Felicia Elizabeth Parsons v. State

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 40585
FELICIA ELIZABETH PARSONS, ) 2014 Unpublished Opinion No. 539
)
Petitioner-Appellant, ) Filed: June 2, 2014
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
STATE OF IDAHO, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
Respondent. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Ada
County. Hon. Cheri C. Copsey, District Judge.
Order summarily dismissing petition for post-conviction relief, affirmed.
Felicia Elizabeth Parsons, Pocatello, pro se appellant.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Nicole L. Schafer, Deputy
Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________
GRATTON, Judge
Felicia Elizabeth Parsons appeals from the district court’s order summarily dismissing
her petition for post-conviction relief. We affirm.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Parsons pled guilty to two counts of robbery, Idaho Code § 18-6501. The district court
sentenced Parsons to consecutive unified terms of thirty-eight years, with a determinate period of
confinement of eighteen years. Parsons filed an Idaho Criminal Rule 35 motion, which the
district court denied. In her direct appeal, Parsons asserted that the district court abused its
discretion by imposing excessive sentences and by denying her Rule 35 motion. Parsons’
judgments of conviction and sentences and the district court’s order denying Parsons’ Rule 35
motion were affirmed by this Court. State v. Parsons, Docket Nos. 39011, 39012 (Ct. App.
Dec. 14, 2011) (unpublished).
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Subsequently, Parsons filed a petition for post-conviction relief asserting she was
provided ineffective assistance of counsel on the basis that counsel failed to file a motion to
suppress. Parsons also requested appointment of counsel, which the court granted. A status
conference was held, at which time the court ordered that any amended petition must be filed
within thirty days and that the State would be given thirty days to answer. Parsons did not
amend her petition or file any affidavits. Rather, she filed a request for an evidentiary hearing.
The State filed a motion for summary dismissal claiming that Parsons failed to allege grounds
upon which relief could be granted. Thereafter, Parsons’ counsel was granted permission to
withdraw representation. The district court notified Parsons that it intended to dismiss her
petition and allowed her and the State to reply to the proposed dismissal within twenty days.
Neither party filed additional material. In its order dismissing the petition, the district court
found that there were “no material issues of fact remaining and no purpose would be served by
any further proceedings.” Parsons timely appeals.
II.
ANALYSIS
On appeal, Parsons argues that: (1) she was denied a proper mental health evaluation;
(2) the judge made prejudicial remarks concerning Parsons not showing remorse; (3) counsel
was ineffective for failing to explain the Estrada 1 waiver; and (4) she was in an incapacitated
state of mind at the time of being given her Miranda 2 rights. However, the only claim in her
petition for post-conviction relief is that she was provided ineffective assistance of counsel for
counsel’s failure to file a motion to suppress. Generally, issues not raised below may not be
considered for the first time on appeal. State v. Fodge, 121 Idaho 192, 195, 824 P.2d 123, 126
(1992). Thus, we will not address these arguments for the first time on appeal. 3 Further, the
scope of post-conviction relief is limited. Rodgers v. State, 129 Idaho 720, 725, 932 P.2d 348,
353 (1997). A petition for post-conviction relief is not a substitute for an appeal. I.C. § 19-
1
See Estrada v. State, 143 Idaho 558, 149 P.3d 833 (2006).
2
See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
3
Additionally, Parsons failed to support any of these newly raised arguments with
authority. A party waives an issue on appeal if either authority or argument is lacking. State v.
Zichko, 129 Idaho 259, 263, 923 P.2d 966, 970 (1996).
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4901(b). A claim or issue which was or could have been raised on appeal may not be considered
in post-conviction proceedings. Rodgers, 129 Idaho at 725, 932 P.2d at 353; Whitehawk v. State,
116 Idaho 831, 832-33, 780 P.2d 153, 154-55 (Ct. App. 1989). Accordingly, this Court will only
address the district court’s decision to summarily dismiss Parsons’ claim for post-conviction
relief, based on the argument that she was provided ineffective assistance of counsel for failing
to file a motion to suppress.
A petition for post-conviction relief initiates a civil, rather than criminal, proceeding
governed by the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure. I.C. § 19-4907; State v. Yakovac, 145 Idaho
437, 443, 180 P.3d 476, 482 (2008). See also Pizzuto v. State, 146 Idaho 720, 724, 202 P.3d 642,
646 (2008). Like plaintiffs in other civil actions, the petitioner must prove by a preponderance of
evidence the allegations upon which the request for post-conviction relief is based. Stuart v.
