Timotheus Lamar Johnson v. State of Tennessee ( 2010 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs June 29, 2010
TIMOTHEUS LAMAR JOHNSON v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2006-C-2319 Steve R. Dozier, Judge
No. M2009-01571-CCA-R3-PC - Filed December 22, 2010
The Petitioner, Timotheus Lamar Johnson, pled guilty to second degree murder and
especially aggravated robbery in exchange for a total effective sentence of thirty-five years
in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Subsequently, the Petitioner filed for post-
conviction relief, alleging his trial counsel was ineffective and that his pleas were not
knowingly and voluntarily entered. The post-conviction court denied the petition, and the
Petitioner appeals. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court is Affirmed.
N ORMA M CG EE O GLE , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which J OSEPH M. T IPTON,
P.J., and D. K ELLY T HOMAS, J R., J., joined.
Ashley Preston, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Timotheus Lamar Johnson.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Reporter; Benjamin A. Ball, Assistant Attorney
General; Victor S. Johnson, III, District Attorney General; and Pamela Anderson, Assistant
District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Factual Background
On September 5, 2006, the Davidson County Grand Jury returned a multi-count
indictment, charging the Petitioner with premeditated first degree murder, felony murder, and
especially aggravated robbery. Thereafter, on June 4, 2007, the Petitioner pled guilty to
second degree murder, as a lesser-included offense of premeditated first degree murder, and
especially aggravated robbery. The plea agreement provided that the Petitioner, who was a
standard, Range I offender, would be sentenced outside his range to thirty-five years for the
second degree murder conviction. The agreement further provided that the Petitioner would
receive a concurrent sentence of twenty years for the especially aggravated robbery
conviction, for a total effective sentence of thirty-five years, one hundred percent of which
was to be served in confinement. In exchange for his pleas, the State dismissed the felony
murder charge.
At the guilty plea hearing, the State recited the following factual basis for the
Petitioner’s pleas:
Your Honor, the State’s proof at trial would have been
that this involved a shooting that took place, 2-13-06, Combs
Drive at . . . Dyne Court . . . which is in Davidson County. The
victim, Mr. Buford, was shot in the street by a suspect using a
handgun.
Numerous witnesses to that saw three people gather
around the victim and when the shots were heard, they ran away.
The State’s proof would be that as – that there was a witness
that drove the victim to this location. It was an agreed upon
transaction of controlled substances . . . with a co-defendant,
Mr. McCullough.
The State’s proof would be that Detective Satterfield
interviewed [the Petitioner], I believe on March 19 th of ‘06. [The
Petitioner] agreed that he, Mr. Harris and Mr. McCullough had
been at the location. [The Petitioner] stated that he had seen the
vehicle pull up, that he was sitting on a wall and looked behind
– on one of those rock walls in front of some houses, that he
looked behind the wall and there was a weapon behind the wall,
whereupon, [the Petitioner] went out to the truck where Mr.
McCullough and the victim were discussing the transaction.
[The Petitioner] then stated that he . . . struck the victim with the
weapon – that after Mr. Harris or Mr. McCullough told the
victim to, quote, drop it off, that [the Petitioner] then struck the
victim with the gun and that Mr. Harris attempted to take the
gun away from the [Petitioner] whereupon[] the gun discharged,
shooting [the victim]. Clearly, it would be our position that the
drop it off was a demand for money from the victim. All the
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parties ran. Mr. McCullough and Mr. Harris were also
interviewed and gave statements to detectives.
Subsequently, on June 3, 2008, the Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief,
alleging that his trial counsel was ineffective and that his guilty pleas were not knowingly
and voluntarily entered. At the post-conviction hearing, the Petitioner testified that he was
sixteen years old when the offense occurred and that his case was transferred from juvenile
court to criminal court.
The Petitioner said that trial counsel told him about the State’s plea offer to allow him
to plead to second degree murder with an “out of range” sentence of thirty-five years. The
Petitioner stated that trial counsel made having a trial seem “useless” and that counsel
believed the Petitioner would “automatically get the max.” Feeling that trial counsel “had
no kind of plan to defend [him],” the Petitioner decided to accept the State’s plea offer. The
Petitioner did not know of any possible defenses which could have been pursued at trial, but
he maintained that trial counsel should have pursued a suppression motion because Petitioner
was under the influence of drugs at the time he gave his inculpatory statement to police. He
said that he had smoked “two and a half blunts” of marijuana. He acknowledged that counsel
did raise some issues about the interrogation but complained that “nothing happen[ed] about
it, though.”
The Petitioner acknowledged that the gun that killed the victim was in his hands at the
time the victim was killed. He also acknowledged that he told police that it “was a robbery,”
but he maintained that he “took no currency of any kind from the man.” He conceded that
he told police that he was glad to “get this off his chest.”
