Devon Sterling v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Nov 30 2015, 7:58 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
APPELLANT PRO SE ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Devon Sterling Gregory F. Zoeller
Pendleton, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Eric P. Babbs
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Devon Sterling, November 30, 2015
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
49A02-1412-PC-891
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Kurt M. Eisgruber,
Appellee-Plaintiff Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
49G01-0706-PC-105725
Robb, Judge.
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Case Summary and Issues
[1] Following a jury trial, Devon Sterling was found guilty of murder. The trial
court entered judgment of conviction and sentenced Sterling to sixty years
executed in the Indiana Department of Correction. On direct appeal, we
affirmed Sterling’s conviction. Sterling v. State, No. 49A05-0910-CR-606 (Ind.
Ct. App. Aug. 11, 2010), trans. denied. Thereafter, Sterling filed a petition for
post-conviction relief wherein he alleged ineffective assistance of trial counsel
and newly discovered evidence. The post-conviction court denied Sterling’s
petition. Sterling, pro se, now appeals the denial of post-conviction relief,
raising three issues for our review, which we consolidate and restate as: 1)
whether the post-conviction court erred in concluding Sterling’s trial counsel
was not ineffective; and 2) whether Sterling’s post-conviction counsel rendered
ineffective assistance. Concluding trial and post-conviction counsel were not
ineffective, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] We summarized the facts and procedural history of this case in Sterling’s direct
appeal,
On June 8, 2007, Sterling was attending the same neighborhood
block party as the decedent, Dewayne Butts. Several months
before, there had been a dispute between Dewayne and Sterling’s
father concerning the ownership of a dog that, at the time,
Dewayne had at his mother’s home. A physical argument
ensued between Dewayne and Sterling’s father, and the dog was
given to the Sterlings. Because of this prior confrontation, both
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Dewayne and his girlfriend, Marie Ball, were familiar with
Sterling at the time of the block party.
Before leaving the block party, Dewayne and Sterling had a tense
encounter and had to be separated by Marie. Dewayne and
Marie headed to her vehicle, accompanied by Marie’s daughter,
DeAsia, and Dewayne’s mother, Judy Butts, and her niece,
Rockita Brown. Before leaving, while all five were seated inside
Marie’s vehicle, Dewayne and Marie were both shot multiple
times. The shooter, standing outside the passenger’s window,
was later identified by both Marie and Rockita as Sterling.
Dehaven Butts, who was standing near the vehicle at the time of
the shooting, identified Sterling as the man he witnessed running
from the vehicle in the moments after the shooting. Dewayne
died as a result of the gunshot wounds.
Sterling turned himself into police on June 10, 2007, and was
accompanied by his family, who had retained counsel for him.
Detective David Labanauskas was aware that they were awaiting
the arrival of counsel, but the interrogation proceeded when
Detective Labanauskas learned that the attorney had been
delayed. The State subsequently charged Sterling with the
murder of Dewayne and the attempted murder of Marie.
The case proceeded to a jury trial on September 29, 2008, during
which Sterling testified about the dog incident, a .40–caliber gun
he owned, and an asserted alibi defense that he subsequently
withdrew at a second trial. The trial court [sic] resulted in a hung
jury, and a mistrial was declared.
A new trial commenced on July 20, 2009. Sterling’s motion to
suppress the statement he made to the police was denied before
the second trial. The second trial court admitted Sterling’s
statement to Detective Labanauskas, along with a redacted
version of Sterling’s testimony from the first trial, evidence of the
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.40–caliber bullet and casings found in the vicinity of the crime,
and evidence of the dog incident. However, the trial court did
not allow Sterling to introduce evidence of another suspect.
At Sterling’s second trial, Marie and Rockita both identified
Sterling as the shooter with 100% certainty. In addition,
Dehaven testified that he was certain he saw Sterling fleeing the
scene in the moments after the shooting. On July 23, 2009, the
jury found Sterling guilty of murder and not guilty of attempted
murder.
Id. at *1-2.
