Dontayell Balfour v. State of Tennessee

07/27/2020
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs May 5, 2020
DONTAYELL BALFOUR v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 15-01047 Paula L. Skahan, Judge
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No. W2019-01468-CCA-R3-PC
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Petitioner, Dontayelle Balfour, appeals the denial of his post-conviction petition.
Petitioner argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel when his trial counsel
failed to adequately consult with him and failed to fully investigate witnesses that
Petitioner requested prior to Petitioner’s guilty plea to second degree murder. Following
a review of the briefs of the parties and the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-
conviction court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed
THOMAS T. WOODALL, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ALAN E. GLENN
and D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JJ., joined.
Shae Atkinson, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Dontayell Balfour.
Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Ronald L. Coleman, Assistant
Attorney General; Amy P. Weirich, District Attorney General; and Melissa Harris,
Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
Background
Petitioner was indicted by a Shelby County Grand Jury for one count of first-
degree murder. Subsequently, he entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder and
received a forty-year sentence to be served in confinement.
Post-conviction Hearing
Trial counsel testified that he was appointed to represent Petitioner in February
2016. He received discovery from Petitioner’s former counsel, and he received email
discovery from the State. Trial counsel testified that it was his understanding that
Petitioner had already been provided with discovery. Based on his letters to Petitioner,
trial counsel believed that he again provided Petitioner with discovery when he first
began representing him. He said that Petitioner later asked about discovery, and trial
counsel provided it to him for the second time. When asked if he reviewed discovery
with Petitioner, trial counsel testified:
I know with [Petitioner] we had several meetings either in court, in the
back in lock-up or in the jail. I specifically remember going through the
photo lineups, the witness statements, going over basically what the
evidence against [Petitioner] would be.
The reason I did it is to allow him to make an informed decision. I
remember telling him I thought the evidence in the case against him was
very strong and I don’t - - I couldn’t tell you what day we flipped
through it and went through it page by page but it’s my recollections that
that’s what we did on multiple occasions.
Trial counsel specifically remembered showing Petitioner that his picture was circled in
some of the photographic lineups, and he showed Petitioner statements from other
witnesses. He noted that Petitioner provided him with an affidavit from one of the
witnesses who recanted his or her statement. However, trial counsel advised Petitioner
that there were five or six other individuals who made a statement concerning Petitioner’s
involvement in the murder. Trial counsel recalled the “crime scene diagram and going
through that with [Petitioner] as well and just looking through whatever he would have
questions about.” Trial counsel testified that he represented Petitioner for approximately
two years, and he estimated that he met with Petitioner approximately once a month or
every other month. He noted that some of the meetings could have occurred on court
dates. Trial counsel estimated that he met with Petitioner at the jail between fifteen to
twenty times.
Trial counsel testified that he explained and reviewed the trial strategy with
Petitioner. He noted that Petitioner’s case was going to be very tough to defend because
there were so many witnesses. The witnesses either saw Petitioner with a gun both
before and after the shooting, or they said that Petitioner “came up to them and said that
the victim was dead and if they told anybody harm would come to them too.” Trial
counsel testified that one possible trial strategy was that someone was trying to frame
Petitioner, that is, Petitioner went into the house after something had already happened.
A second possible defense trial counsel considered was a defense that another person
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who had been robbed by the victim recently before the victim’s murder had killed the
victim. Trial counsel said that another possible trial strategy was to challenge the
credibility of the witnesses against Petitioner because “several of them had been charged,
felonies and had them pending over convicted so I was going to impeach those and then
incorporate this other stuff.” The last strategy was what trial counsel said was the
culmination of his analysis. Trial counsel testified that he and Petitioner also discussed
lesser-included offenses and the likelihood of Petitioner being convicted of a lesser-
included offense. He told Petitioner that the likelihood of succeeding at trial was slim
and that the likelihood of conviction on first-degree murder was high. When asked if he
reviewed the pros and cons of a settlement versus trial, trial counsel testified:
But the pros and cons I told him if he went to trial and lost, you know,
you’re facing a first degree murder so you’re a young man, you have to
do fifty-one years before you get out. So a con of going to trial losing
would be, you know, fifty-one years, and if the judge stacked or added
consecutive time, because there was multiple charges on this indictment,
that would be another con.
So flip that to a pro of pleading you know exactly to a day how much
time you’re going to do. You know that for sure what your sentence is
going to be. You don’t have to worry about appeals, you don’t have to
worry about any of that.
