Davis v. Ducrat
Filing
43
FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan on 06/18/18 RECOMMENDING that petitioner's application for a writ of habeas corpus be denied. Referred to Judge John A. Mendez. Objections due within 14 days. (Plummer, M)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
DAVID M. DAVIS,
12
Petitioner,
13
14
No. 2:16-cv-0733-JAM-EFB P
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
vs.
CLARK DUCART,
15
Respondent.
16
Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel on a petition for a writ of habeas
17
18
corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.1 He challenges a judgment of conviction entered against
19
him on December 5, 2012 in the Sutter County Superior Court on charges of: (1) child cruelty
20
pursuant to Cal. Penal Code § 273d(a); (2) dissuading a witness pursuant to Cal. Penal Code
21
§ 136.1(c)(1); (3) spousal abuse pursuant to Cal. Penal Code § 273.5(a); and assault with a
22
weapon pursuant to Cal. Penal Code § 245(a)(1). He seeks federal habeas relief on the following
23
grounds: (1) he is actually innocent; (2) his rights were violated when the state court failed to
24
interpret his plea agreement according to “California Contract Law”; and (3) his trial counsel was
25
ineffective.
26
/////
27
28
1
The matter has been referred to the magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)
and Local Rule 302.
1
1
2
3
4
For the reasons stated below, petitioner’s application for habeas corpus relief must be
denied.
I.
Background
In its unpublished memorandum and opinion affirming petitioner’s judgment of
5
conviction on appeal, the California Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District provided the
6
following factual summary:
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Defendant David Marshall Davis and his stepson, 16 year-old D.W.,
were cleaning out a room in the family home when D.W. fell asleep.
Defendant threw a plastic object at D.W., striking his right eye.
Defendant also punched him in the ribs about 10 times. As a result,
D.W. had a horizontal line across his field of vision which did not
heal.
Later that week, defendant assaulted his cohabitant, D.W.'s mother
Page G. He pushed her against the kitchen wall, hit her in the face
with a closed fist, and threw her to the ground. Page G. was three
months pregnant with defendant's child. While she was on the
ground, defendant stomped on her stomach with his foot and yelled
that he hoped she would miscarry. He also threatened to kill Page G.
if she got law enforcement involved. D.W. distracted defendant by
letting the dogs in, and then fled with his mother.
In a search incident to defendant's arrest, officers found a marijuana
growing facility in one of the rooms. Wiring for the operation was
stripped and spliced and hanging exposed instead of inside a junction
box. Exposed electrical wiring emerged from the sheetrock as well.
A search warrant was later executed on the residence. Officers found
390.88 grams of marijuana in a paper bag, a sheet of paper indicating
the respective values of different amounts of marijuana, and 21 jars
containing a total of 384.28 grams of marijuana.
While in jail, defendant called Page G. and instructed her to have
D.W. testify that he made up the whole story because he was angry
at defendant.
Defendant was charged in case No. CRF121011 with corporal injury
to a child with great bodily injury (Pen. Code, §§ 273d, subd. (a),
12022.7, subd. (a); undesignated statutory references are to the Penal
Code), child endangerment (§ 273a, subd. (a)), corporal injury to a
cohabitant (§ 273.5, subd. (a)), dissuading a witness (§ 136.1, subd.
(c)(1)), criminal threats (§ 422), assault by means likely to cause
great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)), misdemeanor false
imprisonment (§§ 236, 237), and possession of marijuana for sale
(Health & Saf. Code, § 11359).
A few days after being released from jail, defendant confronted D.W.
and accused him of stealing some marijuana. D.W. denied stealing
marijuana, but admitted selling some while defendant was in jail.
Defendant and Page G. told D.W. to leave the home; D.W. went to
2
1
his girlfriend's residence. Defendant and Page G. drove D.W. home
the following day. After Page G. and their other children left,
defendant confronted D.W. in the room where the marijuana was
grown. Defendant, armed with an aluminum baseball bat, told D.W.
he would knock his head off if he said anything stupid. When D.W.
continued to deny stealing the marijuana, defendant struck him in the
shin with the bat. Defendant left the residence when Page G. and the
children returned.
2
3
4
5
Defendant was subsequently charged in case No. CRF121645 with
corporal injury to a child with personal use of a deadly weapon (§§
273d, subd. (a), 12022, subd. (b)(1)), criminal threats with personal
use of a deadly weapon (§§ 422, 12022, subd. (b)(1)), dissuading a
witness (§ 136.1, subd. (b)(1)), subornation of perjury (§ 127),
assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)), and on bail
enhancements for all counts (§ 12022.1).