[3] On December 9, 2009, while a direct appeal was pending, Sterling filed a pro se
petition for post-conviction relief, alleging judicial misconduct and that his trial
counsel, Robert Hammerle, rendered ineffective assistance.1 Because Sterling’s
direct appeal was still pending and Hammerle was acting as Sterling’s appellate
counsel, the post-conviction court granted the State’s motion to dismiss the
post-conviction petition. Hammerle continued as appellate counsel in the direct
appeal and argued on Sterling’s behalf the trial court abused its discretion in
1
As to the judicial misconduct claim, Sterling requested a new judge hear his post-conviction petition
because the trial court judge allegedly showed prejudice and bias during the trial. As to the claim of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel, Sterling alleged counsel failed to make proper objections at the
defendant’s trial and sentencing hearing, and counsel failed to call Sterling’s key witnesses. Relevant here,
Sterling specified,
[C]ounsel should have made a verbal objection, are [sic] requested a new trial or made some
jesture [sic] to the court at the defendant [sic] sentencing hearing when the State’s “Marie Ball”
key witness made an inconsistent statement, different from the one that was made at the
defendant’s second trial. (see both second and sentencing transcripts) One saying that the
defendant was the shooter, other saying he was not the shooter.
Appellant’s Appendix at 53. Sterling also claimed Marie Ball’s testimony should have been excluded as
inadmissible hearsay.
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admitting, and excluding, certain evidence. Finding no reversible error, we
affirmed Sterling’s conviction.
[4] On April 4, 2011, Sterling re-filed his pro se petition for post-conviction relief.
On May 2, 2012, Sterling, through post-conviction counsel Hillary Bowe Ricks,
amended his petition.2 However, on June 28, 2012, Sterling filed a pro se
motion to withdraw Bowe Ricks as counsel, and a motion to withdraw his post-
conviction petition without prejudice. The post-conviction court granted
Sterling’s motions. Two weeks later, Sterling filed a motion to reinstate both
his petition for post-conviction relief, and Ricks as his post-conviction counsel.
The post-conviction court granted the motion.
[5] On October 1, 2013, Sterling amended his petition for the final time. Sterling’s
petition alleged newly discovered evidence existed and Hammerle rendered
ineffective assistance in failing to call key witnesses and in failing to object to
certain comments made by the deputy prosecutor. Sterling did not allege
Hammerle rendered ineffective assistance as appellate counsel.3 On December
2
In this amendment, Sterling claimed only ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Specifically, Sterling
claimed trial counsel failed to object to improper comments by the deputy prosecutor and failed to call key
witnesses. The amendment did not include any allegation the State used the perjured testimony of Marie
Ball to convict Sterling.
3
We note there is a single reference to a claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in both the State’s
proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the post-conviction court’s findings of fact and
conclusions of law denying Sterling’s petition for post-conviction relief. However, neither the State, Sterling,
nor the post-conviction court addressed at the evidentiary hearing whether Hammerle was deficient as
appellate counsel. In addition, we note the record does not include Sterling’s proposed findings of fact and
conclusions of law, assuming he did, in fact, file such proposed findings. Therefore, we presume the
references to ineffective assistance of appellate counsel were due to the fact Hammerle represented Sterling at
trial and on direct appeal.
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8, 2014, the post-conviction court entered its findings of fact and conclusions of
law denying Sterling’s petition for post-conviction relief. The post-conviction
court concluded: 1) Sterling presented no evidence or argument to support his
claim of newly discovered evidence;4 and 2) Hammerle was not deficient in
failing to call certain witnesses and in failing to object to the deputy prosecutor’s
comments. Sterling, pro se, now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as
necessary.
Discussion and Decision
I. Post-Conviction Standard of Review
[6] “Post-conviction proceedings do not afford the petitioner an opportunity for a
super appeal, but rather, provide the opportunity to raise issues that were
unknown or unavailable at the time of the original trial or the direct appeal.”
Turner v. State, 974 N.E.2d 575, 581 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), trans. denied. Post-
conviction procedures create a narrow remedy for subsequent collateral
challenges to convictions, and those challenges must be based on the grounds
enumerated in post-conviction rules. Id. The petitioner must establish his
claims by a preponderance of the evidence. Ind. Post-Conviction Rule 1(5).
4
On appeal, Sterling does not argue the post-conviction court erred in concluding he presented no evidence
or argument to support his claim of newly discovered evidence.
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[7] A petitioner who has been denied post-conviction relief faces a “rigorous
standard of review” on appeal. Dewitt v. State, 755 N.E.2d 167, 169 (Ind. 2001).