You don’t know, a pro and a con you never know what a jury’s going to
do because I told him he could go in there and walk out free with
acquittal or he could get convicted as charged.
Trial counsel testified that he advised Petitioner that he should seek a settlement.
However, it was Petitioner’s decision. He said that throughout his representation,
Petitioner did not want to go to trial “but he could never get a number that he could
satisfy himself with that the State was willing to accept.” Petitioner eventually signed the
plea agreement to serve forty years for a conviction of second-degree murder.
Trial counsel testified that he had an investigator who attempted to locate potential
witnesses provided by Petitioner. He said that the investigator had a very difficult time
trying to locate the witnesses and spent months trying to track down the individuals.
Trial counsel testified that the witnesses the investigator did locate were not beneficial to
Petitioner’s defense. Trial counsel thought that Dontavious Curtis was the witnesses who
recanted his statement and identified Petitioner as being the person who committed the
murder. They attempted to speak with Mr. Curtis through his attorney but were unable to
do so.
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On cross-examination, trial counsel agreed that his billing records showed that he
visited Petitioner at the jail approximately nineteen times. On one of the occasions, he
attempted to visit Petitioner but Petitioner was not brought out to meet with him. Trial
counsel’s records also showed that he printed discovery for Petitioner, consisting of
approximately 228 pages, on February 17, 2016. He provided Petitioner with discovery a
second time in November 2017. Trial counsel testified that Petitioner also communicated
with him by letter. He said that Petitioner seemed to be very informed about his case and
often had questions that trial counsel did his best to answer. Trial counsel asserted that
he and Petitioner openly discussed the case.
Petitioner testified that he received discovery from trial counsel approximately two
months before trial, and trial counsel reviewed it with him. He claimed that he did not
know anything about his case until he read his co-defendant’s discovery packet.
Petitioner said that trial counsel mainly discussed plea offers with him. Petitioner felt
that trial counsel was not doing his best for Petitioner and that “[h]e wasn’t fighting like
his life was on the line . . .” He said that trial counsel reviewed trial strategy with him at
the “last minute” on the Thursday before trial.
Petitioner asserted that he wanted trial counsel to investigate several witnesses
including Dontavious Curtis. He admitted that trial counsel employed a private
investigator to investigate the witnesses, but the investigator was unable to locate them.
Petitioner testified that he did not understand what an Alford plea was, and trial counsel
did not explain an Alford plea to him or that he was pleading out of his sentencing range.
He agreed that the guilty plea submission hearing transcript reflected that the trial court
reviewed the plea with Petitioner, and Petitioner was informed that he was pleading out
of range. However, Petitioner claimed that his mind was somewhere else at the time.
On cross-examination, Petitioner asserted that he was in custody for more than
two years before he received discovery even though he requested it earlier. Petitioner
agreed that the trial court informed him at the guilty plea hearing that he faced a
minimum period of confinement of fifty-one years if his case went to trial, and he was
convicted as charged.
Analysis
Petitioner argues that his trial counsel’s performance was ineffective for failing to
adequately communicate with him and discuss trial strategies prior to entering his guilty
plea and failing to fully investigate witnesses. We disagree.
Initially, we note that Petitioner has failed to include the transcript from the guilty
plea submission hearing in the record on appeal even though it was made an exhibit. The
State pointed out in its brief this deficiency by Petitioner. Defendants have a duty to
prepare a record that conveys “a fair, accurate and complete account of what transpired
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with respect to the issues which form the basis of the appeal” and will enable the
appellate court to decide the issues. Tenn. Rule App. P. 24(a); see State v. Taylor, 992
S.W.2d 941, 944 (Tenn.1999). While we acknowledge the deficiencies in the record, the
record still provides a sufficient amount of information for us to review the issues
presented.
To obtain post-conviction relief, a petitioner must prove that his or her conviction
or sentence is void or voidable because of the abridgement of a right guaranteed by the
United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution. T.C.A. § 40-30-103; Howell v.
State, 151 S.W.3d 450, 460 (Tenn. 2004). A post-conviction petitioner bears the burden
of proving his or her allegations of fact by clear and convincing evidence. T.C.A § 40-
30-110(f); Dellinger v. State, 279 S.W.3d 282, 293-94 (Tenn. 2009). “Evidence is clear
and convincing when there is no serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of the
conclusions drawn from the evidence.” Grindstaff v. State, 297 S.W.3d 208, 216 (Tenn.
