (1)
possession of a firearm on educational property, (2) the murder of Jarvis Moore, and (3) the
aggravated assault of Justin Moore. The Coahoma County Circuit Court appointed an
attorney for Parker and set the trial date for December 20, 2004. The case was continued five
times over the next three years as different attorneys were appointed, retained, withdrawn,
and reappointed, all while Parker’s status fluctuated between indigent and non-indigent.
¶7. Parker first filed a Motion for Appointment of Attorney on December 7, 2004,
swearing that he had insufficient funds to employ an attorney. The court appointed David
Tisdell, a licensed and practicing Mississippi attorney, to represent Parker. On February 1,
2005, Tisdell filed a Motion to Withdraw because Parker had retained attorney Michael
Robinson of Smith, Rushing, Cotton & Robinson law firm to represent him at trial.
Robinson filed a Motion to Withdraw on May 11, 2005, due to health reasons. The court
denied this request. The court further noted that the firm would not be relieved of its
obligation, though it would entertain another request should Parker retain a different lawyer.
Robinson filed a Motion to Reconsider or in the alternative a Motion to Withdraw one month
later, based again on Robinson’s deteriorating health, the inability of the firm’s other
attorneys to represent Parker due to scheduling conflicts, and the fact that Parker had agreed
to pay the firm $10,000 for representation, but had only paid $2,100 to date. The court
denied the Motion to Reconsider, but granted Robinson’s Motion to Withdraw due to
Parker’s failure to pay. However, the court ordered the firm to refund Parker’s $2,100,
which Parker could use to obtain the attorney of his choice.
4
¶8. The court also refused to appoint Parker another attorney. Nevertheless, on July 15,
2005, the trial court authorized Parker to proceed in forma pauperis and reappointed Tisdell
to represent Parker. On February 14, 2006, Judge Larry Lewis conducted a jury trial that
ended in a mistrial.
¶9. On February 22, 2006, Tisdell again withdrew due to a conflict of interest with one
of the State’s potential witnesses, and Allan D. Shackleford was appointed as Parker’s
attorney. Shackleford continued to represent Parker through the trial, which finally began
on December 5, 2007. The State’s evidence included eyewitnesses, law enforcement, and
forensic testimony, as well as photographs of physical evidence recovered from the crime
scene. The actual gun was not admitted into evidence, because it was never recovered.
¶10. After the State rested, the defense moved for a directed verdict, but the trial court
denied this motion. Parker’s trial counsel then rested without making an opening statement
In fact, Parker’s counsel did not call a single witness to the stand (Parker stated at trial that
he chose not to testify). In his summation, Parker’s trial counsel admitted to count one,
firearm possession, but claimed that further testimony was not needed for the other charges
of murder and aggravated assault because the State had not met its burden of proof for these
charges.
¶11. The trial judge then met with counsel regarding jury instructions. The defense moved
for the inclusion of manslaughter and self-defense instructions; the judge heard arguments
regarding these two instructions. Based only on Parker’s statement, the trial judge allowed
these instructions. Parker’s trial counsel again moved for directed verdict, which the trial
court denied.
5
¶12. The trial concluded on December 7, 2007, with the jury returning guilty verdicts for
firearm possession, murder, and aggravated assault. Judge Kenneth L. Thomas held Parker’s
sentencing hearing on February 8, 2008. Judge Thomas sentenced Parker to three years and
a $1,000 fine for firearm possession, life without parole for murder, and fifteen years for
aggravated assault. Parker was remanded to the custody of the Coahoma County Sheriff’s
Department to be transported to the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Parker’s trial
counsel did not file a motion for a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Parker
appeals, and asks that this Court reverse the trial court or, in the alternative, remand for
resentencing.
ANALYSIS
¶13. Parker asserts the following six errors on appeal:
I. Whether the Trial Court Illegally Imposed a Sentence of Life
Without Parole for Parker’s Murder Conviction.
II. Whether the Trial Court Subjected Parker to Double Jeopardy.
III. Whether the Trial Court Erred by Failing to Order a Competency
Hearing.
IV. Whether the Trial Court Erred by Denying Parker’s Motions for
Directed Verdict.
V. Whether Parker’s Trial Counsel Rendered Ineffective Assistance
of Counsel.