In reviewing the judgment of a post-conviction court, we consider only the
evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the judgement. Hall v. State, 849
N.E.2d 466, 468 (Ind. 2006). We may not reweigh the evidence or reassess the
credibility of the witnesses. Id. The post-conviction court’s denial of post-
conviction relief will be affirmed unless the evidence leads “unerringly and
unmistakably to a decision opposite that reached by the post-conviction court.”
McCary v. State, 761 N.E.2d 389, 391 (Ind. 2002). Only where the evidence is
without conflict and leads to but one conclusion, and the post-conviction court
reached the opposite conclusion, will the court’s findings or conclusions be
disturbed as being contrary to law. Hall, 849 N.E.2d at 469. Finally, we do not
defer to the post-conviction court’s legal conclusions, but do accept its factual
findings unless they are clearly erroneous. Ind. Trial Rule 52(A); Stevens v.
State, 770 N.E.2d 739, 746 (Ind. 2002), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 830 (2003).
II. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
[8] We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under the two-prong test
set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To prevail on a claim
of ineffective assistance of counsel, the petitioner must show 1) his counsel’s
performance was deficient, and 2) the lack of reasonable representation
prejudiced him. Id. at 687-88. These two prongs are separate and independent
inquiries. Manzano v. State, 12 N.E.3d 321, 326 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014), trans.
denied, cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 2376 (2015). Therefore, “if it is easier to dispose of
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an ineffectiveness claim on one of the grounds instead of the other, that course
should be followed.” Talley v. State, 736 N.E.2d 766, 769 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000).
[9] To satisfy the first prong, the petitioner must show counsel’s representation fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness and counsel committed errors so
serious petitioner did not have the “counsel” guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment of the United States Constitution. Garrett v. State, 992 N.E.2d 710,
719 (Ind. 2013). To satisfy the second prong, the petitioner must show a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different. Id. “A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at
694.
[10] Under this standard, “[c]ounsel is afforded considerable discretion in choosing
strategy and tactics, and we will accord those decisions deference.” Timberlake
v. State, 753 N.E.2d 591, 603 (Ind. 2001), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 839 (2002). We
recognize a strong presumption counsel rendered adequate legal assistance. Id.
To overcome this presumption, the defendant must offer “strong and
convincing evidence . . . .” Smith v. State, 822 N.E.2d 193, 202 (Ind. Ct. App.
2005), trans. denied.
[11] Here, Sterling contends Hammerle rendered ineffective assistance in failing to
object to statements made by the deputy prosecutor during the State’s closing
argument and in failing to call key witnesses. As a result, Sterling claims he
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suffered prejudice because had Hammerle rendered reasonable representation,
the result of trial may have been different. We disagree.
A. Failure to Object
[12] “To prove ineffective assistance for failure to object to the State’s closing
argument, a defendant must prove that his objections would have been
sustained, the failure to object was unreasonable, and that he was prejudiced.”
Lambert v. State, 743 N.E.2d 719, 734 (Ind. 2001) (citation omitted), cert. denied,
534 U.S. 1136 (2002). During closing argument, the deputy prosecutor alleged
Hammerle had attempted to confuse and deceive the jury during trial:
Hammerle is very, very good. I’ve been doing this a long time,
and I like to think I’m pretty good at this. He’s very good. But
you know what? Think about some of the things that were done
there. Think about some of the questions. I had to write them
down. I don’t usually have any notes, but I wrote them down. I
can’t – I can’t characterize it any other way than an effort to
confuse you or deceive you. He asked questions to the detective:
Did Marie ever tell you that in her statement that the person that
did it was the guy with the dog, the guy with the dog incident?
No. Why do you ask that question? No. Because he’s got to get
you to believe that she’s lying. Do you know what she said? It
was the guy who Wayne hit with the nose. Aren’t they the same
people? Wasn’t it the same person? Why does he ask you that
question unless he’s trying to confuse you, make Marie out to be
somebody who can’t remember or is telling you – not telling you
the truth. It was the same person. She didn’t say it was the dog
incident, no. She said it was the guy who Dewayne hit, his dad,
with the nose. Aren’t those the same people? But why do that
unless he’s trying to mislead you? You know, the glasses.
