Teron McKenley v. State of Tennessee

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
March 11, 2003 Session
TERON MCKENLEY v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Rutherford County
No. 51739 James K. Clayton, Jr., Judge
No. M2002-01892-CCA-R3-PC - Filed April 1, 2003
The petitioner, Teron McKenley, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. He
originally pled guilty to especially aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and theft over $1,000
and received an effective sentence of fifteen years. He contends the post-conviction court erred in
disallowing the introduction of the victim’s medical records at his post-conviction hearing and in
failing to find that ineffective assistance of counsel led to an involuntary guilty plea. We affirm the
judgment of the post-conviction court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed
JOE G. RILEY, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which GARY R. WADE, P.J., and ALAN E.
GLENN, J., joined.
John H. Baker, III, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the appellant, Teron McKenley.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Christine M. Lapps, Assistant Attorney General;
William C. Whitesell, Jr., District Attorney General; and John W. Price, Assistant District Attorney
General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
The petitioner was indicted by the Rutherford County Grand Jury for the following offenses:
especially aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, theft over $1,000, aggravated
burglary, another theft over $1,000, and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
In exchange for the petitioner’s plea of guilty to especially aggravated robbery, one count of theft
over $1,000, and aggravated burglary, the state agreed to dismiss all other charges. The parties
further agreed to concurrent sentences of fifteen years for especially aggravated robbery, three years
for theft over $1,000, and three years for aggravated burglary.
It is undisputed that the especially aggravated robbery conviction was based upon the
petitioner’s shooting the victim in the leg during a robbery on November 24, 1999. During the
guilty plea submission hearing, the petitioner acknowledged, in response to questioning by the trial
court, that he had agreed to the fifteen-year sentence at “100%.” Trial counsel also questioned the
petitioner. The petitioner stated he understood that if he were found guilty of especially aggravated
robbery, the presumptive sentence would be the mid-range sentence of twenty years. The petitioner
also acknowledged that he and trial counsel had discussed whether the victim suffered “serious
bodily injury” so as to make the offense especially aggravated robbery as opposed to aggravated
robbery. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-402(a)(1), -403(a).1 The petitioner acknowledged that the
state would be required to show either a substantial risk of death or extreme physical pain, and he
assumed the victim was in extreme physical pain when he was shot. See id. § 39-11-106(a)(34)(A),
(C). The petitioner agreed that the jury would probably find him guilty of especially aggravated
robbery. The petitioner further acknowledged that he gave his attorney the authority to go to the
attorney general and offer a sentence of fifteen years.
POST-CONVICTION HEARING
The petitioner timely filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging ineffective assistance
of counsel led to an involuntary guilty plea. Trial counsel testified at the post-conviction hearing
that the state had offered an effective sentence of seventeen years, and the petitioner offered to plead
guilty for fifteen years. He testified he had extensive discussions with the petitioner as to the
definition of “serious bodily injury” and gave him a copy of State v. Sims, 909 S.W.2d 46 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1995), which contained an analysis of “serious bodily injury.” Id. at 49-50. Trial
counsel stated the petitioner was aware of this issue and further understood that by pleading guilty
under the plea agreement, other unrelated charges would be dismissed. The petitioner further
understood he would not run the risk of consecutive sentencing which could result in a sentence
exceeding fifteen years in the event he went to trial. However, trial counsel conceded he did not
have the victim’s medical records when he discussed the issue of “serious bodily injury” with the
petitioner.
The petitioner testified that trial counsel did not provide him with the victim’s medical
records prior to the guilty plea. The petitioner contended that the medical records reflect that the
victim did not suffer serious bodily injury; therefore, he would not have pled guilty to especially
aggravated robbery, a 100% offense, had he known of the medical records. See Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-35-501(i)(2)(E) (designating especially aggravated robbery as an offense requiring 100% of
the sentence to be served).
The post-conviction court noted that the victim did not testify at the post-conviction hearing;
thus, it was unable to conclude that the victim did not have serious bodily injury. The post-
conviction court otherwise found the petitioner was aware of this issue at the time of the plea and
made an “informed” choice to enter the plea. The post-conviction court denied relief.
1
Aggravated robbery is a robbery with either a deadly weapon or serious bodily injury. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-
13-402(a). Especially aggravated rob bery requires both a deadly weapon and serious bod ily injury. Id. § 39-13-403 (a).
