State v. Lavell James Cammon ( 2019 )


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  •      COURT OF APPEALS
    DECISION                                               NOTICE
    DATED AND FILED                           This opinion is subject to further editing. If
    published, the official version will appear in
    the bound volume of the Official Reports.
    October 29, 2019
    A party may file with the Supreme Court a
    Sheila T. Reiff               petition to review an adverse decision by the
    Clerk of Court of Appeals          Court of Appeals. See WIS. STAT. § 808.10
    and RULE 809.62.
    Appeal Nos.         2018AP1336-CR                                          Cir. Ct. Nos. 2014CF2809
    2014CF5487
    2018AP1337-CR
    STATE OF WISCONSIN                                          IN COURT OF APPEALS
    DISTRICT I
    STATE OF WISCONSIN,
    PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT,
    V.
    LAVELL JAMES CAMMON,
    DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
    APPEALS from judgments and orders of the circuit court for
    Milwaukee County: MEL FLANAGAN and CYNTHIA MAE DAVIS, Judges.
    Judgment modified and, as modified, affirmed; judgment affirmed; orders
    affirmed.
    Before Brash, P.J., Kloppenburg and Dugan, JJ.
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    Per curiam opinions may not be cited in any court of this state as precedent
    or authority, except for the limited purposes specified in WIS. STAT. RULE 809.23(3).
    ¶1      PER CURIAM. Lavell James Cammon appeals from the judgments
    of conviction, following his guilty pleas to one count of false imprisonment, as a
    domestic abuser, as a repeater in Milwaukee County case No. 2014CF2809;1 and
    one count of felony intimidation of a victim, as a party to a crime, as a domestic
    abuser in Milwaukee County case No. 2014CF5487. He also appeals the orders
    denying his postconviction motions.2
    ¶2      Cammon argues that, because he was misinformed about the
    maximum penalties associated with both charges to which he pled guilty, his pleas
    were not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary and, therefore, the postconviction
    court erred in denying his motion to withdraw his pleas. He also argues that trial
    1
    Cammon entered pleas to both charges as a repeater. However, at sentencing, the
    parties agreed that the repeater enhancer did not apply to either charge. The trial court then stated
    that the judgment of conviction in Milwaukee County case No. 2014CF2809 (the first case that
    the State brought against Cammon) needed to be amended to remove the repeater allegation.
    However, contrary to the trial court’s oral pronouncement, the judgment in case
    No. 2014CF2809, cites the repeater statute and includes the phrase “[r]epeater.” We direct the
    trial court to correct this scrivener’s error in that judgment of conviction in the first case upon
    remittitur. See State v. Prihoda, 
    2000 WI 123
    , ¶29, 
    239 Wis. 2d 244
    , 
    618 N.W.2d 857
     (stating
    “In Wisconsin, an unambiguous oral pronouncement of sentence controls over a written judgment
    of conviction”).
    2
    The judgments and orders involved in this appeal were entered in two cases that the
    trial court consolidated for trial. The first case filed against Cammon, case No. 2014CF2809, is
    appellate case No. 2018AP1336. The second case against Cammon, Milwaukee County case
    No. 2014CF5487, is appellate case No. 2018AP1337. Two Milwaukee County Circuit Court
    judges presided over the consolidated cases. The Honorable Mel Flanagan presided over the
    cases through sentencing and the Honorable Cynthia Mae Davis presided over the postconviction
    proceedings. We refer to Judge Flanagan as the trial court and Judge Davis as the postconviction
    court.
    On August 21, 2018, we granted Cammon’s motion to consolidate the appeals.
    2
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    counsel was constitutionally ineffective because (1) trial counsel failed to
    accurately inform him of the maximum penalties associated with each charge; and
    (2) prior to sentencing, trial counsel did not request additional time to confer with
    him to determine if he wanted to withdraw his pleas. We are not persuaded.
    ¶3     We modify the judgment in the first case, affirm both that judgment
    as modified and the judgment in the second case, and affirm the postconviction
    court’s orders.
