Alex D. Wells v. State of Tennessee ( 2006 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs April 11, 2006
ALEX D. WELLS v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Fayette County
No. 5328 J. Weber McCraw, Judge
No. W2005-02841-CCA-R3-PC - Filed May 18, 2006
The petitioner, Alex D. Wells, appeals from the post-conviction court’s denial of his petition for
post-conviction relief. On appeal, he argues that the post-conviction court erred in finding that his
guilty plea was voluntarily entered and that he received the effective assistance of counsel.
Following our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-
conviction court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed
J.C. MC LIN , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which NORMA MCGEE OGLE and ALAN E.
GLENN , JJ., joined.
Matthew R. Armour, Somerville, Tennessee, for the petitioner, Alex D. Wells.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Brian Clay Johnson, Assistant Attorney General;
Elizabeth T. Rice, District Attorney General; and Terry Dycus, Assistant District Attorney General,
for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
BACKGROUND
The history and facts of this case are set out in our opinion on direct appeal as follows:
In March 2003, the Fayette County Grand Jury returned a forty-eight count
indictment against the appellant, alleging offenses of aggravated burglary, burglary,
and theft. On August 21, 2003, the appellant pled guilty to all counts, and a
sentencing hearing was held. The State presented the victim impact statements of
numerous victims as part of the proof at the sentencing hearing. All of the victim
impact statements recounted the emotional and financial trauma created by the
appellant’s offenses. Specifically, one victim stated that the appellant took items that
had once belonged to his sister who died in 1997. Additionally, the appellant
attempted to remove the lid from an urn containing the ashes of the victim’s sister.
Another victim lost all of her family pictures when the appellant left the photographs
exposed in the rain. Further, the victim impact statements reveal that all of the
victims were enraged. Notably, one victim opined that the appellant should be forced
to work off his debt to the victims. The victim suggested, “I would like [$]5000.00
of sweat to roll down his back [and] for every drop that falls I would consider it a ½
cent of payback.”
State v. Alex Dewayne Wells, No. W2003-02282-CCA-R3-CD, 2004 WL 1606976, *1 (Tenn. Crim.
App., at Jackson, July 16, 2004). Following the sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the
petitioner as a multiple offender to an effective sentence of thirty years.
At the post-conviction hearing, the petitioner testified that prior to pleading guilty he met
with an investigator, Chuck Pugh. According to the petitioner, Investigator Pugh told him that he
would get help for the petitioner’s drug problem if he cooperated. The petitioner claimed that when
he pled guilty to the forty-eight counts, he believed that he would be sentenced to a total of six to ten
years, served at thirty-five percent. He explained that even though the guilty plea he signed listed
the charges individually, he thought the trial court could only set his effective sentence in the six to
ten year range. The petitioner testified that he was in shock when the trial court announced he was
sentenced to thirty years and immediately told trial counsel he wanted to appeal. However, he
admitted that he never discussed withdrawing his plea.
The petitioner recalled that he met with trial counsel a total of three times, and she sent him
letters that communicated offers from the prosecutor. In particular, counsel told him that “the thefts
and the burglaries would . . . definitely run concurrent,” and that once Investigator Pugh testified that
the petitioner cooperated he would get “six to ten.” The petitioner recalled that no evidence was
offered on his behalf at the sentencing hearing and counsel did not cross-examine the state’s
witnesses.
On cross-examination, the petitioner admitted that he had an extensive criminal record, but
he explained he had been on drugs. He also admitted that he knew how the system worked and how
to talk to law enforcement officers. The petitioner further admitted that he signed the statement he
gave to Investigator Pugh and that he got along with the investigator. The petitioner acknowledged
that Investigator Pugh said he would talk to the prosecutor about letting him plead as a Range II
instead of a career offender, and that he was allowed to do so.
The petitioner also acknowledged that the trial court ran the counts concurrently that counsel
told him would definitely run concurrently. However, the petitioner asserted that the guilty plea
form did not contain anything about consecutive sentencing. The prosecutor asked the petitioner
whether he signed a guilty plea form that stated: “I, Alex Wells, understand I am pleading guilty to
the aforementioned forty-eight counts, have been advised that no plea bargain is offered and upon
entry of my plea the Judge will set my sentence.” The petitioner admitted that he signed the plea but
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asserted he thought it meant the trial judge could only sentence him between six to ten years total.
The petitioner testified that Investigator Pugh assured him that he would not get a lot of time because
he helped recover the stolen property. The petitioner lastly denied that counsel asked him to stop
talking to the investigator once counsel was appointed.