6
7
8
9
Pleading in both cases, defendant pleaded no contest to corporal
injury to a child, corporal injury to a cohabitant, dissuading a witness,
and assault with a deadly weapon, and admitted great bodily injury
and on bail enhancement. The remaining charges were dismissed
with a Harvey waiver. (People v. Harvey (1979) 25 Cal.3d 754.) The
trial court sentenced defendant to 16 years in state prison, imposed
various fines and fees, and awarded 166 days of credit (145 actual
and 21 conduct) in case No. CRF12011 and 93 days of credit (81
actual and 12 conduct) in case No. CRF121645 (§ 2933.1). In a
subsequent proceeding, the trial court ordered $1,681.50 victim
restitution to Medi–Cal for Page G.'s and D.W.'s medical expenses
and $120 to the home's owner for damages resulting from defendant's
marijuana operation.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
People v. Davis, 2013 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 6396, 2013 WL 4780963, at *1–2 (Cal.App. 3
Dist., 2013) (unpublished).
II.
Standards of Review Applicable to Habeas Corpus Claims
An application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody under a judgment of a
state court can be granted only for violations of the Constitution or laws of the United States. 28
U.S.C. § 2254(a). A federal writ is not available for alleged error in the interpretation or
application of state law. See Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. 1,5 (2010); Estelle v. McGuire, 502
U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991); Park v. California, 202 F.3d 1146, 1149 (9th Cir. 2000).
Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) sets forth the following standards for granting federal habeas
corpus relief:
26
27
28
An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a
person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not
be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the
merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim
3
1
(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an
unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as
determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or
2
3
(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the
State court proceeding.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
For purposes of applying § 2254(d)(1), “clearly established federal law” consists of
holdings of the United States Supreme Court at the time of the last reasoned state court decision.
Thompson v. Runnels, 705 F.3d 1089, 1096 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Greene v. Fisher, 565 U.S. 34,
(2011); Stanley v. Cullen, 633 F.3d 852, 859 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S.
362, 405-06 (2000)). Circuit court precedent “may be persuasive in determining what law is
clearly established and whether a state court applied that law unreasonably.” Stanley, 633 F.3d at
859 (quoting Maxwell v. Roe, 606 F.3d 561, 567 (9th Cir. 2010)). However, circuit precedent
may not be “used to refine or sharpen a general principle of Supreme Court jurisprudence into a
specific legal rule that th[e] [Supreme] Court has not announced.” Marshall v. Rodgers, 133 S.
Ct. 1446, 1450 (2013) (citing Parker v. Matthews, 567 U.S. 37, 49 (2012) (per curiam)). Nor
may it be used to “determine whether a particular rule of law is so widely accepted among the
Federal Circuits that it would, if presented to th[e] [Supreme] Court, be accepted as correct. Id.
Further, where courts of appeals have diverged in their treatment of an issue, it cannot be said that
there is “clearly established Federal law” governing that issue. Carey v. Musladin, 549 U.S. 70,
77 (2006).
A state court decision is “contrary to” clearly established federal law if it applies a rule
contradicting a holding of the Supreme Court or reaches a result different from Supreme Court
precedent on “materially indistinguishable” facts. Price v. Vincent, 538 U.S. 634, 640 (2003).
Under the “unreasonable application” clause of § 2254(d)(1), a federal habeas court may grant the
writ if the state court identifies the correct governing legal principle from the Supreme Court’s
decisions, but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case. 2 Lockyer v.
26
27
28
2
Under § 2254(d)(2), a state court decision based on a factual determination is not to be
overturned on factual grounds unless it is “objectively unreasonable in light of the evidence
presented in the state court proceeding.” Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859 (quoting Davis v. Woodford,
4
1
Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 75 (2003); Williams, 529 U.S. at 413; Chia v. Cambra, 360 F.3d 997, 1002
2
(9th Cir. 2004). In this regard, a federal habeas court “may not issue the writ simply because that
3
court concludes in its independent judgment that the relevant state-court decision applied clearly
4
established federal law erroneously or incorrectly. Rather, that application must also be
5
unreasonable.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 412. See also Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 473
6
(2007); Lockyer, 538 U.S. at 75 (it is “not enough that a federal habeas court, in its independent
7
review of the legal question, is left with a ‘firm conviction’ that the state court was ‘erroneous.’”).
