Jackson v. Gidley
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER Denying 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Denying a Certificate of Appealability, and Denying permission to Appeal in forma pauperis. Signed by District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III. (CCoh)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
TRAYVEON JACKSON,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 2:15-cv-10669
v.
HONORABLE STEPHEN J. MURPHY, III
LORI GIDLEY,
Defendant.
/
OPINION AND ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF
HABEAS CORPUS (document no. 1), DENYING A CERTIFICATE OF
APPEALABILITY, AND DENYING PERMISSION TO APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS
Petitioner Trayveon Jackson (“Jackson”) was convicted in the Saginaw Circuit Court
after he pled no contest to assault with intent to commit murder, Mich. Comp. Laws §
750.83, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Mich. Comp. Laws
§ 750.227b. He was sentenced under the terms of a plea agreement to 7 years and 6
months-to-40 years for the assault conviction and a consecutive 2 years for the firearm
conviction. Jackson now brings a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, raising two claims: (1)
Jackson's defense counsel coerced his plea by representing that Jackson would be
convicted if he stood trial, and (2) Jackson was denied the effective assistance of counsel
for failing to challenge the validity of Jackson’s statement to police. The Court finds that
Jackson’s claims are without merit, and will deny his petition. The Court will also deny
Jackson a certificate of appealability and permission to proceed on appeal in forma
pauperis.
BACKGROUND
The case began with a shooting in Saginaw, Michigan. At the preliminary examination,
Jackson’s acquaintance, Julian Allen ("Allen"), testified that he saw Jackson with a
handgun at his house on the afternoon of March 10, 2012. Allen saw three people walking
down the street at the time. Allen testified that he heard Jackson say that the three people
were from Chicago, and he had a problem with them a while ago. Allen heard Jackson
"rack" the gun and saw him go outside. Allen then heard three gunshots.
Twelve-year-old Rodney Norals ("Norals") testified that he was one of the three
people walking down the street near Allen’s house with his two cousins. Norals stopped
to talk to a girl. Norals testified that he heard three gunshots and tried to run, but he had
been hit by a bullet and fell to the ground.
The physician who treated him testified that if the bullet was just slightly higher, it
would have severed a main artery and Norals would have died. The police recovered a .40
caliber casing near the back door of Allen’s house — directly across the street from where
Norals was shot.
The police located Jackson at a house in another part of the city the next day.
Jackson was taken to the police station for questioning. During the interview, Jackson
asked to use the restroom. He yelled out from the restroom to an officer, “how much time
am I going to get?” Hrg. Tr. 9–10 (Sep. 25, 2012), ECF No. 8-5. The officer responded that
he did not know, and then Jackson indicated that he would show the officer where he hid
the gun. Jackson then led the police to the gun, which was located in a kitchen cupboard
at another house. The gun matched the description given by Allen.
Jackson was subsequently charged with three counts of assault with intent to commit
murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, carrying a concealed weapon,
and three counts of felony firearm. The assault charge carried a possible maximum
sentence of life imprisonment.
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Jackson initially elected to be tried by a jury. Prior to trial, the court held an evidentiary
hearing on the voluntariness of Jackson’s statements to police. After the questioning officer
testified, the court took a recess and spoke with counsel in chambers. When court
resumed, the parties indicated that a plea agreement had been reached.
The prosecutor indicated that it was willing to enter into the agreement only because
Jackson had cooperated and led them to the loaded gun. He indicated that the ballistics
report had come back on the gun, but he was still waiting for the fingerprint and DNA
analysis.
The plea agreement between the parties called for Jackson to plead no contest to one
count of assault with intent to commit murder and one count of possession of a firearm
during the commission of a felony. The prosecutor agreed to dismiss the remaining counts.
The plea agreement also included a sentencing agreement for a minimum sentence of 7
years and 6 months on the assault charge, which was below the preliminary calculation of
the sentencing guideline range.
After entry of Jackson’s plea, the trial court sentenced him in accordance with the
agreement to a term of 7 years and 6 months-to-40 years for the assault conviction, and
a consecutive 2 years for the firearm conviction.
Jackson was appointed appellate counsel who filed a motion to withdraw the plea, for
an evidentiary hearing, for resentencing, for amendment of the presentence investigation
report (PSIR), and for production of the interview DVD. A hearing was held on the motion,
and the trial court granted the request to amend the PSIR and to produce the interview
DVD. The trial court determined that trial counsel provided effective assistance and denied
the remaining motions.
