Nora Ann Barkey v. State ( 2011 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 38239
NORA ANN BARKEY, ) 2011 Unpublished Opinion No. 711
)
Petitioner-Appellant, ) Filed: November 21, 2011
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
STATE OF IDAHO, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
Respondent. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Ada
County. Hon. Cheri C. Copsey, District Judge.
Order summarily dismissing application for post-conviction relief, affirmed.
Nora Ann Barkey, Pocatello, pro se appellant.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Jessica M. Lorello, Deputy
Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________
GRATTON, Chief Judge
Nora A. Barkey appeals from the district court’s order summarily dismissing her
application for post-conviction relief.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The State charged Barkey with escape, a violation of Idaho Code § 18-2505, after she
absconded from a job site at the East Boise Community Work Center. Barkey was ultimately
apprehended at a friend’s residence, but only after a SWAT team was forced to use a battering
ram. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Barkey pled guilty and the State agreed not to file a
persistent violator enhancement. The district court imposed a determinate five-year sentence,
which Barkey appealed. Barkey also filed an Idaho Criminal Rule 35 motion, which the district
court denied. This Court affirmed Barkey’s sentence and the Idaho Supreme Court denied her
petition for review.
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Barkey then filed a pro se application for post-conviction relief. Barkey also filed a
motion for appointment of counsel, which was granted. Although counsel was allowed
additional time to file an amended application, one was never filed. After the State filed an
answer, the district court entered an order indicating its intent to dismiss Barkey’s application.
Barkey did not respond to the court’s notice of intent to dismiss and the court dismissed her
application. Barkey timely appealed. The court appointed counsel to represent Barkey on
appeal; however, appellate counsel was allowed to withdraw.
II.
DISCUSSION
Barkey argues the district court erred for two reasons: (1) counsel was ineffective for
failing to argue the “severity of sentence and circumstances surrounding escape”; and (2) the
district court imposed an excessive sentence that was retaliatory in nature because Barkey
reported that a correctional officer sexually assaulted her and the assault forced her to flee from
the work center.
A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
An application for post-conviction relief initiates a civil, rather than criminal, proceeding,
governed by the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure. State v. Yakovac, 145 Idaho 437, 443, 180 P.3d
476, 482 (2008); see also Pizzuto v. State, 146 Idaho 720, 724, 202 P.3d 642, 646 (2008). Like
the plaintiff in a civil action, the applicant must prove by a preponderance of evidence the
allegations upon which the request for post-conviction relief is based. I.C. § 19-4907; Stuart v.
State, 118 Idaho 865, 869, 801 P.2d 1216, 1220 (1990); Goodwin v. State, 138 Idaho 269, 271,
61 P.3d 626, 628 (Ct. App. 2002). “An application for post-conviction relief differs from a
complaint in an ordinary civil action[.]” Dunlap v. State, 141 Idaho 50, 56, 106 P.3d 376, 382
(2004) (quoting Goodwin, 138 Idaho at 271, 61 P.3d at 628)). The application must contain
much more than “a short and plain statement of the claim” that would suffice for a complaint
under I.R.C.P. 8(a)(1). State v. Payne, 146 Idaho 548, 560, 199 P.3d 123, 135 (2008); Goodwin,
138 Idaho at 271, 61 P.3d at 628. The application must be verified with respect to facts within
the personal knowledge of the applicant, and affidavits, records or other evidence supporting its
allegations must be attached, or the application must state why such supporting evidence is not
included with the application. I.C. § 19-4903. In other words, the application must present or be
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accompanied by admissible evidence supporting its allegations, or the application will be subject
to dismissal.
Idaho Code § 19-4906 authorizes summary dismissal of an application for post-
conviction relief, either pursuant to motion of a party or upon the court’s own initiative.