VI. Whether Parker Is Entitled to Relief Based on Cumulative Error.
DISCUSSION
¶14. Except for the denial of the motion for directed verdict, all issues are raised for the
first time on appeal. Generally, a party who fails to make a contemporaneous objection at
6
trial must rely on plain error to raise the issue on appeal, because otherwise it is procedurally
barred. Walker v. State, 913 So. 2d 198, 216 (Miss. 2005). Plain error exists where such
error affects the defendant’s substantive/fundamental rights, even though no objection was
made at trial. Thus, where Parker’s substantive and fundamental rights are affected, this
Court will apply the plain-error doctrine in reviewing the alleged errors.
I. Whether the Trial Court Imposed an Illegal Sentence.
¶15. On appeal, Parker argues that the trial court illegally imposed a sentence of life
imprisonment without parole for the murder conviction. This Court agrees with Parker on
this assignment of error, and finds that trial court illegally sentenced Parker to life
imprisonment without parole. The trial court should have sentenced Parker to no more than
life imprisonment.
¶16. Mississippi Code Section 97-3-21 states:
Every person who shall be convicted of murder shall be sentenced by the court
to imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary.
Every person who shall be convicted of capital murder shall be sentenced (a)
to death; (b) to imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary without parole;
or (c) to imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary with eligibility for
parole as provided in Section 47-7-(1)(f).
Miss. Code. Ann. § 97-3-21 (Rev. 2006) (emphasis added). Parker was indicted and
convicted of deliberate-design murder pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 97-3-19.
Section 97-3-21 permitted the trial court to impose a sentence of only imprisonment for life.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-21 (Rev. 2006). The trial court imposed a sentence of life
imprisonment without parole, which exceeded the statutory maximum. Therefore, we find
7
that Parker should be resentenced in accordance with Mississippi Code Section 93-3-21 on
his murder conviction only.
¶17. Additionally, we take this opportunity to address the argument put forth by the State
that Parker’s sentence was legal under Mississippi Code Section 47-7-3. Mississippi Code
Section 47-7-3 provides, in pertinent part:
No person shall be eligible for parole who is convicted or whose suspended
sentence is revoked after June 30, 1995, except that an offender convicted of
only nonviolent crimes after June 30, 1995, may be eligible for parole if the
offender meets the requirements in subsection (1) and this paragraph.
Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-3(1)(g) (Rev. 2004).2 The Court of Appeals has interpreted this
statute to mean that “Mississippi has abolished parole for crimes occurring after June 30,
1995, pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-3(1)(g) (Rev.1993 & Supp.1998)[.]” Wade v.
State, 724 So. 2d 1007, 1007-08 (Miss. Ct. App. 1998).
¶18. Section 47-7-3 applies only to the internal operating procedures of the Department of
Corrections and the prisons and does not affect a judge’s sentencing prerogative under the
criminal statutes. Thus, the Court of Appeals’ interpretation of Section 47-7-3 is incorrect
because the statute does not “abolish parole.” See Wade, 724 So. 2d at 1007-08.
II. Whether the Trial Court Subjected Parker to Double Jeopardy.
2
The statute defines “nonviolent crime” to mean “a felony other than homicide, robbery,
manslaughter, sex crimes, arson, burglary of an occupied dwelling, aggravated assault, kidnapping,
felonious abuse of vulnerable adults, felonies with enhanced penalties, the sale or manufacture of
a controlled substance under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, felony child abuse, or
exploitation or any crime under Section 97-5-33 or Section 97-5-39(2) or 97-5-39(1)(b), 97-5-
39(1)(c) or a violation of Section 63-11-30(5).” Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-3-(1)(g)(Rev. 2004)
(emphasis added).
8
¶19. Parker argues that the trial court erred by subjecting him to double jeopardy.
Specifically, Parker claims that he was convicted of capital murder instead of deliberate-
design murder. Parker further argues that capital murder and possession of a firearm on
educational property have the same elements, and that firearm possession on educational
property is a lesser-included offense of capital murder. This Court reviews a claim of double
jeopardy de novo. Boyd v. State, 977 So. 2d 329, 334 (Miss. 2008).
¶20. The Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall be “subject for the same offence
to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” U.S. Const. amend. V; Deeds v. State, WL
4350783, at * 2 (Miss. Dec. 3, 2009). “Similarly, Section 22 of the Mississippi Constitution
of 1890 provides that ‘no person’s life or liberty shall be twice placed in jeopardy for the
same offense; but there must be an actual acquittal or conviction on the merits to bar another
prosecution.’” Miss. Const. art. 3, § 22; id. at *2.