State, 118 Idaho 865, 869, 801 P.2d 1216, 1220 (1990); Goodwin v. State, 138 Idaho 269, 271,
61 P.3d 626, 628 (Ct. App. 2002). A petition for post-conviction relief differs from a complaint
in an ordinary civil action, however, in that it must contain more than “a short and plain
statement of the claim” that would suffice for a complaint under I.R.C.P. 8(a)(1). State v. Payne,
146 Idaho 548, 560, 199 P.3d 123, 135 (2008); Goodwin, 138 Idaho at 271, 61 P.3d at 628. The
petition must be verified with respect to facts within the personal knowledge of the petitioner,
and affidavits, records, or other evidence supporting its allegations must be attached, or the
petition must state why such supporting evidence is not included. I.C. § 19-4903. In other
words, the petition must present or be accompanied by admissible evidence supporting its
allegations or it will be subject to dismissal. Wolf v. State, 152 Idaho 64, 67, 266 P.3d 1169,
1172 (Ct. App. 2011); Roman v. State, 125 Idaho 644, 647, 873 P.2d 898, 901 (Ct. App. 1994).
Idaho Code § 19-4906 authorizes summary dismissal of a petition for post-conviction
relief, either pursuant to a motion by a party or upon the court’s own initiative, if “it appears
from the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions and agreements of
fact, together with any affidavits submitted, that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” I.C. § 19-4906(c). When considering
summary dismissal, the district court must construe disputed facts in the petitioner’s favor, but
the court is not required to accept either the petitioner’s mere conclusory allegations,
unsupported by admissible evidence, or the petitioner’s conclusions of law. Payne, 146 Idaho at
561, 199 P.3d at 136; Roman, 125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901. Moreover, because the district
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court rather than a jury will be the trier of fact in the event of an evidentiary hearing, the district
court is not constrained to draw inferences in the petitioner’s favor, but is free to arrive at the
most probable inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Yakovac, 145 Idaho at 444, 180 P.3d at
483; Wolf, 152 Idaho at 67, 266 P.3d at 1172; Hayes v. State, 146 Idaho 353, 355, 195 P.3d 712,
714 (Ct. App. 2008). Such inferences will not be disturbed on appeal if the uncontroverted
evidence is sufficient to justify them. Chavez v. Barrus, 146 Idaho 212, 218, 192 P.3d 1036,
1042 (2008); Hayes, 146 Idaho at 355, 195 P.2d at 714; Farnsworth v. Dairymen’s Creamery
Ass’n, 125 Idaho 866, 868, 876 P.2d 148, 150 (Ct. App. 1994).
Claims may be summarily dismissed if the petitioner’s allegations are clearly disproven
by the record of the criminal proceedings, if the petitioner has not presented evidence making a
prima facie case as to each essential element of the claims, or if the petitioner’s allegations do
not justify relief as a matter of law. Kelly v. State, 149 Idaho 517, 521, 236 P.3d 1277, 1281
(2010); McKay v. State, 148 Idaho 567, 570, 225 P.3d 700, 703 (2010); DeRushé v. State, 146
Idaho 599, 603, 200 P.3d 1148, 1152 (2009); Charboneau v. State, 144 Idaho 900, 903, 174 P.3d
870, 873 (2007); Berg v. State, 131 Idaho 517, 518, 960 P.2d 738, 739 (1998); Murphy v. State,
143 Idaho 139, 145, 139 P.3d 741, 747 (Ct. App. 2006); Cootz v. State, 129 Idaho 360, 368, 924
P.2d 622, 630 (Ct. App. 1996). Thus, summary dismissal of a claim for post-conviction relief is
appropriate when the court can conclude, as a matter of law, that the petitioner is not entitled to
relief even with all disputed facts construed in the petitioner’s favor. For this reason, summary
dismissal of a post-conviction petition may be appropriate even when the State does not
controvert the petitioner’s evidence. See Payne, 146 Idaho at 561, 199 P.3d at 136; Roman, 125
Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901.
Conversely, if the petition, affidavits, and other evidence supporting the petition allege
facts that, if true, would entitle the petitioner to relief, the post-conviction claim may not be
summarily dismissed. Charboneau v. State, 140 Idaho 789, 792, 102 P.3d 1108, 1111 (2004);
Berg, 131 Idaho at 519, 960 P.2d at 740; Stuart v. State, 118 Idaho 932, 934, 801 P.2d 1283,
1285 (1990); Sheahan v. State, 146 Idaho 101, 104, 190 P.3d 920, 923 (Ct. App. 2008); Roman,
125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901. If a genuine issue of material fact is presented, an evidentiary
hearing must be conducted to resolve the factual issues. Kelly, 149 Idaho at 521, 236 P.3d at
1281; Payne, 146 Idaho at 561, 199 P.3d at 136; Goodwin, 138 Idaho at 272, 61 P.3d at 629.