Summary dismissal of an application is the procedural equivalent of summary judgment under
I.R.C.P. 56. “A claim for post-conviction relief will be subject to summary dismissal . . . if the
applicant has not presented evidence making a prima facie case as to each essential element of
the claims upon which the applicant bears the burden of proof.” DeRushé v. State, 146 Idaho
599, 603, 200 P.3d 1148, 1152 (2009) (quoting Berg v. State, 131 Idaho 517, 518, 960 P.2d 738,
739 (1998)). Thus, summary dismissal is permissible when the applicant’s evidence has raised
no genuine issue of material fact that, if resolved in the applicant’s favor, would entitle the
applicant to the requested relief. If such a factual issue is presented, an evidentiary hearing must
be conducted. Payne, 146 Idaho at 561, 199 P.3d at 136; Goodwin, 138 Idaho at 272, 61 P.3d at
629. Summary dismissal of an application for post-conviction relief may be appropriate,
however, even where the State does not controvert the applicant’s evidence because the court is
not required to accept either the applicant’s mere conclusory allegations, unsupported by
admissible evidence, or the applicant’s conclusions of law. Payne, 146 Idaho at 561, 199 P.3d at
136; Roman v. State, 125 Idaho 644, 647, 873 P.2d 898, 901 (Ct. App. 1994).
“When reviewing a district court’s order of summary dismissal in a post-conviction relief
proceeding, we apply the same standard as that applied by the district court.” Ridgley v. State,
148 Idaho 671, 675, 227 P.3d 925, 929 (2010). On review of dismissal of a post-conviction
relief application without an evidentiary hearing, we determine whether a genuine issue of
material fact exists based on the pleadings, depositions, and admissions together with any
affidavits on file. Rhoades v. State, 148 Idaho 247, 220 P.3d 1066 (2009); Ricca v. State, 124
Idaho 894, 896, 865 P.2d 985, 987 (Ct. App. 1993). However, “while the underlying facts must
be regarded as true, the petitioner’s conclusions need not be so accepted.” Rhoades, 148 Idaho at
250, 220 P.3d at 1069 (quoting Phillips v. State, 108 Idaho 405, 407, 700 P.2d 27, 29 (1985));
see also Hayes v. State, 146 Idaho 353, 355, 195 P.3d 712, 714 (Ct. App. 2008). As the trial
court rather than a jury will be the trier of fact in the event of an evidentiary hearing, summary
dismissal is appropriate where the evidentiary facts are not disputed, despite the possibility of
conflicting inferences to be drawn from the facts, for the court alone will be responsible for
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resolving the conflict between those inferences. Yakovac, 145 Idaho at 444, 180 P.3d at 483;
Hayes, 146 Idaho at 355, 195 P.3d at 714. That is, the judge in a post-conviction action is not
constrained to draw inferences in favor of the party opposing the motion for summary
disposition, but rather is free to arrive at the most probable inferences to be drawn from
uncontroverted evidentiary facts. Id.
A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel may properly be brought under the Uniform
Post-Conviction Procedure Act. Murray v. State, 121 Idaho 918, 924-25, 828 P.2d 1323, 1329-
30 (Ct. App. 1992). To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the defendant must
show that the attorney’s performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced by the
deficiency. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 (1984); Hassett v. State, 127 Idaho
313, 316, 900 P.2d 221, 224 (Ct. App. 1995). To establish a deficiency, the applicant has the
burden of showing that the attorney’s representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness. Aragon v. State, 114 Idaho 758, 760, 760 P.2d 1174, 1176 (1988). To establish
prejudice, the applicant must show a reasonable probability that, but for the attorney’s deficient
performance, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Aragon, 114 Idaho at 761, 760
P.2d at 1177. This Court has long adhered to the proposition that tactical or strategic decisions
of trial counsel will not be second-guessed on appeal unless those decisions are based on
inadequate preparation, ignorance of relevant law, or other shortcomings capable of objective
evaluation. Howard v. State, 126 Idaho 231, 233, 880 P.2d 261, 263 (Ct. App. 1994).
Barkey claims ineffective assistance of counsel because her attorney failed to “argue the
severity of sentence and circumstances surrounding escape.” Barkey also alleges, for the first
time on appeal, that her counsel “refused contact with me and refused to Answer Any of the
Court Orders/Deadlines the Court gave, and failed to summons [sic] his client of his intentions”
(underlining and capitalization in original). Barkey has failed to provide any evidence other than
her allegations. Bare or conclusory allegations, unsubstantiated by any fact, are inadequate to
entitle a petitioner to an evidentiary hearing. King v. State, 114 Idaho 442, 757 P.2d 705 (Ct.