8
“A state court’s determination that a claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief so long as
9
‘fairminded jurists could disagree’ on the correctness of the state court’s decision.” Harrington v.
10
Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 101 (2011) (quoting Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664 (2004)).
11
Accordingly, “[a]s a condition for obtaining habeas corpus from a federal court, a state prisoner
12
must show that the state court’s ruling on the claim being presented in federal court was so
13
lacking in justification that there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law
14
beyond any possibility for fairminded disagreement.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 103.
15
If the state court’s decision does not meet the criteria set forth in § 2254(d), a reviewing
16
court must conduct a de novo review of a habeas petitioner’s claims. Delgadillo v. Woodford,
17
527 F.3d 919, 925 (9th Cir. 2008); see also Frantz v. Hazey, 533 F.3d 724, 735 (9th Cir. 2008)
18
(en banc) (“[I]t is now clear both that we may not grant habeas relief simply because of §
19
2254(d)(1) error and that, if there is such error, we must decide the habeas petition by considering
20
de novo the constitutional issues raised.”).
21
The court looks to the last reasoned state court decision as the basis for the state court
22
judgment. Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859; Robinson v. Ignacio, 360 F.3d 1044, 1055 (9th Cir. 2004). If
23
the last reasoned state court decision adopts or substantially incorporates the reasoning from a
24
previous state court decision, this court may consider both decisions to ascertain the reasoning of
25
the last decision. Edwards v. Lamarque, 475 F.3d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 2007) (en banc). “When
26
a federal claim has been presented to a state court and the state court has denied relief, it may be
27
28
384 F.3d 628, 638 (9th Cir. 2004)).
5
1
presumed that the state court adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication
2
or state-law procedural principles to the contrary.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 99. This presumption
3
may be overcome by a showing “there is reason to think some other explanation for the state
4
court’s decision is more likely.” Id. at 785 (citing Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 803 (1991)).
5
Similarly, when a state court decision on a petitioner’s claims rejects some claims but does not
6
expressly address a federal claim, a federal habeas court must presume, subject to rebuttal, that
7
the federal claim was adjudicated on the merits. Johnson v. Williams, 568 U.S. 289, 293 (2013).
8
Where the state court reaches a decision on the merits but provides no reasoning to
9
support its conclusion, a federal habeas court independently reviews the record to determine
10
whether habeas corpus relief is available under § 2254(d). Stanley, 633 F.3d at 860; Himes v.
11
Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 853 (9th Cir. 2003). “Independent review of the record is not de novo
12
review of the constitutional issue, but rather, the only method by which we can determine whether
13
a silent state court decision is objectively unreasonable.” Himes, 336 F.3d at 853. Where no
14
reasoned decision is available, the habeas petitioner still has the burden of “showing there was no
15
reasonable basis for the state court to deny relief.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 98.
16
A summary denial is presumed to be a denial on the merits of the petitioner’s claims.
17
Stancle v. Clay, 692 F.3d 948, 957 & n. 3 (9th Cir. 2012). While the federal court cannot analyze
18
just what the state court did when it issued a summary denial, the federal court must review the
19
state court record to determine whether there was any “reasonable basis for the state court to deny
20
relief.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 98. This court “must determine what arguments or theories ... could
21
have supported, the state court's decision; and then it must ask whether it is possible fairminded
22
jurists could disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a prior
23
decision of [the Supreme] Court.” Id. at 102. The petitioner bears “the burden to demonstrate
24
that ‘there was no reasonable basis for the state court to deny relief.’” Walker v. Martel, 709 F.3d
25
925, 939 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Richter, 562 U.S. at 98).
26
When it is clear, however, that a state court has not reached the merits of a petitioner’s
27
claim, the deferential standard set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) does not apply and a federal
28
habeas court must review the claim de novo. Stanley, 633 F.3d at 860; Reynoso v. Giurbino, 462
6
1
2
F.3d 1099, 1109 (9th Cir. 2006); Nulph v. Cook, 333 F.3d 1052, 1056 (9th Cir. 2003).
III.
Petitioner’s Claims
3
A.
4
In his first claim, petitioner argues that his conviction must be vacated because he is
Actual Innocence
5
actually innocent. In support of this claim, he argues that witness De-Anthony Ward gave false
6
testimony against him. ECF No. 29 at 9-10. 3 Petitioner points to a signed statement attached to
7
his original petition wherein Ward recants statements he provided to law enforcement. ECF No.
8
1 at 74-76.
9
10
1.