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STANDARD OF REVIEW
When a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is made under the Sixth Amendment, the
burden is upon the complaining party to show (1) that counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2)
the deficiency was prejudicial in terms of rendering a reasonable probability that the result of the
trial was unreliable or the proceedings fundamentally unfair. See Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). In Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930,
936 (Tenn. 1975), our supreme court required that the services be rendered within the range of
competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. In reviewing counsel’s conduct, a “fair
assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting
effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel’s challenged conduct, and to
evaluate the conduct from counsel’s perspective at the time.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.
Ct. at 2065; see Nichols v. State, 90 S.W.3d 576, 587 (Tenn. 2002).
It is unnecessary for a court to address deficiency and prejudice in any particular order, or
even to address both if the petitioner makes an insufficient showing on either. Strickland, 466 U.S.
at 697, 104 S. Ct. at 2069. In order to establish prejudice, the petitioner must establish 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.’” State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 463 (Tenn. 1999) (quoting Strickland,
466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068) (citations omitted).
In Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 106 S. Ct. 366, 88 L. Ed. 2d 203 (1985), the Supreme Court
applied the two-part Strickland standard to ineffective assistance of counsel claims arising out of
a guilty plea. The Court in Hill modified the prejudice requirement by requiring a petitioner to show
that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty
and would have insisted on going to trial. 474 U.S. at 59, 106 S. Ct. at 370; see also Nichols, 90
S.W.3d at 587.
The petitioner bears the burden of proving the factual allegations that would entitle the
petitioner to relief by clear and convincing evidence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-210(f). We review
the post-conviction court’s factual findings underlying a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel
under a de novo standard with a presumption that those findings are correct – unless the
preponderance of the evidence establishes otherwise. Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 461. However, the post-
conviction court’s conclusions of law – such as whether counsel’s performance was deficient or
whether that deficiency was prejudicial – are reviewed under a de novo standard with no
presumption of correctness. Fields v. State, 40 S.W.3d 450, 457 (Tenn. 2001).
VICTIM’S MEDICAL RECORDS
The petitioner first contends the post-conviction court erred in refusing to allow into
evidence the victim’s medical records, consisting of approximately fifty pages. However, the post-
conviction court allowed the petitioner to introduce the records as an offer of proof; thus, we have
them for review. It was the petitioner’s contention that the records would establish that the victim’s
gunshot wound did not create a substantial risk of death and did not result in extreme physical pain.
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The post-conviction court concluded the medical records were not relevant to the issue of whether
the petitioner made an informed plea of guilty.
We agree with the petitioner that the post-conviction court erred in refusing to allow the
admission of the medical records into evidence. “Serious bodily injury” is an element of especially
aggravated robbery. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-403(a)(2). “A substantial risk of death” or
“extreme physical pain” qualifies as “serious bodily injury.” See id. § 39-11-106(a)(34)(A), (C).
The petitioner had the burden of establishing that the failure of trial counsel to review the medical
records was prejudicial. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. The medical records were relevant to the
issue of whether the victim had serious bodily injury and, thus, whether the petitioner would have
entered his guilty plea had he been aware of the medical records. See Hill, 474 U.S. at 59.
Nevertheless, we conclude the failure to admit the medical records into evidence was
harmless. In our view, the medical records do not establish that the victim did not suffer “serious
bodily injury” as a result of the gunshot wound. The records reflect that the victim complained of
“pain right there around the gunshot wound.” The victim remained in the hospital for several hours
after his initial treatment in the emergency room. Although the record reflects that he “may use
Extra-Strength Tylenol or Advil as needed for pain” upon his discharge, the record also reflects that
he was prescribed “OXYCODONE\APAP CAP 1-2 TYLOX PO 1-2 CAP PRN EVERY 3 TO 4
HOURS AS NEEDED PRN PAIN” to begin “0600 11/24” and stop “0559 11/29.” Thus, this
medication was prescribed for use over a period of five days. The discharge instruction reflects a
prescription for “Tylox” and to “take as directed.” Tylox is an oxycodone prescribed for moderate
to moderately severe pain. Monthly Prescribing Reference 250 (Jan. 2003). Oxycodone is a
narcotic opium derivative and is a Schedule II controlled substance. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-
408(b)(1)(N). In short, the records do not establish that the victim was not in extreme physical pain.
The petitioner was not prejudiced by the failure to admit the medical records into evidence.
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
The petitioner contends that trial counsel was ineffective by not reviewing these medical
records prior to advising the petitioner concerning the guilty plea. We need not address the issue
as to whether trial counsel was deficient if we determine the petitioner has not satisfied the prejudice
prong of Strickland. Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 370 (Tenn. 1996). As stated, in order to
establish prejudice, the petitioner must show that he would not have entered his guilty plea had he
been aware of the contents of the medical records. See Hill, 474 U.S. at 59.