App. 1988). She has not established that a material issue of fact exists as to whether counsel’s
performance was deficient. Her own statements are conclusory and do not meet the threshold
requirements to support her application. Therefore, on this basis alone, her application was
properly summarily dismissed.
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However, even if this Court grants Barkey the leniency she desires as a pro se applicant,
she is also required to show that she was prejudiced by her attorney’s deficiency. Once again, to
establish prejudice the applicant must show a reasonable probability that, but for the attorney’s
deficient performance, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Aragon, 114 Idaho at
761, 760 P.2d at 1177. Other than Barkey stating that her sentence was excessive and her
counsel was to blame, Barkey has failed to articulate, let alone demonstrate, that the outcome of
her case would have been different but for her counsel’s performance. The district court was
correct in summarily dismissing Barkey’s application for post-conviction relief because she
presented no evidence of prejudice.
As the district court noted, Barkey’s counsel actually argued that the alleged assault
forced her to flee the work center. “If the record conclusively disproves an essential element of a
post-conviction claim,” or if the petitioner’s allegations fail as a matter of law, summary
dismissal is appropriate. McKay v. State, 148 Idaho 567, 570 225 P.3d 700, 703 (2010);
Workman v. State, 144 Idaho 518, 523, 164 P.3d 798, 803 (2007); Stuart, 118 Idaho at 869, 801
P.2d at 1220. The fact that other trial counsel may have argued evidence differently than actual
trial counsel does not demonstrate deficient performance. For the aforementioned reasons,
Barkey has failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact regarding ineffective assistance of
counsel.
B. Retaliatory Sentence Claim
Barkey also claims that her sentence was excessive and retaliatory because she filed a
complaint against a correctional officer. An application for post-conviction relief is designed to
permit a challenge to an underlying conviction or to an illegal sentence. State v. Heyrend, 129
Idaho 568, 570, 929 P.2d 744, 746 (Ct. App. 1996) (citing Brandt v. State, 118 Idaho 350, 796
P.2d 1023 (1990)). A judge’s exercise of discretion in choosing a sentence within the lawful
limits is not subject to attack by application for post-conviction relief. Olds v. State, 122 Idaho
976, 979, 842 P.2d 312, 315 (Ct. App. 1992). The appropriate means for challenging the
reasonableness of a sentence imposed by the trial court is a direct appeal. Evans v. State, 127
Idaho 662, 664, 904 P.2d 574, 576 (Ct. App. 1995). Idaho Code § 19-4901 addresses the
Uniform Post-Conviction Procedure Act and provides:
This remedy is not a substitute for nor does it affect any remedy incident
to the proceedings in the trial court, or of an appeal from the sentence or
conviction. Any issue which could have been raised on direct appeal, but was
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not, is forfeited and may not be considered in post-conviction proceedings, unless
it appears to the court, on the basis of a substantial factual showing by affidavit,
deposition or otherwise, that the asserted basis for relief raises a substantial doubt
about the reliability of the finding of guilt and could not, in the exercise of due
diligence, have been presented earlier. . . .
I.C. § 19-4901(b).
Barkey argues that the sentence was excessive, but not illegal. The five-year determinate
term, however, is within the statutory guidelines for the felony crime of escape. Likewise,
Barkey was able to not only appeal the sentence, but also file an I.C.R. 35 motion to reduce it.
The post-conviction application is not the correct avenue for her argument because the sentence
was not above the legal limit. Moreover, other than Barkey’s conclusory claim that the sentence
was retaliatory for her assault claims, there is no evidence in the record to support that claim.
We affirm the district court’s denial of Barkey’s application for post-conviction relief on the
issue of whether the district court abused its discretion by imposing an excessive sentence.
III.
CONCLUSION
Barkey has failed to demonstrate that the district court erred in summarily dismissing her
claims that her trial counsel was ineffective and that the sentence imposed was retaliatory. The
order summarily dismissing Barkey’s application for post-conviction relief is affirmed.
Judge LANSING and Judge GUTIERREZ CONCUR.
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