Applicable Legal Standards
The Supreme Court has never decided whether a freestanding claim of actual innocence is
11
cognizable in federal habeas corpus. Herrera v. Collins, 506 U.S. 390, 400 (1993) (“Claims of
12
actual innocence based on newly discovered evidence have never been held to state a ground for
13
federal habeas relief absent an independent constitutional violation occurring in the underlying
14
state criminal proceeding.”); see also DA’s Office v. Osborne, 557 U.S. 52, 71 (2009). Assuming
15
such a claim was cognizable, a petitioner would have to meet an “extraordinarily high” bar to
16
establish actual innocence. House v. Bell, 547 U.S. 518, 554 (2006).
17
18
2.
Petitioner did not present a claim based on actual innocence to the state courts.
19
20
The State Court’s Ruling
3.
Analysis
As a preliminary matter, respondent argues that this claim is unexhausted and the court
21
agrees. Nevertheless, the court concludes that this claim fails on the merits and elects to dispose
22
of it on those terms. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) (“An application for a writ of habeas corpus may
23
be denied on the merits, notwithstanding the failure of the applicant to exhaust the remedies
24
available in the courts of the State.”).
25
The court finds that the recantation statement from Ward is insufficient to carry
26
petitioner’s burden of establishing actual innocence. The Ninth Circuit, drawing from language
27
28
3
Page number citations such as this one are to the page numbers reflected on the court’s
CM/ECF system and not to page numbers assigned by the parties.
7
1
in Justice Blackmun’s dissent in Herrera, has determined that a petitioner claiming actual
2
innocence must “go beyond demonstrating doubt about his guilt, and must affirmatively prove
3
that he is probably innocent.” Carriger v. Stewart, 132 F.3d 463, 476 (9th Cir. 1997) (citing
4
Herrera, 506 U.S. at 442-44 (Blackmun, J., dissenting)). The recantation evidence offered by
5
petitioner is inadequate to this task. In Jones v. Taylor, the Ninth Circuit rejected a petitioner’s
6
actual innocence claim where he relied solely on recantation testimony. 763 F.3d 1242, 1248 (9th
7
Cir. 2014). “As a general matter, recantation evidence is viewed with great suspicion.” Id.
8
(citing Dobbert v. Wainwright, 468 U.S. 1231, 1233 (1984) (Brennan, J., dissenting from denial
9
of certiorari) (internal quotation marks omitted)). “Recanting testimony is easy to find but
10
difficult to confirm or refute: witnesses forget, witnesses disappear, witnesses with personal
11
motives change their stories many times, before and after trial.” Id. (citing Carriger, 132 F.3d at
12
483 (Kozinski, J., dissenting) (internal quotation marks omitted)). A witnesses’ “later recantation
13
of his trial testimony does not render his earlier testimony false.” Allen v. Woodford, 395 F.3d
14
979, 994 (9th Cir. 2004). As respondent correctly notes, Ward’s recantation is suspect insofar as
15
he had changed his accounting of events once before and noted that he was afraid of petitioner.
16
1CT4 at 145-46; 2CT 342-43. Petitioner took responsibility for this prior recantation after he
17
entered his plea. 2CT at 342.
18
19
Based on the foregoing, the court finds that petitioner has failed to carry his heavy burden
of establishing that he is actually innocent and this claim should be denied.
20
B.
21
Next, petitioner claims that his plea of no contest was not knowing. He argues that the
22
trial court failed to advise him of the ultimate consequences of his plea and the rights he would
23
waive by entering such a plea. ECF No. 29 at 11-12.
24
25
26
Unknowing Plea
1.
Applicable Legal Standards
The Supreme Court has held that, to satisfy due process, a guilty plea “not only must be
voluntary but must be knowing, intelligent acts done with sufficient awareness of the relevant
27
28
4
“CT” refers to the Clerk’s Transcript on Appeal.
8
1
circumstances and likely consequences.” Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 748 (1970).
2
However, “the Constitution . . . does not require complete knowledge, but permits a court to
3
accept a guilty plea, with its accompanying waiver of various constitutional rights, despite various
4
forms of misapprehension under which a defendant might labor.” United States v. Ruiz, 536 U.S.
5
622, 625 (2002). To determine whether a plea is voluntary a federal habeas court must consider
6
all of the relevant circumstances surrounding it. Brady, 397 U.S. at 749. These circumstances
7
include, for example, “the possibility of a heavier sentence following a guilty verdict after a trial.”