¶21. In the instant appeal, Parker cites Edwards v. State, 737 So. 2d 275, 321 (Miss. 1999),
to support his position that possession of a firearm on educational property was the
underlying felony in the capital-murder charge and thus the grounds for his double-jeopardy
claim. The defendant in Edwards was charged with two counts of capital murder while
engaged in the commission of an armed robbery, as well as one count of armed robbery. Id.
at 284. This Court held that it was double jeopardy to convict the defendant of both capital
murder with armed robbery as the underlying offense and armed robbery, and reversed the
armed-robbery conviction. Id. at 321.
¶22. The present case is easily distinguished from Edwards. Parker’s indictment charged
him with one count of deliberate-design murder pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 97-3-
9
19, as well as one count of possession of a firearm on educational property pursuant to
Mississippi Code Section 97-37-17. Section 97-3-19(1)(a) defines murder, in part, as “the
killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall
be murder in the following cases: (a) [w]hen done with deliberate design to effect the death
of the person killed, or of any human being.” Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19(1)(a) (Rev. 2006)
(emphasis added). The elements of firearm possession on educational property include
possessing or carrying a gun, either openly or concealed, on a community college campus.
10
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-17(2) (Rev. 2006).3 The pertinent language of the indictment
reads:
(1) [Parker] did unlawfully, willfully and feloniously, without the authority of
law, and with deliberate design effect death, kill and murder a human being,”
and (2) “did unlawfully, willfully and feloniously and without authority of law,
possess a firearm, to-wit: a pistol, while on the campus of Coahoma
Community College . . . .
¶23. Parker’s claim that “the charge in count one encompassed the charge in count II” is
unsupported by the record. Parker was charged with and convicted of separate crimes, as
3
Mississippi Code Section 97-37-17 provides, specifically:
(1)(a) “Educational property" shall mean any public or private school
building or bus, public or private school campus, grounds, recreational
area, athletic field, or other property owned, used or operated by any
local school board, school, college or university board of trustees, or
directors for the administration of any public or private educational
institution or during a school-related activity, and shall include the
facilities and property of the Oakley and Columbia juvenile training
schools operated by the Department of Human Services; provided,
however, that the term "educational property" shall not include any
sixteenth section school land or lieu land on which is not located a
school building, school campus, recreational area or athletic field.
(2) It shall be a felony for any person to possess or carry, whether
openly or concealed, any gun, rifle, pistol or other firearm of any kind,
or any dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine or powerful explosive
on educational property. However, this subsection does not apply to a
BB gun, air rifle or air pistol. Any person violating this subsection shall
be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not
more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or committed to the
custody of the State Department of Corrections for not more than three
(3) years, or both.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-17 (Rev. 2006)
11
evinced by the language in the indictment and the jury instructions. Each charge consists of
entirely different elements, requiring different facts. Double jeopardy is not violated where
a defendant is convicted of separate crimes. See Lee v. State, 469 So. 2d 1225, 1228-29
(Miss. 1985). Thus, it is illogical for Parker to argue on appeal that trial court subjected him
to double jeopardy, as he was not tried twice for the same crime.
¶24. Additionally, Mississippi Code Section 99-7-2 states:
(1) Two (2) or more offenses which are triable in the same court may be
charged in the same indictment with a separate count for each offense if: (a)
the offenses are based on the same act or transaction; or (b) the offenses are
based on two (2) or more acts or transactions connected together or
constituting parts of a common scheme or plan.
(2) Where two (2) or more offenses are properly charged in separate counts of
a single indictment, all such charges may be tried in a single proceeding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-7-2 (Rev. 2007). Here, the trial court correctly tried Parker in a single
proceeding, and Parker’s criminal charges were based on a single, continuous act. Parker’s
offenses were properly charged in separate counts; thus the trial court did not subject Parker
to double jeopardy.
III. Whether the Trial Court Erred by Failing to Order a Mental
Examination.