We are unable to conclude that trial counsel is necessarily deficient if counsel does not
review a gunshot victim’s medical records prior to advising a defendant concerning a guilty plea to
an offense requiring serious bodily injury. For example, “extreme physical pain” can be established
without the necessity of reliance upon medical records. However, we do recognize that this court
has held that a gunshot wound to the leg does not, per se, establish that the injuries were
“particularly great.” See State v. Eric Dewayne McElmore, No. 03C01-9802-CR-00056, 1999 Tenn.
Crim. App. LEXIS 469, at *9 (Tenn. Crim. App. May 14, 1999, at Knoxville) (holding a gunshot
wound to the leg does not necessarily result in serious bodily injury in the context of enhancement
factor (6), that the injuries were “particularly great” under Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-
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114(6) (1997)), perm. to app. denied (Tenn. 1999). Regardless, we need not determine whether trial
counsel was deficient. Here, the petitioner has failed to establish prejudice.
We conclude the petitioner has failed to establish prejudice for three reasons. First, had trial
counsel thoroughly examined the medical records, he would have discovered the victim suffered
substantial pain and was prescribed a narcotic pain medication as a result of the gunshot wound.
It is highly unlikely trial counsel’s advice would have been any different. Accordingly, it is highly
unlikely the petitioner would not have pled guilty under these circumstances. We note that the plea
agreement provided for a minimum fifteen-year sentence for especially aggravated robbery,
whereas, if the petitioner were convicted at a trial, the presumptive sentence would be twenty years.
See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-403(b), 40-35-112(a)(1), -35-210(c). In addition, the other two
sentences ran concurrently with the fifteen-year sentence and additional charges were dismissed.
Second, as noted by the post-conviction court, the petitioner failed to present the testimony
of the victim at the post-conviction hearing. Thus, there is no showing that the victim did not suffer
extreme physical pain as a result of being shot. The petitioner stated at his guilty plea hearing that
he assumed the victim experienced extreme physical pain. This was a reasonable assumption, and
nothing has been established to the contrary.
Third, as we have previously stated, the medical records do not reveal that the victim did not
suffer extreme physical pain.
Accordingly, the petitioner has failed to establish the prejudice prong of his ineffective
assistance of counsel claim; namely, that he would not have pled guilty if trial counsel had examined
the victim’s medical records. This issue is without merit.
VOLUNTARY GUILTY PLEA
Finally, the petitioner contends his guilty plea was involuntary and unknowing because of
trial counsel’s failure to properly investigate the medical records. Our supreme court has stated the
following:
The cases of Boykin v. Alabama and State v. Mackey are the landmark
constitutional cases for analyses of guilty pleas. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238,
89 S. Ct. 1709, 23 L. Ed. 2d 274 (1969) (federal standard); State v. Mackey, 553
S.W.2d 337 (Tenn. 1977) (state standard). In Boykin, the United States Supreme
Court held that before a trial judge can accept a guilty plea, there must be an
affirmative showing that it was given intelligently and voluntarily. Id. at 242, 89 S.
Ct. at 1711, 23 L. Ed. 2d at 279. In order to find that the plea was entered
“intelligently” or “voluntarily,” the court must “canvass[ ] the matter with the
accused to make sure he has a full understanding of what the plea connotes and of
its consequences.” Id. at 244, 89 S. Ct. at 1712, 23 L. Ed. 2d at 280 (emphasis
added).
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Likewise, in Mackey, this Court held that “the record of acceptance of a
defendant’s plea of guilty must affirmatively demonstrate that his decision was both
voluntary and knowledgeable, i.e., that he has been made aware of the significant
consequences of such a plea . . . .” 553 S.W.2d at 340.
State v. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d 540, 542 (Tenn. 1999).
The petitioner was thoroughly questioned not only by the trial court but also by trial counsel
at the time of the plea. It was the petitioner who made the offer to the state to plead guilty for the
fifteen-year sentence. He acknowledged his understanding of what evidence would be required to
establish the “serious bodily injury” element of especially aggravated robbery. See Tenn. Code Ann.
§§ 39-11-106(a)(34), -13-403(a)(2). The petitioner’s plea was knowing and voluntary. This issue
lacks merit.
CONCLUSION
Based upon our examination of the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction
court.
JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE
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