8
Id. A plea is intelligent if a defendant “was advised by competent counsel, he was made aware of
9
the nature of the charge against him, and there was nothing to indicate that he was incompetent or
10
otherwise not in control of his mental faculties.” Id. at 756.
11
2.
12
13
State Court Decision
Petitioner raised this claim in his habeas petition submitted to the California Supreme
Court. Lodg. Doc. 7. The petition received a silent denial. Lodg. Doc. 8.
14
3.
15
Analysis
The record indicates that petitioner’s plea was knowing and intelligent. He was
16
represented by counsel and his counsel told the superior court that he had explained the plea
17
agreement to the petitioner. RT5 at 45, 47. The superior court asked petitioner to verify his
18
signature and initials on the plea forms. Id. at 47-48. It then asked whether petitioner had any
19
questions about ‘anything’ before he entered his plea. Id. at 48. Petitioner responded that he did
20
not. Id.
21
Petitioner argues that he was not advised of: (1) ‘any of the consequences’ of his plea; (2)
22
his constitutional rights; and (3) the ‘direct consequences’ of his plea. ECF No. 29 at 10-12. He
23
contends that his counsel promised that he would receive probation. Id. at 12. The plea forms
24
which petitioner signed and initialed, however, contained various advisements concerning the
25
maximum penalties and waiver of rights. 1CT at 272-80, 286-94. These plea forms noted that
26
/////
27
28
5
“RT” refers to the Reporter’s Transcript.
9
1
petitioner faced the possibility substantial prison time. Id. at 272, 286. With respect to the
2
possibility of probation, petitioner initialed the following stipulations:
3
4
(1) I understand the minimum and maximum sentence for the charges
and allegations to which I am pleading. No one has made any other
promises to me about what sentence the court may order.
5
(2) I understand that I am not eligible for probation.
6
(3) I understand that I will not be granted probation unless the court
finds at the time of sentencing that this is an unusual case where the
interests of justice would be best served by granting probation.
7
8
9
Id. at 273, 287. Additionally, in sections titled ‘constitutional rights’ and ‘waiver of
10
constitutional rights’ petitioner initialed next to various stipulations indicating his understanding
11
of his constitutional rights and his waiver of those rights. Id. at 278-79, 292-93. As noted above,
12
petitioner was asked by the superior court whether these initials were his and he stated that they
13
were. RT at 48. Petitioner now contends that he did not actually read this form because his
14
counsel was in a rush to return the forms to the prosecutor. ECF No. 29 at 12. He had an
15
opportunity to state as much during his plea hearing, however, when the superior court asked
16
whether he had any questions. RT at 48. Instead, petitioner answered that he had no questions
17
regarding his plea. Id. The superior court then read each charge aloud and asked petitioner for his
18
plea on each. Id. at 48-49. Petitioner entered pleas of no contest to each. Id. Additionally, the
19
superior court asked petitioner’s counsel whether he had an opportunity to discuss the pleas and
20
admissions with petitioner. Id. at 47. Petitioner’s counsel stated that he had done so and was
21
satisfied that petitioner understood the plea agreement. Id. It is settled that “[s]olemn
22
declarations in open court carry a strong presumption of verity.” Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S.
23
63, 74 (1977). Petitioner has not carried his burden of establishing that the plea was not knowing.
24
See Little v. Crawford, 449 F.3d 1075, 1080 (9th Cir. 2006) (“A habeas petitioner bears the
25
burden of establishing that his guilty plea was not voluntary and knowing”).6
26
/////
27
28
6
Under California law a plea of no contest is equivalent to a guilty plea. See Cal. Penal
Code § 1016; People v. Mendez, 19 Cal. 4th 1084, 1094-95 (1999).
10
1
Finally, petitioner’s contention that the state courts failed to interpret his plea agreement
2
in accordance with California contract law does not state a viable federal habeas claim. See
3
Langford v. Day, 110 F.3d 1380, 1389 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[A]lleged errors in the application of
4
state law are not cognizable in federal habeas corpus.”).
5
6
Based on the foregoing, the court finds that the California Supreme Court’s denial of this
claim was not contrary to, nor an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law.
7
C.
8
Plaintiff raises five grounds on which his counsel was allegedly ineffective. These are:
9
(1) counsel advised him to take the plea agreement without explaining the consequences of that
10
plea; (2) counsel told petitioner he could secure a probation sentence which petitioner was not
11
eligible for; (3) counsel failed to investigate petitioner’s mental disability; (4) counsel submitted
12
‘fraudulent’ information to the court in his attempt to secure probation for petitioner; and (5)
13
counsel told petitioner he would withdraw if petitioner declined to take the plea. ECF No. 29 at
14
18-23.