The Petitioner said he was unaware of any of the rights he was giving up by entering
the guilty pleas. He stated that he also did not understand “the State versus Hicks issue,” 1
which allowed a sentence in excess of his standard, Range I offender status. The Petitioner
said that he had been doing legal research in the prison law library, and he thought that if he
had gone to trial, he would have received a sentence less than thirty-five years.
The Petitioner also complained that
I feel I was cheated out of my rights when I signed the deal and
knew nothing of it and that as far as my especially aggravated
1
State v. Hicks, 945 S.W .2d 706, 709 (Tenn. 1997), held that an offender may negotiate a plea agreement for
a sentence encompassing one range for release eligibility purposes but another range for determining the length of
sentence.
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robbery being ran together with it and getting the time for it
anyway, uh – yes, I really feel like I was done wrong.
The Petitioner said that when he pled guilty, he did not understand the meaning of concurrent
sentencing. He learned that “[i]t’s running one together with it.” Regardless, he maintained
that “they gave me the time for [especially aggravated robbery] when they wasn’t supposed
to.”
The Petitioner maintained that his attorney told him to answer “yes” to all questions
at the guilty plea hearing and that he followed counsel’s instructions. However, when
pressed, he acknowledged that he occasionally responded “no” to some questions and asked
some questions of the trial court. He conceded that the trial court explained that Hicks
allowed the Petitioner, a standard Range I offender, to enter into a plea agreement and be
sentenced in a higher sentencing range. The trial court further explained that the Petitioner
was entering such a guilty plea. At the guilty plea hearing, the Petitioner acknowledged that
he understood the terms of the plea agreement. However, at the post-conviction hearing, the
Petitioner said he did not understand that he was pleading outside of his range. The
Petitioner acknowledged that he entered his pleas to avoid the possibility of being found
guilty at trial of first degree murder and receiving a life sentence.
The Petitioner’s trial counsel testified that he began representing the Petitioner in
February 2006 when the case was in juvenile court. Trial counsel said that between the
Petitioner’s detention hearing and his transfer hearing, he underwent a psychological
evaluation. The examination revealed that the Petitioner was competent to stand trial and
that no psychological defense could be supported.
Trial counsel said that the Petitioner’s statement to police was “devastating.” The
Petitioner told police that he had an automatic rifle similar to an AK47 when he and his two
codefendants were robbing the victim, that he hit the victim with the butt of the rifle during
the robbery, and that the victim was shot and killed while he and one of his codefendants
struggled over the gun. The Petitioner told police that he was “glad he got it all off his chest”
and indicated that he knew he would be charged with a crime for his participation in the
offense. Trial counsel opined that the Petitioner’s statement would be his “undoing.”
Counsel said that the Petitioner did not reveal until April 2007, a year into counsel’s
representation, that he had been under the influence of drugs at the time he gave police his
statement. Counsel recalled that they were quickly approaching the Petitioner’s June 2007
trial date. Nevertheless, the trial court granted counsel permission to file a motion to
suppress the Petitioner’s statement. Counsel stated, however, that nothing on the videotape
of the Petitioner’s statement indicated that he spoke with police involuntarily. The Petitioner
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spoke casually as if he were “talking to somebody who was an old friend.” Trial counsel said
he raised the issue of the Petitioner’s intoxication at the motion to suppress, but the motion
was denied.
Trial counsel recalled that the State was reluctant to make a plea offer, especially
given the strength of the case against the Petitioner. Trial counsel said that the State had the
Petitioner’s statement implicating himself in the robbery and murder, the statements of the
Petitioner’s codefendants, and the potential testimony of the female who was in the car with
the victim when he was shot and of Ronald Armstrong who heard the Petitioner say that he
was involved in the crime. Nevertheless, in April 2007 the State offered to allow the
Petitioner to plead to second degree murder in exchange for an out of range sentence of
thirty-five years, one hundred percent of which was to be served in confinement. Neither
trial counsel nor the Petitioner were happy with the length of sentence suggested by the State.
Trial counsel tried to negotiate for a shorter sentence but was unsuccessful.
During conversations with the Petitioner, trial counsel explained the evidence the
State possessed against the Petitioner and advised the Petitioner he was facing a potential life
sentence. Trial counsel said that he believed the Petitioner understood what he was facing.