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Jackson then filed a delayed application for leave to appeal in the Michigan Court of
Appeals, raising the following claims:
I. Defendant’s state and federal constitutional rights were violated when he
was coerced into taking a plea because his attorney was not acting in his
best interest, failed to file motions and told him that he had no issues and that
no one would believe him if he testified that he was not the shooter. And his
attorney was ineffective.
II. Defendant’s state and federal constitutional rights were violated when he
was coerced into taking a plea because his attorney was not acting in his
best interest and failed to put forth his valid defense and this constitutes
ineffective assistance.
The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed Jackson’s conviction “for lack of merit in the
grounds presented.” People v. Jackson, No. 316994 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept. 12, 2013).
Jackson subsequently filed an application for leave to appeal in the Michigan Supreme
Court, raising the same claims. The Michigan Supreme Court denied the application
because it was not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by the
Court. People v. Jackson, 495 Mich. 918 (2013).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court may grant a writ of habeas corpus when a state court decision “resulted
in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly
established Federal law.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2). A state court’s decision is “contrary to”
clearly established federal law if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that
reached by the Supreme Court on a question of law or if the state court decides a case
differently than the Supreme Court has on a set of materially indistinguishable facts.
Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 405–06 (2000). An “unreasonable application” occurs
when “a state court decision unreasonably applies the law of [the Supreme Court] to the
facts of a prisoner’s case.” Id. at 409.
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The standard is difficult to satisfy. Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 102 (2011).
Under § 2254(d), a federal court may grant habeas relief only “in cases where there is no
possibility fairminded jurists could disagree that the state court’s decision conflicts with the
[Supreme Court’s] precedents.” Id. The habeas statute is a “guard against extreme
malfunctions in the state criminal justice systems, not a substitute for ordinary error
correction through appeal.” Id. at 102–03.
DISCUSSION
Both of Jackson’s claims challenge the constitutionality of his plea. He first argues
that his attorney coerced him into accepting the plea by advising him that he would lose if
he stood trial. Jackson alleges that his decision to enter his plea based on this advice was
involuntarily because he was only seventeen years old and had little education. Jackson
next asserts that his trial counsel’s advice that he would lose at trial was ineffective.
Jackson claims his counsel should have continued to pursue the suppression issue, and
had he done so, his statements and the gun would have been suppressed, and he would
have then prevailed at trial.
Respondent asserts that his claims are unexhausted because he failed to present his
affidavit containing the factual support to the Michigan Supreme Court. Respondent argues
in the alternative that the claims are without merit.
With respect to the Respondent’s exhaustion argument, the Court will elect to proceed
to the merits of the claims under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2), because it provides for a more
straight-forward grounds for decision. See Lambrix v. Singletary, 520 U.S. 518, 524–25
(1997) (habeas court need not address complicated procedural defense when claims are
more easily resolved on the merits).
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Under clearly established Supreme Court law, a plea is voluntary and therefore
complies with the requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment so long as it is not induced
by threats or misrepresentations and the defendant is made aware of the direct
consequences of the plea. Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 755 (1970). The
voluntariness of a plea “can be determined only by considering all of the relevant
circumstances surrounding it.” Id. at 749. The plea is intelligent and knowing where there
is nothing to indicate that the defendant is incompetent or otherwise not in control of his or
her mental faculties, is aware of the nature of the charges, and is advised by competent
counsel. Id. at 756. The plea must be made “with sufficient awareness of the relevant
circumstances and likely consequences.” Id. at 748.
With respect to Jackson’s claim that he was denied the effective assistance of
counsel under the Sixth Amendment, the Supreme Court has set forth a two-part test. First,
the Jackson must establish that “counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard
of reasonableness.” Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 62 (1985) (quoting Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687–88 (1984)). To demonstrate that counsel’s performance
fell below this standard, Jackson must overcome the “strong presumption that counsel’s
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Strickland, 466
U.S. at 669.
Second, the petitioner must also show that counsel’s performance resulted in
prejudice, i.e., “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.” Hill, 474 U.S. at 59.
Here, the trial court rendered the last reasoned decision rejecting Jackson’s claims
when it denied his post-judgment motion:
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The Court is going to deny the request to withdraw the guilty plea. . . . The
Court would note that Mr. Gust is one of the finest attorneys in this county.
And if he told his client that — gave him advice as to whether or not a jury
would believe him, I would hope he would rely on that advice. As Mr. Gust
has won as many cases as a defense attorney as anyone in this county, and
does know juries and how they rule in this county.