15
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
1.
16
Applicable Legal Standards
The clearly established federal law governing ineffective assistance of counsel claims is
17
that set forth by the Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To
18
succeed on a Strickland claim, a defendant must show that (1) his counsel's performance was
19
deficient and that (2) the “deficient performance prejudiced the defense.” Id. at 687. Counsel is
20
constitutionally deficient if his or her representation “fell below an objective standard of
21
reasonableness” such that it was outside “the range of competence demanded of attorneys in
22
criminal cases.” Id. at 687-88 (internal quotation marks omitted). “Counsel's errors must be ‘so
23
serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.’” Richter, 562 at
24
104 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).
25
Prejudice is found where “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
26
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Strickland, 466
27
U.S. at 694. A reasonable probability is “a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
28
/////
11
1
outcome.” Id. “The likelihood of a different result must be substantial, not just conceivable.”
2
Richter, 562 U.S. at 112.
3
4
2.
State Court Decision
In his habeas petition to the California Supreme Court, petitioner raised his ineffective
5
assistance claims regarding: (1) the failure to investigate his competence; (2) the submission of
6
fraudulent information; and (3) the failure to advise petitioner of the consequences of the plea.
7
Lodg. Doc. 7. This petition received a silent denial. Lodg. Doc. 8.
8
9
3.
Analysis
Petitioner’s ineffective assistance claims are unavailing. As a preliminary matter, not all
10
of his current claims were raised in his habeas petition to the California Supreme Court and, thus,
11
not all were exhausted.7 Nevertheless, the court finds it more efficient to dispose of each of these
12
contentions on the merits. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2).
13
a.
The Consequences of the Plea
14
The court has already found that petitioner has not carried his burden of establishing that
15
his plea was not knowing. As noted above, petitioner signed and initialed statements indicating
16
that he: (1) understood the penalties he could be subject to as part of his plea; (2) understood the
17
constitutional rights he was waiving in electing to plead no contest; and (3) that he had discussed
18
the plea agreement with his attorney and understood its effects and contents. 1CT at 278-79, 292-
19
93. At his plea hearing, after being asked whether he had any questions about the plea, plaintiff
20
stated he did not. RT at 48. Thus, based on these statements by the petitioner in open court this
21
court finds that petitioner has failed to show that his counsel did not inform him of the possible
22
consequences of his plea.
23
To the extent petitioner alleges that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance simply by
24
advising him to accept the plea, that claim also fails. The plea agreement dismissed various
25
charges which, if included and proven at trial, would have increased petitioner’s prison exposure
26
27
28
7
The two unexhausted claims are: (1) that counsel misled him into believing he was
eligible for probation and; (2) that counsel threatened to discontinue representation if he moved to
withdraw his no contest plea.
12
1
to a maximum of twenty-six years. ECF No. 38 at 16 n. 2; People v. Davis, 2013 Cal. App.
2
Unpub. LEXIS 6396, 2013 WL 4780963, at *1–2 (Cal.App. 3 Dist., 2013) (unpublished). Thus,
3
the court concludes that it was not outside the range of professionally competent assistance to
4
advise petitioner to accept the plea agreement. Additionally, petitioner had the tools necessary to
5
make an informed decision as to whether to accept the plea agreement. See Turner v. Calderon,
6
281 F.3d 851, 881, (9th Cir. 2002) (finding that counsel’s advice was not deficient where
7
petitioner had the “tools he needed to make an informed decision – the critical information and
8
the time to think about it.”).8 Nor is petitioner entitled to relief merely because his counsel
9
erroneously predicted that he would receive probation.9 See Chizen v. Hunter, 809 F.2d 560, 561
10
(9th Cir. 1986) (no habeas relief where petitioner’s counsel “erroneously predicted the favorable
11
consequences of a guilty plea”) (emphasis in original).
12
13
b.
Eligibility for Probation
Next, petitioner claims that his counsel was deficient in seeking a probation sentence
14
because he was ineligible for probation. Although petitioner was presumptively ineligible for
15
probation, the fact remained that he could receive probation if the superior court concluded that
16
his was the “unusual case where the interests of justice would be best served” by such a sentence.
17
Cal. Penal Code § 1203(e). An “unusual case” may be found where a “fact or circumstance not
18
amounting to a defense, but reducing the defendant’s culpability for the offense” is present. Cal.