The petitioner’s trial counsel testified that the police had no physical evidence that the
petitioner committed the offenses, but counsel explained that the petitioner had confessed to the
crimes. Counsel recalled that the officers spoke to the petitioner several times outside of counsel’s
presence, so she told the petitioner that “they probably [have] enough on [you], let them figure out
the rest.” Counsel also recalled that she discussed with the petitioner that she could not promise his
sentences would run concurrently but she would beg the trial court for mercy.
Counsel testified that she believed the petitioner understood the six to ten year penalty noted
on the plea form referred to the penalty on each count. Counsel based this observation on her
conversations with the petitioner, the petitioner’s experience with the system, and the petitioner’s
intelligence and high ability to understand and discuss his case. However, counsel admitted that she
did not recall specifically saying on the day of the plea, “[n]ow, you know this is each count and they
can each run consecutive.”
Counsel recalled that she met with the petitioner five or six times. Counsel testified that she
did not call Investigator Pugh at the sentencing hearing because the investigator’s testimony that the
petitioner cooperated would have been cumulative. Counsel also noted that Investigator Pugh had
already helped the petitioner by urging the prosecutor to not enhance the petitioner to a career
offender.
On cross-examination, counsel testified that she advised the petitioner to stop talking to law
enforcement but she could not prevent him from freely talking to the officers. Counsel also testified
that the victims’ testimony at the hearing likely influenced the trial court’s decision to impose
consecutive sentencing, but she did not cross-examine the victims because “there was nothing to be
gained by further antagonizing the victims.” Counsel maintained that in her opinion the petitioner
would have gotten more time if he had gone to trial but he “got hammered” considering his
cooperation. Counsel reiterated that she discussed the possibility of consecutive sentencing with the
petitioner and that he entered his plea knowingly and intelligently.
Following the hearing, the post-conviction court denied the petitioner’s petition for post-
conviction relief. The petitioner appealed.
ANALYSIS
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In order for a petitioner to succeed on a post-conviction claim, the petitioner must prove the
allegations set forth in his petition by clear and convincing evidence. Tenn. Code Ann. §
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40-30-110(f). On appeal, this court is required to affirm the post-conviction court’s findings unless
the petitioner proves that the evidence preponderates against those findings. State v. Burns, 6
S.W.3d 453, 461 (Tenn. 1999). Our review of the post-conviction court’s factual findings is de novo
with a presumption that the findings are correct. Fields v. State, 40 S.W.3d 450, 457-58 (Tenn.
2001). Our review of the post-conviction court’s legal conclusions and application of law to facts
is de novo without a presumption of correctness. Id.
A. Voluntariness of Guilty Plea
The petitioner first argues that his guilty plea was involuntary because he thought the range
of punishment was six to ten years total, not six to ten years per count. The petitioner refers to the
procedures outlined in Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 and states that his “plea of guilty
was not properly entered due to the fact that the court and counsel failed to properly ensure that he
understood the range of potential punishment and the possibility that the sentencing could be run
consecutively.”
To begin, we note that when analyzing a guilty plea, we look to the federal standard
announced in Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969), and the state standard set out in State v.
Mackey, 553 S.W.2d 337 (Tenn. 1977), superseded on other grounds by Tennessee Rule of Criminal
Procedure 37(b) and Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(b). State v. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d 540,
542 (Tenn. 1999). In Boykin, the United States Supreme Court held that there must be an affirmative
showing by the trial court that a guilty plea was voluntarily and knowingly given before it can be
accepted. Boykin, 395 U.S. at 242. Similarly, our Tennessee Supreme Court in Mackey required an
affirmative showing of a voluntary and knowing guilty plea; namely, that the defendant has been
made aware of the significant consequences of such a plea. Mackey, 553 S.W.2d at 340; see Pettus,
986 S.W.2d at 542.
A plea is not “voluntary” if it results from ignorance, misunderstanding, coercion,
inducements or threats. Blankenship v. State, 858 S.W.2d 897, 904 (Tenn. 1993). The trial court
must determine if the guilty plea is “knowing” by questioning the defendant to make sure he fully
understands the plea and its consequences. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d at 542; Blankenship, 858 S.W.2d at
904. In determining whether a plea is “voluntary” and “intelligent,” the court must consider
the relative intelligence of the defendant; the degree of his familiarity with criminal
proceedings; whether he was represented by competent counsel and had the
opportunity to confer with counsel about the options available to him; the extent of
advice from counsel and the court concerning the charges against him; and the
reasons for his decision to plead guilty, including a desire to avoid a greater penalty
that might result from a jury trial.
Blankenship, 858 S.W.2d at 904 (citations omitted).
