Fletcher v. State , 372 Mont. 22 ( 2013 )

September 17 2013
DA 13-0043
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2013 MT 266CODY LYNN FLETCHER,
Petitioner and Appellant,
v.
STATE OF MONTANA,
Respondent and Appellee.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eleventh Judicial District,
In and For the County of Flathead, Cause No. DV 12-677(A)
Honorable Ted O. Lympus, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Briana E. Schwandt, Smith & Stephens, P.C.; Missoula, Montana
For Appellee:
Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General; Mardell Ployhar, Assistant
Attorney General; Helena, Montana
Ed Corrigan, Flathead County Attorney; Kalispell, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: August 14, 2013
Decided: September 17, 2013
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Michael E Wheat delivered the Opinion of the Court.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶1 Cody Fletcher (Fletcher) pled guilty to sexual assault and sexual intercourse without
consent in the Eleventh Judicial District, Flathead County, before Hon. Ted O. Lympus
(Judge Lympus). Fletcher was represented by attorney Lane Bennett (Bennett) who helped
him negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecutor. Pursuant to the agreement, the State
would request only 40 years imprisonment with 20 suspended in exchange for Fletcher’s
plea of guilty. At his change of plea hearing, Fletcher acknowledged that Judge Lympus was
not bound by the plea agreement and that he could face a harsher sentence than that outlined
in the plea agreement.
¶2 At sentencing, Judge Lympus handed down an oral order imposing a 40-year sentence
with 20 suspended. The sentence also required that Fletcher complete the Sexual Offender
Program (SOP) I and II in the Montana State Prison, and imposed a 10-year restriction on
eligibility for parole. However, Fletcher interpreted the sentence to require SOP I and II
only if professionals determined that he needed such a program, and also believed that he
would not need to complete the SOP conditions before becoming eligible for parole. When
the written sentence was issued, Fletcher was concerned that the SOP and parole conditions
were inconsistent with the oral pronouncement of his sentence in that he was required to
complete SOP I and II outright, and he would not be eligible for parole until after completion
of these conditions.
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¶3 In his petition for Post-Conviction Relief (PCR), Fletcher argued that his sentence was
unfair because the judge used personal feelings against him and did not give adequate reason
for the 10-year parole restriction, and also asserted an ineffective assistance of counsel claim
(IAC). Fletcher never raised the inconsistency of his oral and written sentence in his PCR
petition. The District Court dismissed the petition without a hearing. It is from this
dismissal that Fletcher now appeals.
STATEMENT OF ISSUES
¶4 Issue One: Are Fletcher’s challenges to the legality of his sentence procedurally
barred?
¶5 Issue Two: Was Fletcher denied effective assistance of counsel?
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶6 This Court reviews a district court’s denial of a petition for post-conviction relief to
determine whether its findings of fact are clearly erroneous and its conclusions of law are
correct. Whitlow v. State, 2008 MT 140, ¶ 9, 343 Mont. 90, 183 P.3d 861. We do not review
issues raised for the first time on appeal. Ellenburg v. Chase, 2004 MT 66, ¶ 18, 320 Mont.
315, 87 P.3d 473. IAC claims present mixed issues of law and fact which we review de
novo. State v. Clary, 2012 MT 26, ¶ 13, 364 Mont. 53, 270 P.3d 88.
DISCUSSION
¶7 Are Fletcher’s challenges to the legality of his sentence procedurally barred?
¶8 Fletcher challenges his sentence on the grounds that the District Court’s oral
pronouncement at sentencing differed from the written order. He further argues that a
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hearing should have been conducted to modify or clarify his sentence. However, Fletcher
raises both of these arguments for the first time on appeal, so they are barred as a matter of
procedure.
¶9 All grounds for post-conviction relief claimed by a petitioner must be raised in the
original or amended original petition. Section 46-21-105(1)(a), MCA. We do not review
issues raised for the first time on appeal. Ellenburg, ¶ 18. In a PCR petition that includes an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim, defendant may raise all claims that were foreclosed
by his counsel’s abandonment of appeal. In re Hans, 1998 MT 7, ¶ 19, 288 Mont. 168, 958
P.2d 1175.
¶10 Petitioner states that he raised the inconsistency of his sentence in his PCR petition,
as well as in his PCR reply brief. In fact, he raised the issue in neither document. In his
PCR petition, Fletcher states that his 10-year parole restriction was handed down without
reason, but does not contest the consistency of oral and written judgments. Further, his PCR
reply brief raises only an ineffective assistance of counsel claim alleging that Fletcher’s
attorney failed to seek clarification of the parole eligibility restriction. Nothing in Fletcher’s
motions or briefs at the PCR or trial stage challenges the legality of the oral or written
sentence on account of contradictory or ambiguous terms. As such, the inconsistency of his
sentence is raised for the first time on appeal, and it is barred as a matter of procedure.
¶11 Was Fletcher denied effective assistance of counsel?
¶12 Fletcher also claims that he was denied effective assistance of counsel when his
attorney (1) failed to ensure he understood the plea agreement, (2) failed to seek
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clarification of the oral and written judgments, and (3) failed to preserve Fletcher’s right
to appeal.
¶13 To determine if an individual has received ineffective assistance of counsel, we
use the two-part test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct.
2052, 2064 (1984); State v. Miner, 2012 MT 20, ¶ 11, 364 Mont. 1, 271 P.3d 56. Under
this test, the defendant must demonstrate (1) that counsel’s performance was deficient,
and (2) that counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. Miner, ¶ 11. IAC
claims must be grounded on facts in the record and not on mere conclusory allegations.