    BACKGROUND
    The first case—case No. 2014CF2809—false imprisonment
    ¶4     The morning of June 26, 2014, began with Cammon calling T.K., his
    long time girlfriend with whom he had two children and was expecting a third, a
    “Bitch” and stating, “[W]hy did you leave the room, I told you [that] you are not
    to leave without my permission.” Cammon then hit T.K.’s back and the back of
    her head five or six times. Cammon also threatened to kill T.K. and the children
    saying, “I told you bitch, I’m going to buy my heat on Friday when I get my check
    and I’m going to kill yo[ur] ass, I’ll kill you and these mutha fucken [sic] kids
    bitch” (third set of brackets added). This was not an isolated incident. T.K. told
    the police that every night Cammon taped the windows or placed towels on them,
    he taped their bedroom door so he could check whether she had attempted to leave
    the room, and he usually brought screwdrivers or knives into their bed and
    threatened her with them.
    ¶5     The State filed a five count criminal complaint on June 30, 2014,
    charging Cammon with the following crimes against T.K.: (1) felony intimidation
    of a victim, as an act of domestic abuse, as a repeater; (2) false imprisonment, as
    3
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    an act of domestic abuse, as a repeater; (3) felony intimidation of a victim, as an
    act of domestic abuse; (4) misdemeanor battery, as an act of domestic abuse; and
    (5) disorderly conduct, as an act of domestic abuse.3 The repeater allegations
    relied on Cammon’s May 2007 conviction for being a felon in possession of a
    firearm. Cammon was released from prison for that conviction on March 31,
    2009.       A certified copy of the judgment of conviction was attached to the
    complaint.
    ¶6      Count three, felony intimidation of a victim as an act of domestic
    abuse, was dismissed at Cammon’s initial appearance.4
    The second case—case No. 2014CF5487—witness intimidation
    ¶7      While Cammon was in jail on the first case awaiting trial, he made at
    least seven telephone calls to his mother and aunt, instructing them how to
    discourage T.K. from cooperating with the prosecution. The State filed a criminal
    complaint on December 10, 2014, charging Cammon with one count of felony
    intimidation of a victim, as a party to a crime, as an act of domestic abuse.
    Trial court proceedings
    ¶8      At a December 19, 2014 hearing, the trial court found that probable
    cause supported the intimidation of a witness charge in the second case, and
    3
    The allegations of the first count were based on a December 28, 2013 incident, and the
    allegations of the four remaining counts were based on the June 26, 2014 incident.
    4
    The dismissed count was subsequently included in an information filed in the first case;
    however, at a July 29, 2014 hearing, the trial court granted trial counsel’s oral motion to dismiss
    the count, without objection from the State.
    4
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    granted the State’s request to consolidate the two cases for trial. The State then
    filed an information adding the repeater penalty enhancer to the second case.
    ¶9      On the first day of the trial, March 16, 2015, the trial court started
    jury selection. On March 17, 2015, before the jury selection resumed, the parties
    advised the trial court that they had reached a plea agreement.                     After the
    prosecutor described the plea agreement terms, the trial court followed with a
    lengthy plea colloquy which included asking Cammon if (1) he agreed with
    prosecutor’s description of the plea agreement; (2) he had sufficient time to talk to
    trial counsel; (3) trial counsel had discussed with him the plea questionnaire and
    waiver of rights forms,5 the charges, and the elements of the offenses; (4) he
    understood the elements of the offenses and what he was admitting by pleading
    guilty; and (5) if anyone had made any promises to him to induce his pleas, other
    than those in the plea agreement, and if he was voluntarily admitting the charges.
    ¶10     The trial court explained the two charges to which Cammon was
    pleading guilty; the factual basis for those charges; and the penalties for the false
    imprisonment charge, which was “a fine of up to $10,000 and incarceration for up
    to ten years or both,” and the witness intimidation charge, which was “a fine of not
    more than $25,000 and imprisonment for not more than [fourteen] years.” The
    trial court also asked Cammon if he understood that the dismissed charges would
    be read in and considered at sentencing. Cammon responded, “Yes.” The trial
    5
    The plea questionnaire and waiver of rights forms signed by Cammon state that
    Cammon understood and had reviewed with trial counsel the “entire document and any
    attachments,” and understood that the trial judge could impose the maximum penalty. The form
    in the first case states that the maximum penalty was six years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine,
    and that the repeater added four years. The form in the second case states that the maximum
    penalty was ten years in prison and that the repeater added four years.