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We note that the petitioner has failed to include a transcript of the guilty plea hearing or a
copy of the guilty plea form in the record on appeal. It is the petitioner’s duty to prepare a record
that conveys a fair, accurate and complete account of what occurred with respect to the issues
forming the basis of the appeal. Tenn. R. App. P. 24(b); State v. Bunch, 646 S.W.2d 158, 160 (Tenn.
1983). The appellate court is precluded from considering an issue where the record is incomplete
and does not contain a transcript of the proceedings relevant to the issue on appeal or portions of the
record upon which the appealing party relies. State v. Roberts, 755 S.W.2d 833, 836 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1988). Accordingly, we will presume there is no error in the trial court’s finding the petitioner
knowingly and voluntarily entered his plea of guilty. See State v. Keen, 996 S.W.2d 842, 844 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1999).
B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
The petitioner lastly argues that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel.
Specifically, he asserts that counsel did not apprise him of the sentencing ramifications and steered
him away from a trial even though the state lacked physical evidence that he committed the crimes
in question. When a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is made under the Sixth Amendment,
the petitioner bears the burden of proving (1) that counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) the
deficiency was prejudicial in terms of rendering a reasonable probability that the result of the trial
was unreliable or the proceedings were fundamentally unfair. See Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 687 (1984). This standard has also been applied to the right to counsel under Article I,
Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution. State v. Melson, 772 S.W.2d 417, 419 n.2 (Tenn. 1989).
Should the petitioner fail to establish either element of ineffective assistance of counsel, the
petitioner is not entitled to relief. Our supreme court described the standard of review for ineffective
assistance of counsel as follows:
Because a petitioner must establish both prongs of the test, a
failure to prove either deficiency or prejudice provides a sufficient
basis to deny relief on the ineffective assistance claim. Indeed, a
court need not address the components in any particular order or even
address both if the defendant makes an insufficient showing of one
component.
Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 370 (Tenn. 1996) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697). When a
petitioner claims ineffective assistance of counsel in relation to a guilty plea, the petitioner must
prove that counsel performed deficiently, and, but for counsel’s errors, the petitioner would not have
pled guilty but, instead, would have insisted upon going to trial. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59
(1985).
In this case, assuming as true the petitioner’s claim he would not have pled guilty but for
counsel’s errors, the petitioner has failed to prove that counsel’s performance was deficient. At the
post-conviction hearing, counsel testified that she met with the petitioner five or six times in
preparation of his case, and she told the petitioner she could not promise that his sentences would
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run concurrently. Counsel also testified that based on her conversations with the petitioner, the
petitioner’s intelligence, and his experience with the system, she believed he understood that the
penalty set forth on the plea form referred to the penalty on each count. Counsel further testified that
she thought the petitioner’s “chance of concurrent sentencing [was] much greater with a plea than
at a trial,” and even though there was no physical evidence the petitioner committed the crimes, he
admitted his involvement to the police. The post-conviction court accredited counsel’s testimony.
Additionally, the record contains copies of two letters sent to the petitioner by counsel
informing him of the possible sentences he faced on each count and stating there is no assurance the
trial court would run the sentences concurrently. Furthermore, the post-conviction court’s written
findings also indicate that counsel’s performance was not deficient. In the post-conviction court’s
order denying post-conviction relief, the court noted as follows:
At the plea hearing the defendant testified under oath. He testified that he
went over the plea form, the waiver of a trial and waiver of appeal forms with his
attorney and signed them. He testified he understood what he was doing.
He was informed that his sentence would be set by the Court.
The defendant was asked if he was satisfied with the representation of
[counsel] and he stated he was. He testified he had enough time to meet with his
attorney and discuss this case. The defendant testified that no one had forced him to
enter this plea of guilty, and that he did not have any questions about the proceeding.
Before the plea proceedings, [counsel] went over the same information with
petitioner.
....
At the post conviction hearing, [counsel] testified about the investigation
done by her and about conversations with the State with regard to the evidence
available for trial.
Petitioner’s main complaint is that he believes that all of the sentences should
run concurrently and that he was [led] to believe that all of such sentences would
[run] concurrently. However, considering the overwhelming evidence against the
[petitioner] and his testimony at the post conviction hearing about his defense, the
Court believes his attorney negotiated the best deal possible by submitting the
sentencing to the Judge and notes that many of the sentences were concurrent with
each other.
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The post-conviction court found that the petitioner failed to show any deficient performance
on the part of counsel and it is our view the evidence does not preponderate against that finding.
Therefore, the petitioner is not entitled to relief on this issue.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the aforementioned authorities and reasoning, we affirm the post-conviction
court’s denial of post-conviction relief.
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J.C. McLIN, JUDGE
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