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
8
The court recognizes that petitioner now states, without any evidence, that he did not
actually read the plea agreement which he initialed, signed, and declined to ask any questions
about. These self-serving statements are insufficient to establish that petitioner was not fully
advised of his options. See United States v. Allen, 153 F.3d 1037, 1041 (9th Cir. 1998) (citing
Cuppett v. Duckworth, 8 F.3d 1132, 1139 (7th Cir. 1993)(en banc) (“Self-serving statements by a
defendant that his conviction was constitutionally infirm are insufficient to overcome the
presumption of regularity accorded state convictions.”); Womack v. McDaniel, 497 F.3d 998,
1004 (9th Cir. 2007) (rejecting ineffective assistance claim where “[o]ther than [petitioner’s] own
self-serving statement, there is no evidence that his attorney failed to discuss potential defenses
with him.”).
9
Petitioner alleges that his counsel assured him that he would receive probation, but there
is no evidence that his counsel guaranteed rather than merely predicted that outcome. And, as
noted above, the plea forms which petitioner initialed and signed stipulated that he understood the
maximum and minimum sentences to which he was pleading and that no one had made any other
promises to him about what sentence he might receive. 1CT at 273, 287.
13
1
R. Ct. 4.413(a)-(c). One example articulated in the California Rules of Court is where “[t]he
2
crime was committed because of a mental condition not amounting to a defense, and there is a
3
high likelihood the defendant would respond favorably to mental health care and treatment as
4
would be required as a condition of probation.” Cal. R. Ct. 4.413(c)(2)(B).
5
Respondent notes, and the record supports, that petitioner’s counsel went on to argue that
6
petitioner’s crimes resulted from his alcoholism. RT at 64-65. Counsel stated that petitioner had
7
been successful in battling his alcoholism for about a decade, until he experienced a relapse
8
following the death of his mother. Id. at 66. Petitioner’s wife offered testimony at the sentencing
9
hearing that, prior to his relapse, he had been a “wonderful husband”, had held a job, and been
10
involved in the lives of his children. Id. at 60. Finally, petitioner’s counsel had secured a bed for
11
him at an inpatient treatment program. 2CT at 356. The superior court ultimately found that
12
petitioner’s was not an unusual case that merited probation, but the fact remains that probation
13
was not, as petitioner implies in his petition, an impossibility. Accordingly, the court cannot say
14
that counsel’s strategy fell outside the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal
15
cases. The court notes that it must review counsel’s performance deferentially and apply a strong
16
presumption that it was within the wide range of competence. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. The
17
fact that an attorney’s strategy was unsuccessful or that other strategies could have been pursued
18
does not mandate a finding of ineffective assistance. Id. (“There are countless ways to provide
19
effective assistance in any given case. Even the best criminal defense attorneys would not defend
20
a particular client in the same way.”); Campbell v. Wood, 18 F.3d 662, 673 (9th Cir. 1994) (“We
21
will neither second-guess counsel’s decisions, nor apply the fabled twenty-twenty vision of
22
hindsight.”).
23
24
c.
Failure to Investigate Petitioner’s Mental Disability
The court concludes that petitioner has failed to establish that he was prejudiced by his
25
counsel’s failure to investigate his mental disability. The standard for competence to stand trial is
26
whether the defendant has “sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable
27
degree of rational understanding” and has “a rational as well as factual understanding of the
28
proceedings against him.” Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 396 (1993) (quoting Dusky v. United
14
1
States, 362 U.S. 402 (1960)). Petitioner’s comportment during the superior court proceedings
2
indicated that he was capable of understanding those proceedings, consulting with his counsel,
3
and making a knowing plea. As noted above, he was questioned prior to the entry of his plea by
4
the superior court and answered the questions cogently. RT at 47-48. Additionally, during an
5
interview with a probation officer, petitioner described his alcoholism, indicated his desire to
6
accept responsibility for his actions, and emphasized that he was not the person he “appears to be
7
on paper.” 2CT at 341-42. His actions and responses evince a rational understanding of the
8
proceedings against him.
9
As evidence of his incompetence, petitioner points to: (1) a June 4, 2014 hand-written
10
statement from his wife which states that petitioner has post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoid
11
thoughts, and hears voices (ECF No. 1 at 37); (2) a June 4, 2014 statement from his father which
12
states that petitioner is mentally disabled and on numerous medications for his disability (id. at
13
40); and (3) evidence of social security disability payments (id. at 42). None of these exhibits
14
establish that petitioner was incapable of rationally or factually understanding the proceedings
15
against him. The fact that petitioner had mental health issues which required medication does not
16
automatically establish that he lacked competence to stand trial.