    5
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    court next asked Cammon if the facts in the false imprisonment charge were
    correct and Cammon denied them. The trial court then directed the court staff to
    bring the jurors into the courtroom so that jury selection could continue.
    ¶11     Meanwhile, Cammon conferred with trial counsel and, before the
    jurors arrived at the courtroom, Cammon agreed to the facts alleged in the
    complaints for the charges of false imprisonment, as an act of domestic abuse, as a
    repeater; and the charge of witness intimidation, as a party to a crime, as an act of
    domestic abuse, as a repeater. The trial court then asked Cammon whether he
    understood that each party could recommend the sentence to be imposed, and that
    the trial court would impose the sentence it believed appropriate, which could be
    the maximum sentence. Cammon responded, “Yes.” The trial court found that
    Cammon’s guilty pleas had been entered freely, voluntarily, and intelligently and
    accepted his guilty pleas.
    ¶12     Subsequently, Cammon wrote a letter to the trial judge indicating
    that the repeater enhancers could not be applied in his cases because more than
    five years passed since his June 2014 arrest for the current offenses and his
    March 31, 2009 prison release for his most recent prior offense. Cammon was
    correct but for the wrong reason.6
    6
    Cammon’s letter refers to his April 3, 2007 arrest for the prior felony offense.
    However, as relevant here, the five-year period is calculated from the date of the prior felony
    conviction to the date of the commission of the current offense. See State v. Farr, 
    119 Wis. 2d 651
    , 657, 
    350 N.W.2d 640
     (1984) (stating that “[i]n analyzing the five-year period for the
    application of the repeater statute, [WIS. STAT. §] 939.62(2) [1981-82], requires that the
    conviction of the earlier felony be considered and compared to the commission date of the present
    crime for which he is being sentenced”). At sentencing and on appeal, the State agreed that the
    repeater enhancers do not apply because Cammon’s prior felony conviction occurred more than
    five years before the dates that he committed the two crimes to which he pled guilty.
    (continued)
    6
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    ¶13    As noted, at the June 3, 2015 sentencing hearing, the prosecutor and
    trial counsel agreed that Cammon could not be convicted as a repeater for either
    offense. The trial court then stated, “So we need to amend the judgment of
    conviction [so] that it’s not a repeater.” The prosecutor also stated that, although
    the enhancer did not apply to Cammon, the presentence investigation report listed
    the correct maximum penalties that Cammon faced without the repeater enhancers.
    ¶14    The prosecutor recommended eight years of initial confinement,
    followed by eight years of extended supervision. Trial counsel recommended
    eighteen to twenty-four months of initial confinement, followed by an unspecified
    period of extended supervision.
    ¶15    When Cammon addressed the trial court, he apologized to T.K., his
    family, and the court. Cammon stated that he took “full responsibility” for his
    actions, but he also denied falsely imprisoning T.K., stating that he never held
    T.K. against her will. When questioned by the trial court, Cammon could not
    explain why, despite entering guilty pleas to the offense, he was saying that he had
    not committed them. The trial court questioned Cammon’s credibility because
    what he said differed from day to day. Cammon did not move to withdraw his
    pleas at that time.
    ¶16    After explaining its reasoning, the trial court imposed a global
    sentence of eight years of initial confinement followed by eight years of extended
    supervision. Cammon interjected, “Eight years. You gave me eight years for
    something I didn’t do.” Cammon then became loud, disruptive, threatening, and
    All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2017-18 version unless otherwise
    noted.
    7
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    profane. Although the sentencing was incomplete, Cammon was removed from
    the courtroom. The following week, the trial court reconvened the sentencing,
    with Cammon appearing by video conference. After the trial court finished the
    sentencing, Cammon asked the trial court, “How would it be possible for me to
    withdraw the plea after being sentenced?” The trial court responded that Cammon
    should talk to his trial counsel. Judgments were entered in both cases on June 11,
    2015.
    Postconviction proceedings
    ¶17   Cammon filed postconviction motions, raising the same claims that
    he raises on appeal. The postconviction court denied the motions, without a
    hearing. This appeal follows.
