Cervantes (Julio) v. State ( 2014 )


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  •                  discretion." Johnson v. State, 
    123 Nev. 139
    , 144, 
    159 P.3d 1096
    , 1098
    (2007). The district court conducted an evidentiary hearing, wherein prior
    counsel for Cervantes testified. After considering the transcripts of the
    plea canvass and sentencing, the guilty plea agreement, and the testimony
    provided at the evidentiary hearing, the district court concluded that
    Cervantes's plea was knowingly, freely, and voluntarily given. The record
    supports the district court's determinations, see Molina v. State, 
    120 Nev. 185
    , 191, 
    87 P.3d 533
    , 537-38 (2004), and Cervantes fails to demonstrate
    that the district court misapplied the standard for determining the
    voluntariness of his plea or abused its discretion.
    Third, Cervantes contends that the district court erred by
    denying his post-conviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus because
    the district court misapprehended the duties of appointed counsel when it
    concluded that counsel was appointed only for the limited purpose of
    reviewing the merits of the post-conviction motion to withdraw the guilty
    plea. Cervantes claims that counsel was ineffective because counsel had a
    duty to advocate and pursue the post-conviction motion and because
    counsel informed the district court that the motion had no legal basis. The
    district court concluded that counsel was effective.
    Cervantes fails to demonstrate that he was entitled to counsel
    or the effective assistance of counsel for his post-conviction motion.   See
    MeKague v. Warden, 
    112 Nev. 159
    , 163, 
    912 P.2d 255
    , 257 (1996) ("[T]here
    is no right to effective assistance of counsel, or counsel at all, in post-
    conviction proceedings."); see also Coleman v. Thompson, 
    501 U.S. 722
    , 752
    (1991), as modified by Martinez v. Ryan, 566 U.S. „ 
    132 S. Ct. 1309
    ,
    1315 (2012). "Where there is no right to counsel there can be no
    deprivation of effective assistance of counsel." McKague, 112 Nev. at 164-
    SUPREME COURT
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    65, 
    912 P.2d at 258
    . Therefore, the district court did not err by denying
    this claim. See Wyatt v. State, 
    86 Nev. 294
    , 298, 
    468 P.2d 338
    , 341 (1970)
    (this court will affirm a decision of the district court if it reaches the right
    result, even if for the wrong reason).
    Having considered Cervantes's claims and concluded that no
    relief is warranted, we
    ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.
    ,   J.
    Pickering
    J.
    Saitta
    cc: Hon. Douglas Smith, District Judge
    Law Office of Julian Gregory, L.L.C.
    Matthew D. Carling
    Attorney General/Carson City
    Clark County District Attorney
    Eighth District Court Clerk
    SUPREME COURT
    OF
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    (0) I947A
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 64714

Filed Date: 6/11/2014

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 10/30/2014