¶25. Parker further avers that the trial court erred by failing to order a competency hearing
at trial. Parker implies, but does not specifically state, that he is entitled to a new trial, or at
least a competency hearing, because the trial testimony indicated that there was an issue of
the defendant’s competency at the time of the alleged crime. Parker argues that the trial court
12
never raised an issue of competency or confirmed Parker’s competency as he believes the
law requires, citing Mississippi Uniform Circuit and County Court Rule 9.06 as support.4
¶26. The determination of whether there are reasonable grounds for a competency test is
discretionary with the court. Conner v. State, 632 So. 2d 1239, 1248 (Miss. 1997) overruled
on other grounds by Weatherspoon v. State, 732 So. 2d 158, 162 (Miss. 1999). The test for
competency to stand trial and thereby whether reasonable grounds exist is “whether the
defendant has ‘sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree
of rational understanding’ and has a rational as well as factual understanding of the
proceedings against him.” Dunn v. State, 693 So. 2d 1333, 1340 (Miss. 1997) (quoting
Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 113 S. Ct. 2680, 125 L. Ed. 2d 321(1993)).
¶27. We find that Parker’s argument is fatally flawed in two ways. First, Parker alleges
that there were issues surrounding his competency at the time of the crime, and not at the
time of trial, as the rule requires. See Miss. Unif. Cir.& Cty. R. 9.06. Since Parker avers on
4
The pertinent language of Uniform Circuit and County Court Rule 9.06 states:
If before or during trial the court, of its own motion or upon motion of an
attorney, has reasonable ground to believe that the defendant is incompetent
to stand trial, the court shall order the defendant to submit to a mental
examination by some competent psychiatrist selected by the court in
accordance with § 99-13-11 of the Mississippi Code Annotated of 1972.
After examination the court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the
defendant is competent to stand trial. After hearing all the evidence, the court
shall weigh the evidence and make a determination of whether the defendant
is competent to stand trial.
Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06.
13
appeal that he was allegedly incompetent at the time of the crime, an insanity defense would
have been more appropriate.5
¶28. Second, Parker’s argument fails because he claims, incorrectly, that the rule required
the trial court to bring forth the issue on its own motion. The rule, however, provides that
the court must order a mental examination by some competent psychiatrist only if it has
“reasonable grounds” to do so. Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06. Thus, if reasonable grounds
exist, the rule requires that the court order the defendant to submit to a mental examination,
and after such examination, then the court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the
defendant is competent to stand trial. The trial court may raise the issue of competency to
stand trial sua sponte or an attorney may make a motion concerning the defendant’s ability
to stand trial. Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06. Here, Parker fails to present any facts on
appeal that the trial court had reasonable grounds to order Parker to submit to a mental
examination; further, the record lacks any evidence to show that Parker’s counsel raised the
issue of his competency to stand trial. Thus, after a thorough review of the record, this Court
finds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by failing to order a mental examination,
as it had no reasonable grounds to do so.
IV. Whether the Trial Court Erred by Denying Parker’s Motions for
Directed Verdict.
¶29. Parker argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion and renewed motion for
directed verdict. Specifically, Parker claims that the State failed to prove all of the elements
5
The record lacks any evidence that Parker intended to put forth an insanity defense
at trial.
14
of deliberate-design murder. Parker further avers that Buck and Justin Moore, two of the
State’s witnesses testifying against Parker, had an interest in Parker’s conviction, but never
states how or why this was so. On the contrary, the record shows that neither Buck nor Justin
Moore would gain anything from Parker’s conviction, as neither men were ever considered
suspects in the case.
¶30. This Court reviews the denial of a motion for a directed verdict de novo. Branch v.
State, 998 So. 2d 411, 416 (Miss. 2008). “In reviewing a denial of a motion for a directed
verdict, if we determine the evidence points in favor of the defendant on any element of the
offense such that a reasonable juror could not have found the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt, we must reverse the conviction.” Id. (quoting Coleman v. State, 947 So.
2d 878, 881 (Miss. 2006)).
¶31. The elements for deliberate-design murder are: (1) the defendant killed the victim, (2)
without authority of law, and (3) with deliberate design to effect his death. Miss. Code Ann.
§ 97-3-19 (Rev. 2006). Parker argues that the State never presented proof of each of these
elements, and that, if anything, it minimally made a prima facie case against him. However,
considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence presented was
legally sufficient to support the murder conviction.
¶32. The evidence in the record clearly shows (1) that Parker was in possession of a .380
caliber weapon and cartridges on the night in question, (2) that Parker shot and injured Justin
Moore, (3) that Parker shot and killed Jarvis Moore, and (4) that Jarvis Moore’s death
resulted from several gunshot wounds originating from a .380 caliber weapon. The
15
evidence further shows that Parker killed Jarvis Moore without the authority of law, as
nothing in the record demonstrates that Parker’s life was in imminent danger.