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On appeal from an order of summary dismissal, we apply the same standards utilized by
the trial courts and examine whether the petitioner’s admissible evidence asserts facts which, if
true, would entitle the petitioner to relief. Ridgley v. State, 148 Idaho 671, 675, 227 P.3d 925,
929 (2010); Berg, 131 Idaho at 519, 960 P.2d at 740; Sheahan, 146 Idaho at 104, 190 P.3d at
923; Roman, 125 Idaho at 647, 873 P.2d at 901. Over questions of law, we exercise free review.
Rhoades v. State, 148 Idaho 247, 250, 220 P.3d 1066, 1069 (2009); Downing v. State, 136 Idaho
367, 370, 33 P.3d 841, 844 (Ct. App. 2001); Martinez v. State, 130 Idaho 530, 532, 944 P.2d
127, 129 (Ct. App. 1997).
A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel may properly be brought under the Uniform
Post-Conviction Procedure Act. Barcella v. State, 148 Idaho 469, 477, 224 P.3d 536, 544 (Ct.
App. 2009). To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the petitioner must show
that the attorney’s performance was deficient and that the petitioner was prejudiced by the
deficiency. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 (1984); Self v. State, 145 Idaho 578,
580, 181 P.3d 504, 506 (Ct. App. 2007). To establish a deficiency, the petitioner has the burden
of showing that the attorney’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.
Aragon v. State, 114 Idaho 758, 760, 760 P.2d 1174, 1176 (1988); Knutsen v. State, 144 Idaho
433, 442, 163 P.3d 222, 231 (Ct. App. 2007). To establish prejudice, the petitioner must show a
reasonable probability that, but for the attorney’s deficient performance, the outcome of the trial
would have been different. Aragon, 114 Idaho at 761, 760 P.2d at 1177; Knutsen, 144 Idaho at
442, 163 P.3d at 231. This Court has long adhered to the proposition that tactical or strategic
decisions of trial counsel will not be second-guessed on appeal unless those decisions are based
on inadequate preparation, ignorance of relevant law, or other shortcomings capable of objective
evaluation. Gonzales v. State, 151 Idaho 168, 172, 254 P.3d 69, 73 (Ct. App. 2011). Where, as
here, the defendant was convicted upon a guilty plea, to satisfy the prejudice element, the
claimant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he or she
would not have pled guilty and would have insisted on going to trial. Hoffman v. State, 153
Idaho 898, 902-03, 277 P.3d 1050, 1054-55 (Ct. App. 2012).
In a post-conviction proceeding challenging an attorney’s failure to pursue a motion in
the underlying criminal action, the district court may consider the probability of success of the
motion in question in determining whether the attorney’s inactivity constituted ineffective
assistance. Hoffman, 153 Idaho at 904, 277 P.3d at 1056. Where the alleged deficiency is
5
counsel’s failure to file a motion, a conclusion that the motion, if pursued, would not have been
granted by the trial court, is generally determinative of both prongs of the Strickland test.
Hoffman, 153 Idaho at 904, 277 P.3d at 1056.
In her petition for post-conviction relief, Parsons asserts she was provided ineffective
assistance of counsel on the basis that counsel failed to file a motion to suppress. She did not
support her petition with any affidavits setting forth facts which could support the motion, nor
did she recite why they were not attached as required by statute. Idaho Code § 19-4903 provides
that “[a]ffidavits, records, or other evidence supporting its allegations shall be attached to the
application or the application shall recite why they are not attached.” Parsons failed to support
her petition with anything to support her claim. Further, Parsons did not amend her petition at
any time or file any affidavits advancing her assertion that counsel was deficient for failing to
file a motion to suppress, or that she was prejudiced by such a deficiency. In fact, she does not
articulate what the motion to suppress would have addressed or how it would have affected her
conviction. After the district court entered its notice of intent to dismiss, she still did not provide
any additional materials supporting her claims.
Parsons must present admissible evidence establishing a material issue of fact as to the
elements of her claim. Given that Parsons has not articulated what the motion to suppress would
have addressed, it is impossible for this Court to determine whether the motion to suppress
would have been granted by the district court, whether the granting of such motion would have
affected the outcome of her conviction, or whether she would have chosen to go to trial rather
than enter a guilty plea. While the court may look at pleadings, depositions, and admissions
together with any affidavits on file, Parsons’ petition or any additional material does not include
admissible evidence supporting her claim, although she was given ample opportunity to do so.
Therefore, the district court properly found that Parsons failed to establish any material issues of
fact regarding her claim that she was provided ineffective counsel on the basis that counsel did
not file a motion to suppress.
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III.
CONCLUSION
Parsons failed to support her petition with any admissible evidence to support her claim
of ineffective assistance of counsel. Therefore, the district court’s order summarily dismissing
Parsons’ petition for post-conviction relief is affirmed.
Chief Judge GUTIERREZ and Judge LANSING CONCUR.
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