17
To the extent petitioner is arguing that his counsel should have investigated the possibility
18
of an insanity defense, that claim also fails. A successful insanity defense under California law
19
requires the trier of fact to find that it is more likely than not that the defendant “was incapable of
20
knowing or understanding the nature and quality of his or her act and of distinguishing right from
21
wrong at the time of the commission of the offense.” Cal. Penal Code § 25(b). There was no
22
evidence which suggested that petitioner was incapable of understanding the nature of his acts or
23
of distinguishing right from wrong at the time of his offenses. To the contrary, the record
24
indicates that petitioner threatened his wife the day after he assaulted her and advised her not to
25
report the previous evening’s assault to the police. 2CT 331-32. This evidences that petitioner
26
was capable of understanding the nature of his actions and of distinguishing right from wrong.10
27
28
10
To the extent petitioner argues that he could have staked an insanity defense based on
his inebriation, that claim fails. See People v. Cabonce, 169 Cal. App. 4th 1421, 1434 (2009)
15
1
2
3
Thus, petitioner was not prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to investigate an insanity defense.
d.
Submission of Fraudulent Information
Petitioner alleges that his counsel offered “fabricated lies” in his statement in support of a
4
sentence of probation. ECF No. 29 at 22-23. These lies included that petitioner had held a job
5
for six years and that, at one point, he had been free from alcohol for over a decade. Id. at 23. As
6
respondent persuasively argues, however, these lies actually helped petitioner’s case for probation
7
insofar as they supported the notion that probation and substance treatment would better serve the
8
interests of justice than a prison sentence. Thus, assuming counsel lied rather than simply
9
misstated facts, there is no evidence that petitioner suffered any prejudice.
10
e.
Threat to Withdraw
11
Petitioner argues that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance by informing him that he
12
would no longer represent petitioner if he moved to withdraw his no contest plea. ECF No. 29 at
13
22. This claim fails because, as noted in the petition, the purported threat to discontinue
14
representation came after petitioner had already entered his plea. Id. Thus, the court cannot say,
15
assuming the truth of petitioner’s allegation, that he was coerced by counsel into entering his plea.
16
And the Supreme Court has never held that the Strickland standard applies in the context of a
17
motion to withdraw a plea of no contest. See Missouri v. Frye, 566 U.S. 134, 140 (2012) (“The
18
Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant the right to have counsel present at all 'critical' stages
19
of the criminal proceedings. . . . [c]ritical stages include arraignments, postindictment
20
interrogations, postindictment lineups, and the entry of a guilty plea.”) (internal citations and
21
quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added); see also Monterrosa v. Belleque, 2008 U.S. Dist.
22
LEXIS 2172, 2008 WL 123858, *6 (D. Or. Jan. 8, 2008); Miller v. Cate, No. CV 13-1041 JLS
23
(JC), 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123821, *38 (C.D. Cal. May 8, 2015). It is even less clear that
24
Strickland would apply in this instance, where petitioner never actually moved to withdraw his
25
plea. Nor has petitioner established that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s ultimatum. Had he
26
27
28
(“Thus, there can be no insanity defense when the inability to tell right from wrong [is] derived
(1) solely from an addiction or abuse of intoxicating substances, or (2) from a mental defect or
disorder that itself was caused solely by such addiction or abuse.”).
16
1
desired to move to withdraw his plea, petitioner could have notified the court of his irreconcilable
2
conflicts with retained counsel and sought a substitution – either of newly retained or appointed
3
counsel. Whether the superior court would have permitted substitution or an ultimate withdrawal
4
of petitioner’s plea is uncertain, but the court need not speculate on this point to resolve this issue.
5
The fact remains that petitioner could have moved forward with his attempt to withdraw his plea
6
prior to his sentencing hearing and evidently chose not to.
7
8
9
IV.
Conclusion
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that petitioner’s application for a writ of
habeas corpus be denied.
10
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge
11
assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days
12
after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
13
objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
14
“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections
15
shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of the objections. Failure to file
16
objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order.
17
Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir.
18
1991). In his objections petitioner may address whether a certificate of appealability should issue
19
in the event he files an appeal of the judgment in this case. See Rule 11, Rules Governing Section
20
2254 Cases (the district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a
21
final order adverse to the applicant).
22
DATED: June 18, 2018.
23
24
25
26
27
28
17
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?