2009) (quoting Hicks v. State, 983 S.W.2d 240, 245 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). In an
appeal of a court’s decision resolving a petition for post-conviction relief, the court’s
findings of fact “will not be disturbed unless the evidence contained in the record
preponderates against them.” Frazier v. State, 303 S.W.3d 674, 679 (Tenn. 2010).
A petitioner has a right to “reasonably effective” assistance of counsel under both
the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 9 of the
Tennessee Constitution. State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 461 (Tenn. 1999). The right to
effective assistance of counsel is inherent in these provisions. Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 685-86 (1984); Dellinger, 279 S.W.3d at 293. When a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel is made, the burden is on the petitioner to show (1) that counsel’s
performance was deficient and (2) that the deficiency was prejudicial. Strickland, 466
U.S. at 687; see Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 368-72 (1993). Failure to satisfy
either prong results in the denial of relief. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697.
The deficient performance prong of the test is satisfied by showing that “counsel’s
acts or omissions were so serious as to fall below an objective standard of reasonableness
under prevailing professional norms.” Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363, 370 (Tenn. 1996)
(citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688; Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975)).
Furthermore, the reviewing court must indulge a strong presumption that the conduct of
counsel falls within the range of reasonable professional assistance, see Strickland, 466
U.S. at 690, and may not second-guess the tactical and strategic choices made by trial
counsel unless those choices were uninformed because of inadequate preparation.
See Hellard v. State, 629 S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982). The prejudice prong of the test is
satisfied by showing a reasonable probability, i.e. a “probability sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome,” that “but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. In the context of a
guilty plea, the petitioner must show a reasonable probability that were it not for the
deficiencies in counsel’s representation, he or she would not have pled guilty but would
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instead have insisted on proceeding to trial. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59
(1985); House v. State, 44 S.W.3d 508, 516 (Tenn. 2001).
In addition, in determining the voluntariness of a guilty plea, a trial court must
advise the defendant of the consequences of a guilty plea and determine whether the
defendant understands those consequences to ensure the plea is a “voluntary and
intelligent choice among the alternative courses of action open to the defendant.” North
Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 31 (1970); see also Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238,
244 (1969). The trial court must address the defendant personally in open court, inform
the defendant of the consequences of the guilty plea, and determine whether the
defendant understands those consequences. See State v. Mackey, 553 S.W.2d 337, 341
(Tenn. 1977), superseded on other grounds by rule as state in State v. Wilson, 31 S.W.3d
189, 193 (Tenn. 2000); Tenn. R. Crim. P 11(c). The trial court looks to the following
factors in determining whether the defendant’s guilty pleas were knowing and voluntary:
the relative intelligence of the [petitioner]; the degree of his familiarity
with criminal proceedings; whether he was represented by competent
counsel and had the opportunity to confer with counsel about the options
available to him; the extent of advice from counsel and the court
concerning the charges against him; and the reasons for his decision to
plead guilty, including a desire to avoid a greater penalty that might
result from a jury trial.
Blankenship v. State, 858 S.W.2d 897, 904 (Tenn. 1993).
Our supreme court has stated that:
[T]he petitioner for post-conviction relief [] has the burden of proving
his factual allegations by clear and convincing evidence. Calvert v.
State, 342 S.W.3d 477, 485 (Tenn. 2011) (citing *336 Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-30-110(f) (2006) and Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 28 § 8(D)(1)). The factual
findings of the post-conviction court are binding on an appellate court
unless the evidence in the record preponderates against those findings.
Dellinger v. State, 279 S.W.3d 282, 294 (Tenn. 2009). The post-
conviction court’s application of law to its factual findings is reviewed
de novo with no presumption of correctness. Calvert, 342 S.W.3d at
485. A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel presents a mixed
question of law and fact that is subject to de novo review with no
presumption of correctness. Id.; Dellinger, 279 S.W.3d at 294; Pylant v.
State, 263 S.W.3d 854, 867 (Tenn. 2008).
Smith v. State, 357 S.W.3d 322, 335-36 (Tenn. 2011).