    DISCUSSION
    ¶18   Cammon argues that because the repeater enhancers did not apply to
    him on either charge, the trial court misstated the maximum penalty on each
    charge. He then argues that the trial court’s misstatement of the penalty for each
    charge was substantial and, as a result, the postconviction court erroneously
    concluded that his pleas were voluntarily entered. He also argues that trial counsel
    was constitutionally ineffective because (1) trial counsel misstated the maximum
    penalty associated with each charge; and (2) trial counsel did not request
    additional time to confer with him to determine if he wanted to withdraw his pleas
    in light of the misstatement of the maximum penalties, and to explain the
    differences in the legal standards for withdrawing a plea prior to sentencing versus
    after sentencing.
    8
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    I.        Cammon failed to show that the trial court
    committed a Bangert7 violation during his plea
    ¶19       This case raises the threshold question of how to analyze a claim for
    plea withdrawal when a defendant was informed that his maximum punishment
    was higher, but not substantially higher, than the law actually authorized. Our
    supreme court addressed that question in State v. Cross, 
    2010 WI 70
    , 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , 
    786 N.W.2d 64
    . We first review the analytical framework set forth in Cross,
    and next apply that analytical framework to the facts in this case and conclude that
    Cammon is not entitled to withdraw his plea.
    The applicable law and the standard of review involving
    plea withdrawal
    ¶20       As explained in State v. Brown, Cammon has the following burden
    of proof on his motion to withdraw his pleas:
    When a defendant seeks to withdraw a guilty plea
    after sentencing, he must prove, by clear and convincing
    evidence, that a refusal to allow withdrawal of the plea
    would result in “manifest injustice.” One way for a
    defendant to meet this burden is to show that he did not
    knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily enter the plea.
    When a guilty plea is not knowing, intelligent, and
    voluntary, a defendant is entitled to withdraw the plea as a
    matter of right because such a plea “violates fundamental
    due process.”
    See 
    id.,
     
    2006 WI 100
    , ¶¶18-19, 
    293 Wis. 2d 594
    , 
    716 N.W.2d 906
     (citations
    omitted).
    7
    State v. Bangert, 
    131 Wis. 2d 246
    , 261-62, 
    389 N.W.2d 12
     (1986).
    9
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    ¶21    Addressing the standard of review for a motion to withdraw a plea,
    the Brown court stated, “[w]hether a plea is knowing, intelligent, and voluntary is
    a question of constitutional fact.       We accept the circuit court’s findings of
    historical and evidentiary facts unless they are clearly erroneous but we determine
    independently whether those facts demonstrate that the defendant’s plea was
    knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.” See id., ¶19 (citation omitted).
    ¶22    In WIS. STAT. § 971.08, the legislature established certain
    requirements that trial courts must follow when taking a plea.                  Further, our
    supreme court provided additional requirements in State v. Bangert, 
    131 Wis. 2d 246
    , 261-62, 
    389 N.W.2d 12
     (1986), and Brown, 
    293 Wis. 2d 594
    , ¶35, among
    other cases. The relevant requirement at issue in this case is that the trial court
    must “[e]stablish the defendant’s understanding of … the range of punishments to
    which he is subjecting himself by entering a plea[.]” See Brown, 
    293 Wis. 2d 594
    ,
    ¶35.
    If the circuit court fails at one of these duties (also
    called a Bangert violation), the defendant may be entitled
    to withdraw his plea. A defendant establishes that the
    circuit court failed at one of its duties by filing a motion (a
    Bangert motion) that: (1) makes a prima facie showing of a
    violation of [WIS. STAT.] § 971.08(1) or other court-
    mandated duties; and (2) alleges that “the defendant did not
    know or understand the information that should have been
    provided at the plea hearing.” A defendant attempting to
    make this prima facie showing must point to deficiencies in
    the plea hearing transcript; conclusory allegations are not
    sufficient.
    Cross, 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶19 (internal citations omitted).
    ¶23    In this case, the parties agree that Cammon was informed that his
    maximum punishment was higher than the law actually authorized. As the court
    in Cross stated, “[t]he question is whether this constitutes a Bangert violation—
    10
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    that is, a failure by the circuit court to fulfill its required duties under [WIS. STAT.]
    § 971.08(1) and our case law during the plea colloquy.” See Cross, 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶21.