¶33. Finally, there is evidence in the record to support the jury’s finding that Parker killed
Jarvis Moore with the deliberate design to effect his death. This Court has acknowledged
“that ‘deliberate design’ to take the life of another connotes intent to kill.” Jones v. State,
710 So. 2d 870, 878 (Miss. 1998) (citing Peterson v. State, 242 So. 2d 420, 427 (Miss.
1970)). “[D]eliberate design to kill a person may be formed very quickly, and perhaps only
moments before the act of consummating the intent.” Brown, 965 So. 2d 1023, 1030 (Miss.
2007) (quoting Gossett v. State, 660 So. 2d 1285, 1293 (Miss. 1995)). Parker admitted in his
statement that he had possessed the gun at least a week prior to the shooting. He further
admitted that, during the shooting, he deliberately aimed at the person who punched him.
Ketrick Buck testified that Parker “popped off a couple of rounds,” paused, then fired more
rapidly, all while aiming at Jarvis Moore. The evidence supports the finding that Parker had
the requisite intent, even if it formed just moments before the act.
¶34. In light of these facts, this Court finds that the evidence is sufficient to support
Parker’s murder conviction, and that any rational juror could have found beyond a reasonable
doubt that the State proved each element of deliberate-design murder. Thus, the trial court
properly denied Parker’s motion for a directed verdict.
V. Whether Parker’s Trial Counsel Rendered Ineffective Assistance.
¶35. Next, Parker avers that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to effective
assistance of counsel. Parker assigns the following errors on direct appeal: (1) trial counsel
failed to object to the trial court’s illegal sentence of life without parole; (2) trial counsel
16
failed to defend Parker against double jeopardy; (3) trial counsel failed to file a motion for
a new trial; and (4) trial counsel failed to raise the issue of competency before the trial court.
¶36. This Court has addressed the proper procedures for reviewing claims for ineffective
assistance of counsel on direct appeal. See Read v. State, 430 So. 2d 832, 841-842 (Miss.
1983). Generally, “ineffective assistance claims are more appropriately brought during post-
conviction proceedings.” Archer v. State, 986 So. 2d 951, 955 (Miss. 2008). “This is
because on direct appeal the Court is limited to the trial court record in its review of the
claim.” Id. Where the record lacks sufficient evidence to adequately address the claim, this
Court should deny relief, preserving the defendant’s right to argue the issue through a post-
conviction-relief petition. Id. (citing Wilcher v. State, 863 So. 2d 776, 825 (Miss. 2003)).
This Court may, however, address an ineffectiveness claim on direct appeal if the presented
issues are based on facts fully apparent from the record. Id.; Miss. R. App. P. 22(b).6 Since
the facts and issues are apparent from the record, we will address the merits of Parker’s claim
of ineffective assistance of counsel.
¶37. The substantive standard of review for an ineffective-assistance claim is a well-settled,
two-pronged principle of law.
In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant
must prove that his attorney's performance was deficient, and that the
6
Rule 22(b) of the Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure provides:
Issues which may be raised in post-conviction proceedings may also be raised on
direct appeal if such issues are based on facts fully apparent from the record. Where
the appellant is represented by counsel who did not represent the appellant at trial, the
failure to raise such issues on direct appeal shall constitute a waiver barring
consideration of the issues in post-conviction proceedings.
17
deficiency was so substantial as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial.
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-696, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed.
2d 674 (1984); Wilcher v. State, 479 So. 2d 710, 713 (Miss. 1985); Stringer
v. State, 454 So. 2d 468, 477 (Miss. 1984). This Court looks at the totality of
circumstances to determine whether counsel's efforts were both deficient and
prejudicial. Carney v. State, 525 So. 2d 776, 780 (Miss. 1988); Read v. State,
430 So. 2d 832, 839 (Miss. 1983). “Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance
[is] highly deferential.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. There is a strong but
rebuttable presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of
reasonable professional assistance. Carney, 525 So. 2d at 780; Gilliard v.
State, 462 So. 2d 710, 714 (Miss. 1985). Only where it is reasonably probable
that but for the attorney's errors, the outcome of the trial would have been
different, will we find that counsel's performance was deficient. Dickey v.
State, 662 So. 2d 1106, 1109 (Miss. 1995); Reed v. State, 536 So. 2d 1336,
1339 (Miss. 1988).
Holly v. State, 716 So. 2d 979, 989 (Miss. 1998).