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I. Failure to Adequately Communicate and Discuss Trial Strategies
Petitioner argues that the “the only way he knew what was going on in his case
was by reviewing his co-defendant’s discovery pack[et]” and that he and trial counsel
never discussed the “pros and cons” of going to trial. He asserts that he received his
discovery packet two months before trial, and he and trial counsel did not discuss the trial
strategy until the Thursday before his trial. Concerning this ground, the post-conviction
court made the following findings:
Petitioner claims that Counsel was ineffective by failing to provide
Petitioner with discovery until two months before his trial date. Counsel
was appointed to [Petitioner] in February of 2016. Counsel testified in
the Petition for Post-Conviction Relief Hearing that he printed a copy of
the discovery on February 17, 2016, which he gave to Petitioner soon
thereafter and again gave Petitioner a copy of discovery in November
2017. Petitioner’s trial was on February 12, 2018.
The Tennessee Code states that the burden is on the Petitioner to prove
by clear and convincing evidence that trial counsel’s performance was
deficient and that the performance prejudiced the outcome of the case.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-110(f); Hicks v. State, 983 S.W.3d 240 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1998). Petitioner has not included any specific facts in the
record to refute Trial Counsel’s testimony or any specific facts to support
his claim that counsel failed to provide discovery until two months
before his trial. Nor did Petitioner provide any specific facts to show
that counsel’s actions regarding discovery either fell below the objective
of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms or that Trial
Counsel’s performance prejudiced the outcome of the case.
The post-conviction court further found that trial counsel visited with Petitioner between
seventeen and nineteen times in the jail, and wrote at least six letters to Petitioner which
discussed the contents of discovery and answered any questions from Petitioner. The
post-conviction court concluded that there was no evidence in the record that trial counsel
failed to adequately communicate with Petitioner. Additionally, the post-conviction court
found that trial counsel provided Petitioner with adequate information regarding trial
strategy and the potential consequences of going to trial and that Petitioner provided no
evidence in the record that trial counsel failed to investigate possible defense strategies.
The record in this case does not preponderate against the post-conviction court’s
factual findings. Initially, we find that Petitioner has failed to show or even allege in his
brief how trial counsel’s alleged deficiencies in this area affected the outcome of his case.
Additionally, the evidence presented at the post-conviction hearing shows that trial
counsel’s performance was not deficient. Trial counsel testified that his billing records
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showed that he visited Petitioner at the jail approximately nineteen times, although one of
those times Petitioner was not brought out to meet with him, and they also communicated
by letter. He provided Petitioner with discovery on two occasions well before trial,
consisting of approximately two-hundred twenty-eight pages, and they reviewed the
discovery on multiple occasions. He thought that Petitioner had also been provided with
discovery by previous counsel. At the post-conviction hearing, Petitioner admitted that
trial counsel reviewed discovery with him. Trial counsel even recalled specific
documents from the discovery packet that he reviewed with Petitioner. Trial counsel
testified that he explained and reviewed trial strategies with Petitioner, but the case
against Petitioner was very strong. Trial counsel noted that there were at least three
possible strategies that he considered using at trial. Trial counsel testified that he
explained the pro and cons of a settlement versus going to trial. He said that throughout
his representation, Petitioner did not want to go to trial. He said that he reviewed all of
the evidence in Petitioner’s case so that Petitioner could make an “informed decision”
and that it was Petitioner’s decision to accept the plea offer from the State.
The post-conviction court essentially found that trial counsel’s testimony was
more credible and that Petitioner failed to prove his allegations of fact by clear and
convincing evidence. This court will not re-weigh or re-evaluate the credibility
determinations made by the post-conviction court. All questions concerning the
credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to be given their testimony and the factual
issues raised by the evidence are to be resolved by the trial court, not the appellate courts.
Moman v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152, 156 (Tenn. 1999). Petitioner is not entitled to relief on
this basis.
II. Failure to Investigate Witnesses
Petitioner contends that trial counsel rendered deficient performance by failing to
“fully investigate” the witnesses that he requested. However, Petitioner does not
specifically identify any witnesses in his argument that he alleges trial counsel failed to
investigate, and he did not present any of the witnesses at the post-conviction hearing. It
has long been established that “[w]hen a petitioner contends that trial counsel failed to
discover, interview, or present witnesses in support of his defense, these witnesses should
be presented by the petitioner at the evidentiary hearing.” Taylor v. State, 443 S.W.3d
80, 85 (Tenn. 2014) (quoting Black v. State, 794 S.W.2d 752, 757 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1990)). Without this proof, this Court is unable to determine that trial counsel was either
deficient in his investigation of the witnesses or that the lack thereof was prejudicial for
Petitioner's case. Therefore, Petitioner is not entitled to relief on this ground.
Petitioner has failed to show that his guilty plea was not knowingly, voluntarily,
and intelligently made with the effective assistance of counsel. In our de novo review
with no presumption of correctness to the trial court’s ruling, we conclude that Petitioner
failed to establish either deficient performance or prejudice if there had been deficient
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performance by trial counsel. Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to post-conviction
relief.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
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THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE
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