    ¶24    Like Cross, Cammon asserts that because he was told the incorrect
    maximum punishment and his understanding of the maximum was based on that
    incorrect information, he has established a Bangert violation. He argues that he
    did not understand the penalties for his crimes because the trial court advised him
    that the maximum prison exposure was twenty-four years—not the actual
    allowable maximum sentence of sixteen years. Citing Cross, the State argues that
    Cammon’s claim fails because the trial court’s misstatement regarding the
    maximum prison exposure was an insubstantial deviation that did not result in a
    manifest injustice. See 
    id.,
     
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶¶31-32. As we will explain, we
    conclude that the trial court’s misstatement of the maximum penalties was an
    insubstantial deviation which does not warrant any type of relief. See 
    id.
    ¶25    Cross holds that when a defendant is informed that the maximum
    possible penalty is higher, but not substantially higher, than the actual maximum
    authorized by law, the defendant may nevertheless enter his or her plea knowingly,
    intelligently, and voluntarily, because he or she adequately understands the range
    of punishments he or she faces.            Id., ¶38.     Thus, a plea based on a
    misunderstanding of the precise maximum penalty does not necessarily result in a
    manifest injustice. Id., ¶¶36-37.
    ¶26    In Cross, the defendant pled guilty to second-degree sexual assault
    of a child. Id., ¶1. The State, trial counsel, and the trial court incorrectly informed
    Cross, before he entered his plea, that the maximum penalty for his offense was
    forty years of imprisonment—not the actual statutory maximum of thirty years of
    11
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    imprisonment. Id., ¶¶1, 3. The issue on appeal was whether Cross’s plea was
    knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. See id., ¶3.
    ¶27    In Cross, our supreme court stated that “[i]n our view, a defendant
    who has been told a maximum punishment higher, but not substantially higher,
    than that authorized by law, has not necessarily made a prima facie case that the
    requirements of [WIS. STAT.] § 971.08 and our case law have been violated.”
    Cross, 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶30. It explained, in part, that
    a defendant who believes he is subject to a greater
    punishment is obviously aware that he may receive the
    lesser punishment. ... Moreover, we do not believe a
    defendant’s decision to represent in open court that he
    committed the crimes he is charged with is likely to be
    affected by insubstantial differences in possible
    punishments.
    Id., ¶31. The Cross court further explained that
    requiring an evidentiary hearing for every small deviation
    from the circuit court’s duties during a plea colloquy is
    simply not necessary for the protection of a defendant’s
    constitutional rights. The Bangert requirements exist as a
    framework to ensure that a defendant knowingly,
    voluntarily, and intelligently enters his plea. We do not
    embrace a formalistic application of the Bangert
    requirements that would result in the abjuring of a
    defendant’s representations in open court for insubstantial
    defects.
    Cross, 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶32.
    ¶28    The Cross court went on to state that pursuant to WIS. STAT.
    § 973.13, “[w]hen given a sentence greater than that authorized by law, which
    presumably would also involve an error in the understanding of the possible
    maximum penalty, the remedy here is a commuted sentence, not plea withdrawal.”
    Cross, 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶34. The Cross court then concluded:
    12
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    We hold that where a defendant is told that he faces
    a maximum possible sentence that is higher, but not
    substantially higher, than that authorized by law, the circuit
    court has not violated the plea colloquy requirements
    outlined in [WIS. STAT.] § 971.08 and our Bangert line of
    cases. In other words, where a defendant pleads guilty with
    the understanding that he faces a higher, but not
    substantially higher, sentence than the law allows, the
    circuit court has still fulfilled its duty to inform the
    defendant of the range of punishments. Therefore, the
    defendant is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing, and plea
    withdrawal remains in the discretion of the circuit court and
    will not be disturbed unless the defendant shows that it is
    necessary to correct a manifest injustice.
    Cross, 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶45.
    ¶29     We conclude that Cross is controlling under the facts in this case.8
    Application of Cross to Cammon
    ¶30     At the start, we note that the only flaw that Cammon points to when
    he entered his pleas was that the pleas were made with the misunderstanding of the
    precise maximum sentences for his charges. We conclude that Cammon has not
    8
    The postconviction court rejected Cammon’s claim that he was incorrectly informed of
    the maximum penalties for his charges. It held that the trial court correctly informed Cammon of
    the maximum penalties for the charges as they existed at the time of the plea—at the time of the
    plea the charges included the repeater enhancers. It then held that Cammon could not state a
    claim for a Bangert violation based on post-plea proceedings. However, the postconviction court
    also went on to apply the holding in Cross and concluded that the difference between the
    maximum sentences that the trial court informed Cammon about at the plea hearing were not
    significantly higher the actual allowable maximum sentences for his charges.