Marie, you wear glasses, don’t you. He sits up there the whole
time, he has her read the whole time and then tries to persuade
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you that she’s got some vision problem so she couldn’t identify
anybody. She didn’t have any problem reading anything that
was there, but it’s trying to confuse you. Poor Rockita. One of
the other things he said: Rockita, well, didn’t Judy pull you
down after the shots? He knew she didn’t pull him [sic] down.
He knows that. He’s got all those statements – the statement
they made to the police, the deposition that was taken by Ms.
Devane, the prior hearing, today. He had them all charted. Do
you see all the notes (inaudible) there? He’s got them all charted
like this. He knew very well that Judy didn’t pull him down, but
he asked her leading questions: Didn’t Judy pull you down?
Because if she says yes, then he’s going, well, then you couldn’t
possibly have seen. Then do you know what he said? Well,
didn’t you have your face over here like that? Well, yeah. He
knew that. He knew that already. You only say those kinds of
things when you’re a defense attorney if you’re trying to confuse,
trying to create the illusion of reasonable doubt. So when he
comes up here in a little bit, he’s going to say, you know, you
might think [Sterling] did it, but that’s not good enough. Maybe
he probably did it, but that’s not good enough. It’s proof beyond
a reasonable doubt. You know, maybe he did it, I don’t know,
but that’s not good enough. He used these confusion tactics,
these lawyer tactics that are designed to try to create the illusion
of reasonable doubt to confuse you . . . .
Post-Conviction Relief (“PCR”) Hearing Exhibit C at 20-23.
[13] Hammerle did not object to the statements. Instead, Hammerle specifically
addressed the deputy prosecutor’s statements in his closing argument:
If it please the Court, ladies and gentlemen, [Deputy Prosecutor]
Cummings. No man in a free country should be denied the right
to counsel in a fair trial. No man in a free county shall be denied
the right to counsel in a fair trial. Who said that? John Adams.
When? When he took up the case of Captain Preston at the
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Boston Massacre, when everybody told him to stay away from
him because the emotions of the community wanted that man
convicted, but John Adams knew that founding this country, put
into our Constitution, is the fact that if we’ve got a country worth
living in, if we’ve got a country where we’re going to protect our
rights, then you’ve got to stand tall with an accused and he’s got
the right to counsel. I will not apologize for that. I am proud of
it . . . .
***
But let me tell you this: That [Deputy Prosecutor] Cummings
would stand here and take issue, that would take issue with me
questioning the witnesses? Cross-examination is a
Constitutionally guaranteed right. That he would belittle me,
make fun of me because I would exercise that right, somehow
cast aspersions or doubt that I’m something less or something
sinister? This is as [sic] truth-seeking process . . . .
Id. at 24-25. At the post-conviction evidentiary hearing, Hammerle stated why
he did not object at trial:
I’ve been around the horn too many times and tried too many of
these type [of] cases where what I’m not going to do, when I still
have my day and time to argue, is to get lost and let the jury
think that I’m simply whining or can’t take a hard shot.
PCR Hearing Transcript at 57.
[14] It is evident Hammerle’s strategy to defuse the impact of the deputy
prosecutor’s statements was not to object, but to specifically address the
statements, and Sterling’s constitutional rights, during his closing argument.
See Carter v. State, 738 N.E.2d 665, 676 (Ind. 2000) (noting it was reasonable for
defense counsel to decide that objecting to comments made by the State during
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closing argument “would only agitate the jury when it was so close to getting
the case”). Counsel is afforded considerable discretion in choosing strategy and
tactics, and we are not persuaded Hammerle’s failure to object was
unreasonable, and we are therefore not led to a conclusion opposite that
reached by the post-conviction court. See McCary, 761 N.E.2d at 391.
B. Failure to Call Witnesses
[15] “A decision regarding what witnesses to call is a matter of trial strategy which
an appellate court will not second-guess, although a failure to call a useful
witness can constitute deficient performance.” Brown v. State, 691 N.E.2d 438,
447 (Ind. 1998) (citation omitted). We will not declare counsel ineffective for
failure to call a particular witness absent a clear showing of prejudice. Grigsby v.
State, 503 N.E.2d 394, 397 (Ind. 1987).