¶38. Furthermore, the appellant bears “the burden of proving that counsel's performance
was deficient and prejudicial.” Branch v. State, 882 So. 2d 36, 52 (Miss. 2004) (citing
Hansen v. State, 649 So. 2d 1256, 1258 (Miss.1994)). Additionally, there is no constitutional
right to errorless counsel. Id.(citing Stack v. State, 860 So. 2d 687, 696 (Miss. 2003));
Cabello v. State, 524 So. 2d 313, 315 (Miss. 1988); Mohr v. State, 584 So. 2d 426, 430
(Miss. 1991) (Court held that the right to effective counsel does not entitle defendant to have
an attorney who makes no mistakes at trial; defendant merely has right to have competent
counsel).
A. Failure to object to trial court’s imposition of an
illegal sentence.
¶39. First, Parker argues that he was constitutionally denied effective assistance of counsel,
because his trial counsel failed to object to the trial court’s imposition of an illegal sentence.
18
Parker believes that his trial counsel should have objected to this error by the trial court, and,
because he did not, that he was denied effective assistance of counsel.
¶40. Generally, the decision to make certain objections falls within the realm of trial
strategy and is not grounds for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Spicer v. State,
973 So. 2d 184, 203 (Miss. 2007). In the instant case, however, we cannot say that trial
counsel’s failure to object falls within the realm of trial strategy, as Parker’s trial counsel
should have objected to such error by the trial court.
¶41. Nevertheless, Parker fails to show on appeal how such conduct by the trial counsel
prejudiced his case. Despite there being no objection by Parker’s trial counsel, this Court
reviewed this issue under the plain-error doctrine; we therefore direct that Parker shall be
sentenced properly on remand.
B. Failure to defend against double jeopardy.
¶42. Next, Parker argues ineffective assistance based on the trial counsel’s failure to defend
Parker against double jeopardy. Parker avers that he was convicted of capital murder, and
that this, along with his conviction for possession of a firearm on school property, somehow
implicates the Double Jeopardy Clause of the federal and state constitutions. As discussed
above, we find this argument to be without merit.
¶43. The record is clear that Parker was charged with and convicted of deliberate-design
murder, as evinced by the language in the indictment and the jury instructions. Therefore,
Parker’s possession of a firearm on school property was not a lesser-included offense,
because Parker was not charged with or convicted of capital murder. Parker was charged
with and convicted of three separate crimes that required different facts and different
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elements of proof. See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-19, 97-3-7(2)(b) and 97-37-17 (Rev. 2006).
Thus, Parker was not subjected to double jeopardy, and failing to defend against such in this
case does not constitute deficient performance under prong one of Strickland.
C. Failure to raise competency issue.
¶44. Parker also argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to
raise the issue of competency at trial. The record is devoid of any evidence to show that the
trial court had reasonable grounds to order a mental examination pursuant to Mississippi
Uniform Circuit and County Court Rule 9.06. Because the record lacks any evidence that
would suggest Parker was incompetent, we cannot conclude that Parker’s counsel acted
ineffectively under this assignment of error. See Jordan v. State, 995 So. 2d 94, 110 (Miss.
2008) (citing Conley v. State, 790 So. 2d 773, 784 (Miss. 2001)); Miss. R. App. P. 28(a)(6).
D. Failure to Make Post-trial Motions.
¶45. Finally, Parker argues that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to
make a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) or, in the alternative, a new
trial. In fact, the record lacks any post-trial motions except for Parker’s notice of appeal.
¶46. In Holland v. State, this Court dealt with whether a lawyer’s failure to make any post-
trial motions constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. Holland v. State, 656 So. 2d 1192
(Miss. 1995). The trial lawyer in Holland failed to make any post-trial motions, to move for
a directed verdict, or even to ask for a peremptory instruction. Id. at 1197. On appeal, the
Court found that the lawyer’s performance amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel
because the omissions (1) “deprived the trial judge of the of the opportunity to reexamine
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possible errors at trial” which (2) “deprived Holland of a fair trial.” Id. (following the
Strickland standard).
¶47. In Simon v. State, this Court distinguished Holland somewhat by stating that, “[I]n
Holland this Court was concerned with the fact that the trial counsel had completely failed
to give the trial court the opportunity to review the sufficiency of the evidence at the end of
the trial.” Simon, 857 So. 2d 668, 690 (Miss. 2003) (citing Holland v. State, 656 So. 2d at
1197) (emphasis added). In Simon, trial counsel failed to move for a directed verdict at the
close of all evidence, but did file a motion for JNOV, or, in the alternative, a new trial. Id.