Trial counsel explained the rights the Petitioner would waive by pleading guilty, and he
thought the Petitioner understood. Although the Petitioner did not want to accept a sentence
of thirty-five years, he “was not anxious to go to trial on this case.” Therefore, the Petitioner
decided to enter a guilty plea. Counsel recalled that he thought the State was going to retire
the especially aggravated robbery charge, but at the plea hearing the State said it wanted the
Petitioner to plead guilty to that charge with a concurrent twenty-year sentence. Trial counsel
reviewed the terms of the pleas with the Petitioner to make sure he understood. Trial counsel
never advised the Petitioner to say “yes” to all of the trial court’s questions. Instead, he
advised the Petitioner to listen carefully to the trial court’s questions and to answer
accordingly.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the post-conviction court accredited the testimony
of trial counsel. The court noted that counsel had difficulty forming a defense for the
Petitioner, especially given the Petitioner’s statement to police. Knowing the Petitioner was
facing a life sentence if convicted at trial, trial counsel advised the Petitioner to plead guilty.
The post-conviction court found that trial counsel informed the Petitioner of the rights he was
waiving by pleading guilty and of the consequences of the guilty plea. Moreover, the post-
conviction court noted that the guilty plea hearing transcript reflected that the Petitioner fully
understood what he was doing. Accordingly, the post-conviction court found that the
Petitioner failed to prove that his trial counsel was ineffective or that his pleas were not
knowingly and voluntarily entered. On appeal, the Petitioner contests this ruling.
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II. Analysis
To be successful in his claim for post-conviction relief, the petitioner must prove all
factual allegations contained in his post-conviction petition by clear and convincing
evidence. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-110(f) (2006). “‘Clear and convincing evidence
means evidence in which there is no serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of the
conclusions drawn from the evidence.’” State v. Holder, 15 S.W.3d 905, 911 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1999) (quoting Hodges v. S.C. Toof & Co., 833 S.W.2d 896, 901 n.3 (Tenn. 1992)).
Issues regarding the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be accorded their
testimony, and the factual questions raised by the evidence adduced at trial are to be resolved
by the post-conviction court as the trier of fact. See Henley v. State, 960 S.W.2d 572, 579
(Tenn. 1997). Therefore, the post-conviction court’s findings of fact are entitled to
substantial deference on appeal unless the evidence preponderates against those findings.
See Fields v. State, 40 S.W.3d 450, 458 (Tenn. 2001).
When a petitioner seeks post-conviction relief on the basis of ineffective assistance
of counsel, “the petitioner bears the burden of proving both that counsel’s performance was
deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense.” Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363,
369 (Tenn. 1996) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)). To establish
deficient performance, the petitioner must show that counsel’s performance was below “the
range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d
930, 936 (Tenn. 1975). To establish prejudice, the petitioner must show that “there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient
to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. Further,
[b]ecause 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 [petitioner] makes an
insufficient showing of one component.
Goad, 938 S.W.2d at 370 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697). Moreover, in the context of
a guilty plea, “the petitioner must show ‘prejudice’ by demonstrating that, but for counsel’s
errors, he would not have pleaded guilty but would have insisted upon going to trial.” Hicks
v. State, 983 S.W.2d 240, 246 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998); see also Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S.
52, 59 (1985).
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Additionally, we note that in determining the voluntariness of a guilty plea, a trial
court must advise the defendant of the consequences of a guilty plea and determine whether
the defendant understands those consequences to ensure the plea is a “voluntary and
intelligent choice among the alternative courses of action open to the defendant.” North
Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 31 (1970); see also Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 244
(1969). The trial court must address the defendant personally in open court, inform the
defendant of the consequences of the guilty plea, and determine whether the defendant
understands those consequences. See State v. Mackey, 553 S.W.2d 337, 341 (Tenn. 1977);
Tenn. R. Crim. P. 11(c). In determining whether the petitioner’s guilty pleas were knowing
and voluntary, this court looks to the following factors:
the relative intelligence of the [petitioner]; 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 v. State, 858 S.W.2d 897, 904 (Tenn. 1993).
In the instant case, the post-conviction court found that trial counsel met with the
Petitioner and explained the charges he was facing. Trial counsel discussed with the
Petitioner the evidence against him and the sentences he could receive if convicted at trial.
Additionally, trial counsel reviewed the State’s guilty plea offer with the Petitioner and
thoroughly explained the rights the Petitioner would waive, the convictions he would receive,
and the sentence to be imposed if he pled guilty. Trial counsel also explained that the
Petitioner would be pleading out of his range, but he told the Petitioner he would be doing
so to avoid a life sentence. The post-conviction court found that the Petitioner was
thoroughly informed about the strength of the State’s case against him and of the
consequences of the guilty pleas, including the out of range sentence. At the plea hearing,
the Petitioner indicated that he understood what he was doing and that he wanted to plead
guilty. Therefore, the post-conviction court found that the Petitioner had failed to establish
that trial counsel was ineffective or that his guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily
entered. Upon review, we conclude that there is nothing in the record to preponderate
against this ruling.
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III. Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
___________________________________
NORMA McGEE OGLE, JUDGE
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