The Court did advise the defendant of all of his rights. And, certainly, he
waived any rights. Waived the claim to — he gave up any claim that this plea
was the result of promises or threats that he wasn’t told about. His attorney
not only gave him good advice, but he got a sentence that was way below
the guidelines after consulting with the prosecutor. And the guidelines, I
believe, were 135 to 225. And his sentence was, minimum sentence was 90
months; clearly, way below the guidelines. I don’t know how he could claim
ineffective assistance of counsel under those — under that agreement.
But he was read all his rights. I feel he was given effective assistance in light
of the plea that was taken and in light of the guideline departure that his
attorney worked out. So I am denying his request.
Hrg. Tr. 4–5 (June 10, 2013), ECF No. 8-7. The decision did not result in an unreasonable
application of clearly established Supreme Court law.
When a state prisoner brings a federal habeas petition challenging the voluntariness
of his plea, the state generally satisfies its burden of showing a voluntary and intelligent
plea by producing a transcript of the state-court proceeding. Garcia v. Johnson, 991 F.2d
324, 326 (6th Cir. 1993). When the transcript is adequate to show that the plea was
voluntary and intelligent, a presumption of correctness attaches to the state court findings
of fact and to the judgment itself. Id. A satisfactory state-court transcript, containing findings
after a proper plea colloquy, places upon petitioner a “heavy burden” to overturn the state
findings. Id. at 328; see Parke v. Raley, 506 U.S. 20 (1992).
While it is true that Jackson was young and had a poor education, a review of the
thorough plea colloquy reasonably supports the conclusion that Jackson’s plea was
voluntary. The trial court informed Jackson of all the trial rights he would be waiving by
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entering his plea, and Jackson agreed. Jackson was informed that he faced up to a life
sentence if convicted after a trial, and he indicated his understanding. The trial court
correctly recited the terms of the plea agreement, and Jackson indicated his desire to
accept the agreement and enter his plea. Jackson indicated that he had a complete
opportunity to discuss the matter with his counsel. Jackson denied that anyone had
threatened him in anyway to obtain the plea and that it was his own free choice to enter into
the agreement. Accordingly, the record of the plea hearing allowed the state court to reject
Jackson’s first claim without unreasonably applying clearly established Supreme Court law.
It was also reasonable for the trial court to reject the ineffective assistance of counsel
claim. The trial court had the benefit of a DVD of Jackson’s interview, and it heard the
testimony of the officer at the suppression hearing. The trial court determined that Jackson
was properly informed of his rights before making his incriminating statement. Counsel was
not ineffective for abandoning the long-shot suppression motion and instead accepting a
very favorable plea offer. Extraordinary deference is afforded trial counsel in the context
of plea bargaining. Premo v. Moore, 562 U.S. 115, 125 (2011). And here the case against
Jackson was quite strong and the plea offer was generous. The state trial court did not act
unreasonably when it refused to second-guess defense counsel’s decision to advise his
client to accept the plea bargain and forego a trial that in his judgment was likely to end with
a guilty verdict. In other words, the state court adjudication of the claim was not
unreasonable, and habeas relief is therefore barred under § 2254(d).
CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
In order to appeal the Court’s decision, Jackson must obtain a certificate of
appealability, which requires a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. 28
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U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To demonstrate this denial, the applicant is required to show that
reasonable jurists could debate whether, or agree that, the petition should have been
resolved in a different manner, or that the issues presented were adequate to deserve
encouragement to proceed further. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483–84 (2000). A
federal district court may grant or deny a certificate of appealability when the court issues
a ruling on the habeas petition. Castro v. United States, 310 F.3d 900, 901 (6th Cir. 2002).
Here, jurists of reason would not debate the Court’s conclusion that Jackson has not meet
the standard for a certificate of appealability with respect to his claims. The Court will
therefore deny a certificate of appealability with respect to all of Jackson’s claims.
The Court will also deny permission to appeal in forma pauperis because any appeal
of this decision would not be taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3).
ORDER
WHEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED that petition for a writ of habeas corpus is
DENIED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a certificate of appealability is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that permission to appeal in forma pauperis is DENIED.
SO ORDERED.
s/Stephen J. Murphy, III
STEPHEN J. MURPHY, III
United States District Judge
Dated: October 26, 2015
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the parties and/or
counsel of record on October 26, 2015, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
s/Carol Cohron
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Case Manager
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