The Simon Court found that trial counsel’s conduct did not constitute ineffective assistance
of counsel. Id. In the instant case, Parker moved for a directed verdict both at the close of
the State’s case-in-chief and again at the end of the trial. Thus, the trial judge had two
opportunities to review the legal sufficiency of the evidence, as previously discussed in Issue
IV.
¶48. We note, however, that “[I]n a criminal proceeding, motions for a directed verdict
[and JNOV] challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the guilty verdict.”
Croft v. State, 992 So. 2d 1151, 1157 (Miss. 2008). Here, the trial court had an opportunity
to review the legal sufficiency of the evidence, but did not have an opportunity to review the
weight of the evidence, as Parker’s counsel failed to file a motion for a new trial. Stewart v.
State, 909 So. 2d 52, 56 (Miss. 2005) (citing Sheffield v. State, 749 So. 2d 123, 127 (Miss.
1999)) (outlining the standard of review for motions for a new trial). Thus, if the rules from
Holland and Simon are applied to this case, the failure to file a motion for a new trial
constituted a deficient performance under prong one of Strickland, since the trial judge did
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not have an opportunity to reconsider whether the verdict was contrary to the overwhelming
weight of the evidence. However, Parker’s argument must also satisfy prong two under
Strickland. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674
(1984).
¶49. Even though the trial counsel’s failure to move for a new trial constituted deficient
performance, Parker fails to show how such deficiency prejudiced his case. Specifically,
Parker failed to show how the filing of a motion for JNOV or, in the alternative, a new trial
would have changed the outcome of the proceedings. There was no reasonable probability
that the trial judge would have granted the motion for a new trial had he been afforded a
second chance to review the evidence, as two eyewitnesses testified at trial to seeing Parker
use a gun on school property to injure Justin Moore and to kill Jarvis Moore. The evidence
in the record overwhelmingly supports the verdict. Further, Parker bears the burden of
proving ineffective assistance of counsel, and without showing how trial counsel’s failure
to make a post-trial motion prejudiced the outcome of his case, he simply does not meet that
burden. Thus, this issue is without merit.
VI. Whether Parker Is Entitled to Relief Based on Cumulative Error.
¶50. In this assignment of error, Parker argues individual errors occurred that, when
considered cumulatively, denied him the right to a fair and impartial trial. In cases where this
Court finds harmless error or error that is not reversible in and of itself, the Court has the
discretion to determine on a case-by-case basis whether the errors require reversal due to the
resulting cumulative prejudicial effect. Byrom v. State, 863 So. 2d 836, 847 (Miss. 2003).
However, if there is no “reversible error in any part, so there is no reversible error to the
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whole.” Duncan v. State, 939 So. 2d 772, 784 (Miss. 2006) (citing McFee v. State, 511 So.
2d 130, 139 (Miss. 1987)).
¶51. Parker avers that the cumulative effect of the alleged errors at trial prejudiced his case
and deprived him of his fundamental right to a fair trial. The issues addressed previously,
however, do not rise to the level of reversible error, either standing alone or when considered
as a whole. Therefore, this assignment of error is without merit.
CONCLUSION
¶52. For the foregoing reasons, the jury convictions of murder, aggravated assault, and
possession of a firearm on educational property are affirmed. However, we vacate the
sentence of life without parole for the murder conviction and remand for resentencing within
the statutory guidelines.
¶53. COUNT I: CONVICTION OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON CAMPUS
AND SENTENCE OF THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. COUNT II: CONVICTION OF
MURDER, AFFIRMED. SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IS VACATED
AND THIS CASE IS REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING AS TO COUNT II.
COUNT III: CONVICTION OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SENTENCE OF
FIFTEEN (15) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. THE SENTENCES IMPOSED IN COUNTS I
AND III OF THIS CAUSE SHALL RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH EACH OTHER
AND CONSECUTIVELY TO ANY AND ALL SENTENCES PREVIOUSLY
IMPOSED.
WALLER, C.J., CARLSON, P.J., DICKINSON, RANDOLPH, LAMAR,
KITCHENS AND CHANDLER, JJ., CONCUR. GRAVES, P.J., CONCURS IN
RESULT ONLY.
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