    In his brief on appeal Cammon states that he disagrees with the postconviction court’s
    logic that he was properly informed of the maximum penalties at the time of his pleas. Given our
    conclusion that there was no Bangert violation, because under the facts of this case the difference
    between the maximum sentences that the trial court informed Cammon of at the plea hearing
    were not significantly higher than the actual allowable maximum sentences for his charges, we
    need not address this issue. See State v. Blalock, 
    150 Wis. 2d 688
    , 703, 
    442 N.W.2d 514
     (Ct.
    App. 1989) (stating that appeals should be decided on the narrowest possible grounds).
    13
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    made a prima facie showing that the trial court failed to comply with WIS. STAT.
    § 971.08 or the requirements outlined in Brown and Bangert when it misinformed
    him of the potential maximum penalty. Like Cross, Cammon was informed of a
    punishment greater than what the law provided—twenty-four years of
    imprisonment, instead of the actual maximum sentence of sixteen years of
    imprisonment.      In Cross, Cross was told that the maximum period of
    imprisonment was forty years, instead of the actual maximum sentence of thirty
    years of imprisonment for his charges. Id., 
    326 Wis. 2d 492
    , ¶1.
    ¶31    Like Cross, Cammon admitted committing his crimes and he pled
    guilty to them. See id., ¶¶7-8. Furthermore, Cammon benefited from the plea
    agreement because the State’s dismissal of three charges reduced Cammon’s
    potential prison time by a total of eleven years and six months. When Cammon
    entered his pleas, he believed that he was facing a maximum of twenty-four years
    of imprisonment.     However, like Cross, after entering his pleas, Cammon
    discovered that he received an even better deal because he faced no more than
    sixteen years of imprisonment. See id., ¶43. The trial court’s misstatement in this
    case, ultimately, worked to Cammon’s benefit and is precisely the type of
    insubstantial deviation contemplated by Cross. See id., ¶41.
    Cammon’s attempt to distinguish Cross fails
    ¶32    Cammon attempts to distinguish Cross by asserting that Cross was
    facing additional multiple uncharged counts of first-degree sexual assault of a
    child, in addition to the one he pled to. Cammon argues that in contrast to Cross,
    he was “charged in a very aggressive manner with four charges related to his
    assault” in the first case. However, Cammon ignores the fact that, pursuant to the
    plea agreement, the State dismissed one count of felony intimidation of a victim
    14
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    and two other counts in the first case which reduced Cammon’s potential prison
    exposure by a total of eleven years and six months. Cross is not distinguishable.
    Cammon’s attempt to show that he did not understand the
    range of penalties also fails
    ¶33    On appeal, Cammon also seems to argue that other facts in the
    record “are appropriate to consider when determining what is substantial.” He
    asserts that his “conduct in [c]ourt was such that his competency needed to be
    resolved by a doctor’s report and that he needed to appear by remote hookup to
    hear the conclusion of his sentencing hearing” (record citations omitted).
    Cammon also asserts that at the plea hearing he confirmed that he suffered from
    bipolar disorder and that he was taking medications for the disorder. He then
    states that after he had completed the plea forms, he maintained his innocence. He
    goes on to assert that “[t]he manner in which his pleas were taken thereafter also
    must raise questions as to their validity and are appropriate to consider when
    determining what is substantial.”
    ¶34    Cammon’s assertions are merely conclusory. He simply states that
    the foregoing facts should be considered when determining what is substantial.
    Cammon does not develop the argument and we decline to develop it for him. See
    State v. Pettit, 
    171 Wis. 2d 627
    , 646-47, 
    492 N.W.2d 633
     (Ct. App. 1992).
    Further, if Cammon is arguing that the facts that he asserted above show that he
    did not understand the range of penalties that he faced, he did not make that
    allegation in his postconviction motions. “[W]e will review only the allegations
    contained in the four corners of [Cammon’s] postconviction motion[s], and not
    any additional allegations that are contained in [his appellate] brief.” See State v.