State v. Finley, 2002 MT 288, ¶ 9, 312 Mont. 493, 59 P.3d 1132. If an insufficient
showing is made regarding one prong of the test, there is no need to address the other
prong. Dawson v. State, 2000 MT 219, ¶ 21, 301 Mont. 135, 10 P.3d 49.
¶14 Under Strickland’s first prong, we examine whether counsel’s conduct fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness considering prevailing professional norms, and in the
context of all circumstances. Whitlow, ¶ 14. Counsel’s conduct is strongly presumed to be
within professional norms, and a plaintiff must “identify the acts or omissions of counsel that
are alleged not to have been the result of reasonable professional judgment.” Whitlow, ¶ 16
(quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690, 104 S. Ct. at 2066). We then examine these acts or
omissions in light of all circumstances to determine whether it falls below the standard of
reasonable professional conduct. Whitlow, ¶ 16. Under Strickland’s second prong, we
examine whether there is a reasonable probability that counsel’s lack of reasonable
professional conduct renders the trial result unreliable or the proceedings fundamentally
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unfair. Miner, ¶ 12. “If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of
lack of sufficient prejudice. . .that course should be followed.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687,
104 S. Ct. at 2069.
¶15 First, Fletcher’s attorney sufficiently explained the risks and benefits of a guilty plea
in this situation. In State v. Cameron, we found that a defendant sufficiently understood the
consequences of his plea when his lawyer explained the plea, as well as when the trial judge
interrogated him to ensure his understanding. State v. Cameron, 253 Mont. 95, 102, 830
P.2d 1284. Bennett and Fletcher agreed that he had little chance for acquittal at trial because
of eyewitnesses and DNA evidence. Bennett’s affidavit demonstrates that he warned
Fletcher that the Court could sentence him more harshly than the plea agreement
recommendations. Under these circumstances, Bennett’s conduct was that of a reasonable
professional, so Fletcher’s claim fails the first prong of Strickland. But even if Bennett had
failed to inform his client about the risk of a greater sentence, Fletcher acknowledged at his
change of plea hearing that the Court could hand down a harsher sentence than the plea
agreement. As such, Fletcher was not prejudiced by his attorney’s failure to explain the plea
agreement, so his claim also fails the second prong of Strickland.
¶16 Second, Fletcher was not prejudiced by Bennett’s failure to clarify the ambiguity of
the oral judgment or his failure to object to the written judgment. Although the oral version
of a sentence is controlling, written judgments may help clarify an ambiguous oral sentence.
State v. Lane, 1998 MT 76, ¶¶ 36-40, 288 Mont. 286, 957 P.2d 9; State v. Waters, 1999 MT
229, ¶¶ 31-32, 296 Mont. 101, 987 P.2d 1142.
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¶17 Here, the District Court’s oral judgment was certainly ambiguous:
[T]he defendant’s consideration for eligibility for parole is restricted from the
first 10 years of this sentence. . .[T]he defendant will be required to
successfully comflete [sic] –complete the sex offender program SOP Program
Level 1, as well as SOP Level 2 prior to being –if that is deemed appropriate
by the administrators of the program at Montana State Prison. Both then, SOP
I and II are to be –successfully completed prior to consideration for parole
eligibility.
¶18 As Fletcher argues, the oral sentence conditions regarding his parole eligibility and
SOP requirements could be subject to several possible interpretations. However, Fletcher
also concedes that one of those possible interpretations is the sentence outlined by the written
judgment: “It was the order of this Court that the Defendant shall not be eligible for parole
for ten (10) years. It was further the order of this Court that the Defendant shall not be
eligible for parole unless and until he successfully completes Sex Offender Treatment
Program I and II.”
¶19 Had Bennett requested clarification of the oral judgment, the judge would have likely
clarified his order at that time. Fletcher was not prejudiced simply because he was surprised
by the written order’s clarification of his sentence. Because the written order legally
clarified the oral sentence, Bennett’s objection to the written order would have had no legal
consequence for Fletcher. Further, it is irrelevant that the Flathead Prosecutors prepared the
written order because Judge Lympus demonstrated his actual intent by signing the order.
Accordingly, Fletcher’s IAC claim regarding inconsistency of sentence fail the second prong
of Strickland.
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¶20 Finally, Fletcher asserts that Bennett refused to preserve his right to appeal his
sentence. But Bennett did not refuse his client’s wish for an appeal, instead, he warned
Fletcher that he had slim chance for a successful appeal to this Court because his sentence
was legal. Further, Bennett advised Fletcher that the proper remedy for appealing his
sentence was at the Sentence Review Board (SRB). This advice is not in error, and it is
irrelevant that another lawyer would have acted differently by warning Fletcher about the
risks of SRB. State v. Turner, 2000 MT 270, ¶ 7, 302 Mont. 69, 12 P.3d 934. (“The fact that
some other lawyer . . . would have done differently . . . is not ground for branding the
appointed attorney with the opprobrium of ineffectiveness. . . .”). Therefore, Bennett’s
actions were those of a reasonable professional under the circumstances, and Fletcher’s third
claim fails the first prong of Strickland.
CONCLUSION
¶21 Fletcher’s challenges to the legality of his sentence are procedurally barred. Fletcher
was not denied effective assistance of counsel. We affirm the District Court’s denial of
Fletcher’s PCR petition.
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
We Concur:
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ JIM RICE
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