[16] The post-conviction court found Sterling’s counsel in his first trial presented the
jury with Sterling’s proposed witnesses, his version of the facts, and his alibi
defense. That trial resulted in a hung jury, with the jury voting 11-1 to convict.
At the second trial, Hammerle took over as trial counsel and contemplated a
change in strategy. The post-conviction court found Hammerle “reviewed all
the discovery that was available to him from the first trial . . . and interviewed al
[sic] of [Sterling’s] proposed witnesses.” Appellant’s App. at 140.
[17] During the post-conviction hearing, Hammerle stated he interviewed Sterling’s
proposed witnesses and not one witness could establish a credible and viable
alibi for Sterling. Moreover, Hammerle testified many of the witnesses would
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have lacked credibility in front of a jury and some would have corroborated the
State’s theory by placing Sterling at the scene of the crime, thus mitigating an
attempt to create reasonable doubt.5 After interviewing the witnesses and
reviewing all of the discovery available from the first trial, Hammerle decided
not to proceed with Sterling’s alibi defense. Instead, Hammerle pursued an
aggressive reasonable-doubt defense by attacking the credibility of the State’s
eyewitnesses—a decision he made after consulting with Sterling. See
Timberlake, 753 N.E.2d at 603 (“Counsel is afforded considerable discretion in
choosing strategy and tactics, and we will accord those decisions deference.”).
Sterling fails to show he suffered prejudice due to Hammerle’s strategic decision
not to call the proposed witnesses. Therefore, we are not led to a conclusion
opposite that reached by the post-conviction court. See McCary, 761 N.E.2d at
391.
III. Ineffective Assistance of Post-Conviction Counsel
[18] Sterling argues his post-conviction counsel rendered ineffective assistance by
failing to raise whether Hammerle, in his capacity as both trial and appellate
counsel, rendered ineffective assistance by failing to address the State’s alleged
use of perjured testimony. The State counters, 1) Sterling’s argument that post-
5
For example, one of Sterling’s proposed witnesses, Quianna Johnson, would have testified the shooter’s
body type did not match Sterling’s body type. However, her testimony would have also made “the fatal
corroboration of the State’s case that the individuals came from across an alley from across the street, which
was the very place that other witnesses had placed Mr. Sterling walking.” PCR Tr. at 53. Thus, this
testimony not only would have likely defeated Sterling’s alibi defense, but would likely mitigate an attempt at
creating reasonable doubt.
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conviction counsel rendered ineffective assistance does not present a reviewable
claim, because counsel appeared and represented Sterling in a procedurally fair
setting, and 2) Sterling procedurally defaulted on any claim the State used
perjured testimony at trial because he did not include the claim in his direct
appeal.
[19] Although there are claims of ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel
in regard to the allegedly perjured testimony, we do not interpret these as
freestanding claims because they merely form the basis of Sterling’s claim of
ineffective assistance of post-conviction counsel. Therefore, our sole focus is
whether Sterling’s post-conviction counsel rendered ineffective assistance.
[20] There is no federal or state constitutional right to counsel in post-conviction
proceedings. Hill v. State, 960 N.E.2d 141, 145 (Ind. 2012).
We therefore apply a lesser standard responsive more to the due
course of law or due process of law principles which are at the
heart of the civil post-conviction remedy. We adopt the standard
that if counsel in fact appeared and represented the petitioner in a
procedurally fair setting which resulted in a judgment of the
court, it is not necessary to judge his performance by the rigorous
standard set forth in [Strickland].
Baum v. State, 533 N.E.2d 1200, 1201 (Ind. 1989).
[21] Here, post-conviction counsel actively advocated for Sterling throughout the
post-conviction proceedings; she twice amended the petition for post-conviction
relief, appeared at three separate evidentiary hearings, and subpoenaed
witnesses. There is nothing in the record suggesting counsel did not appear and
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represent Sterling in a procedurally fair setting that resulted in a judgment of the
court. Therefore, we are not persuaded Sterling received ineffective assistance
of post-conviction counsel.
Conclusion
[22] The post-conviction court did not err in denying Sterling’s petition for post-
conviction relief. Because Sterling fails to demonstrate he received ineffective
assistance of trial or post-conviction counsel, we affirm the post-conviction
court’s denial of post-conviction relief.
[23] Affirmed.
Vaidik, C.J., and Pyle, J., concur.
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