    Allen, 
    2004 WI 106
    , ¶27, 
    274 Wis. 2d 568
    , 
    682 N.W.2d 433
    .
    15
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    ¶35    Cammon also appears to suggest that the trial court had an obligation
    to advise him “of his right to seek a plea withdrawal prior to his sentencing.”
    Cammon does not cite any authority for this argument and does not develop the
    argument. We decline to develop it for him. See Pettit, 171 Wis. 2d at 646-47.
    ¶36    Based on the above, we conclude that Cammon understood the range
    of punishments and that he did not make a prima facie showing that the trial court
    failed in its duties under WIS. STAT. § 971.08 and the Bangert line of cases.
    Accordingly, we conclude that Cammon’s pleas were made knowingly,
    intelligently, and voluntarily, and that he has not demonstrated that a manifest
    injustice would result if he were not allowed to withdraw his plea.
    II.    Cammon has not sufficiently alleged a claim of
    ineffective assistance of trial counsel
    ¶37    Cammon also argues that trial counsel was constitutionally
    ineffective because (1) trial counsel misstated the maximum penalties associated
    with each charge; and (2) trial counsel did not request additional time to confer
    with him to determine if he wanted to withdraw his pleas in light of the
    misstatement of the maximum penalties, and to explain the differences in the legal
    standards for withdrawing a plea prior to sentencing versus after sentencing.
    Applicable law
    ¶38    To establish a claim of constitutionally ineffective assistance of
    counsel, a defendant must establish the following two components:             (1) trial
    counsel’s performance was deficient; and (2) the deficient performance resulted in
    prejudice to the defense. Strickland v. Washington, 
    466 U.S. 668
    , 687 (1984). A
    reviewing court may decide an ineffective assistance of counsel claim by
    analyzing either component. 
    Id. at 697
    . Wisconsin courts have adopted the
    16
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    United States Supreme Court’s two-pronged Strickland test to analyze claims of
    ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Williams, 
    2015 WI 75
    , ¶74, 
    364 Wis. 2d 126
    , 
    867 N.W.2d 736
    .
    ¶39    To establish that trial counsel’s performance was deficient, a
    defendant must show that under all the circumstances trial counsel’s performance
    fell “outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance.” Strickland,
    
    466 U.S. at 690
    . To establish prejudice, “[t]he defendant 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.” 
    Id. at 694
    .
    ¶40    In State v. Burton, our supreme court explained that
    [t]o establish prejudice in the context of a
    postconviction motion to withdraw a guilty plea based upon
    ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant must allege
    that “but for the counsel’s errors, he would not have
    pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.”
    [State v.] Bentley, 201 Wis. 2d [303,] 312, 
    548 N.W.2d 50
    [1996] (quoting Hill v. Lockhart, 
    474 U.S. 52
    , 59 (1985)).
    See Burton, 
    2013 WI 61
    , ¶50, 
    349 Wis. 2d 1
    , 
    832 N.W.2d 611
    . Moreover, courts
    in Wisconsin have
    long held that the facts supporting plea withdrawal must be
    alleged in the petition and the defendant cannot rely on
    conclusory allegations, hoping to supplement them at a
    hearing. A defendant must do more than merely allege that
    he would have pled differently; such an allegation must be
    supported by objective factual assertions.
    State v. Bentley, 
    201 Wis. 2d 303
    , 313, 
    548 N.W.2d 50
     (1996) (internal citation
    omitted). “[A] defendant should provide facts that allow the reviewing court to
    meaningfully assess his or her claim.” Id. at 314.
    17
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    ¶41     The Bentley court also noted that, although it was not bound by
    federal case law, it considered Santos v. Kolb, 
    880 F.2d 941
    , 943 (7th Cir. 1989)
    instructive in Bentley’s case. Bentley, 
    201 Wis. 2d at 314
    . In Kolb, the court held
    that “[a] specific explanation of why the defendant alleges he would have gone to
    trial is required.” Bentley, 
    201 Wis. 2d at 314
     (quoting Kolb, 
    880 F.2d at 943
    ).
    ¶42     We next review Cammon’s postconviction motions’ allegations
    regarding his ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim to determine if Cammon
    sufficiently alleged prejudice.
    Cammon failed to sufficiently allege prejudice
    ¶43     Cammon alleges that trial counsel incorrectly informed him of the
    maximum penalties at the time he pled guilty and that trial counsel was ineffective
    for failing to advise him that he could move to withdraw his pleas prior to
    sentencing, when it became clear that he was misinformed of the maximum
    penalties for his charges.             However, the only allegation in Cammon’s
    postconviction motions relating to whether he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s
    deficient performance was his statement that “Mr. Cammon was prejudiced by this
    ineffective representation and the result was a manifest injustice.”9
    9
    In his appellate brief Cammon also states that he was “sufficiently prejudiced” because
    he now faces the higher “manifest injustice” standard for withdrawing his guilty pleas rather than
    the lower “fair and just reason” standard that applies to plea withdrawals prior to sentencing. He
    also asserts,
    [t]here can be no doubt that any defendant when informed of the
    maximum penalties they could receive is impacted to some
    extent. It is at this time that the fear of such a penalty can easily
    influence that party to accept a plea proposal, perhaps when they
    should not do so.
    (continued)
    18
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    ¶44     In response, the State argues that Cammon’s motions, at most, only
    developed the first prong of the Strickland test, which requires a showing that
    Cammon’s trial counsel performed outside the wide range of professionally
    competent assistance. The State then emphasizes that Cammon failed to establish
    the second prong of the test, which requires a showing of prejudice. It argues that
    Cammon had to allege facts demonstrating that, but for his trial counsel’s
    ineffective representation, he would not have accepted the plea agreement and
    would have chosen to go to trial on all five charges. See Hill v. Lockhart, 
    474 U.S. 52
    , 58-59 (1985). Cammon responds to the State’s argument in his reply
    brief stating, “Mr. Cammon responds by arguing that the facts and record
    presented establish prejudice in themselves.         In addition[,] … he requested a
    hearing to further present evidence as to this issue and was denied that opportunity
    by the [t]rial [c]ourt’s decision.”
    ¶45     We agree with the State that Cammon failed to sufficiently allege
    facts demonstrating that, but for trial counsel’s alleged deficient performance, he
    would not have accepted the plea agreement and would have chosen to go to trial
    on all five charges. Moreover, Cammon does not refute the State’s assertion in his
    reply brief and, therefore, concedes this issue. See Charolais Breeding Ranches,
    Ltd. v. FPC Secs. Corp., 
    90 Wis. 2d 97
    , 109, 
    279 N.W.2d 493
     (Ct. App. 1979)
    (stating that failure to refute an argument constitutes a concession).
    Cammon then “submits that it is logical and reasonable that he was prejudiced by this
    representation.”
    “[W]e will review only the allegations contained in the four corners of [Cammon’s]
    postconviction motion[s], and not any additional allegations that are contained in [Cammon’s
    appellate] brief.” See State v. Allen, 
    2004 WI 106
    , ¶27, 
    274 Wis. 2d 568
    , 
    682 N.W.2d 433
    .
    19
    Nos. 2018AP1336-CR
    2018AP1337-CR
    ¶46    We, therefore, conclude that the postconviction court properly
    denied any relief, including a hearing, on Cammon’s ineffective assistance of trial
    counsel claim.    We conclude that Cammon’s single conclusory, bare-bones
    statement is not sufficient to require an evidentiary hearing and would not allow
    the postconviction court to meaningfully assess his claim that he was prejudiced
    by the misinformation.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶47    In sum, we modify the judgment in the first case, and affirm that
    judgment, as modified; and affirm the judgment in the second case. We also
    conclude that the postconviction court properly denied, without a hearing,
    Cammon’s motions seeking an order allowing him to withdraw his guilty pleas as
    not being knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered and because trial
    counsel’s representation was constitutionally ineffective. Therefore, we affirm the
    postconviction court’s orders.
    By the Court.—Judgment modified and, as modified, affirmed;
    judgment affirmed; orders affirmed.
    This opinion will not be published.          See WIS. STAT. RULE
    809.23(1)(b)5.
    20
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2018AP001336-CR, 2018AP001337-CR

Filed Date: 10/29/2019

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 9/9/2024