Tommy Borders v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), Apr 05 2016, 9:45 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
court except for the purpose of establishing and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
APPELLANT PRO SE ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Tommy Borders Gregory F. Zoeller
Carlisle, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
George P. Sherman
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Tommy Borders, April 5, 2016
Appellant-Petitioner, Court of Appeals Case No.
11A05-1502-PC-68
v. Appeal from the Clay Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable J. Blaine Akers,
Appellee-Respondent. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
11D01-1311-PC-853
Brown, Judge.
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[1] Tommy Borders appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief.
Borders raises two issues which we revise and restate as:
I. Whether Borders was denied the effective assistance of appellate counsel;
and
II. Whether Borders was deprived of a procedurally fair post-conviction
hearing.
We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] In January 2009, Borders, Tabitha Golden, and her daughter lived in a
residence in Clay County. Borders and Golden were unemployed and kept
methamphetamine in a black vinyl bag.
[3] On January 5, 2009, Clay County Sheriff’s Narcotics Detective Jerry Siddons
went to Borders’s residence around 4:00 p.m. regarding a separate
investigation. While there, Detective Siddons detected the odor of burnt
marijuana as well as odors consistent with the use of methamphetamine, and he
ended his contact with Borders.
[4] Around 9:00 p.m., Cassandra “Susie” McDaniel, who had known Golden for
years, went to Borders’s residence. Trial Transcript at 735. McDaniel had
previously babysat for Golden’s child in return for methamphetamine, Borders
and Golden had previously provided methamphetamine to her, and Golden
and McDaniel used McDaniel’s methamphetamine that day.
[5] The same day, Officer Jeremy Mace conducted a traffic stop of Borders’s
vehicle and requested the presence of Brazil City Police Officer Kenny Hill.
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Officer Mace requested that Officer Hill conduct a dog sniff around Borders’s
vehicle because he said that he saw Borders and his passenger digging around in
the car. Officer Hill’s dog gave a positive indication on the vehicle. Officer Hill
detected a chemical smell around the car when he walked his dog around and
then could smell the odor of burnt marijuana coming from Borders when he
exited the vehicle.
[6] Detective Siddons and Deputy James Switzer also responded to the scene.
While speaking with Borders, Detective Siddons smelled the odor of burnt
marijuana. Deputy Switzer also detected the odor of burnt marijuana and a
chemical odor he had previously detected in the presence of either the ingestion
or manufacture of methamphetamine. The police conducted a search of
Borders’s vehicle and did not find any drugs but seized $2,930.
[7] At 1:45 a.m. on January 6, 2009, the police obtained a search warrant for
Borders’s residence, and the police executed the warrant at 2:19 a.m. They
discovered Golden, her child, and McDaniel within the residence. The search
of the house revealed scales and paraphernalia, including smoking pipes and
rolling papers, a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette, hypodermic needles, Q-tips, a
metal spoon, and two bags of an off-white powdery substance later determined
to be methamphetamine, weighing 29.02 grams.
[8] The State charged Borders with Count I, possession of methamphetamine as a
class A felony; Count II, possession of methamphetamine as a class C felony;
Count III, maintaining a common nuisance as a class D felony; Count IV,
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possession of marijuana as a class A misdemeanor; Count V, possession of
paraphernalia as a class A misdemeanor; and Count VI, being an habitual
substance offender.
[9] In November 2009, the court held a jury trial, at which the State presented the
testimony of Detective Siddons, Officer Hill, Officer Mace, Golden, and
McDaniel.
[10] During closing argument, the prosecutor stated without objection:
I told you at the beginning in opening statement what a pox
methamphetamine is on a community. You have seen victims of
that pox here. You have seen Susie (phonetic) McDaniel. That
was a woman who’s 32 years of age. And you folks can see what
– have seen with your own eyes what 15 years of
methamphetamine use did to her. You’ve seen Tabitha Golden.
You’ve seen what methamphetamine use has done. She’s lost
her child, and of course, that child is another victim of
methamphetamine. The families of the defendant, the families of
these witnesses, they’re victims, as is this community as a whole.
You have citizen law enforcement officers in this community
who are out there risking their lives to save the victims, save the
community, and actually to help and save those who violate the
laws.
Id. at 806-808.
[11] The prosecutor stated that “there are certain defenses that could be filed by a
defendant that would cause us to have to say it happened at a particular time.”
Id. at 816. Borders’s trial counsel objected, and the trial court admonished the
jury that statements of counsel were not evidence, that the statements are
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simply an argument to persuade them, and that they can judge the evidence and
the laws presented to them. The court then stated: “And with that, I will
overrule the objection.” Id. at 817.
[12] The prosecutor stated:
The one thing we know is – about Susie McDaniel is this: We
know that in the morning following her arrest, she gave a
statement to Detective Siddons that was videotaped. And you
heard testimony that a copy of that videotape was provided to the
defense counsel. If she had given any information in that video
statement that she contradicted in her testimony before you, you
surely would have heard about it. There was no such evidence
that she had given any prior inconsistent statement to the
statement she testified to before you. Secondly, if there was any
independent evidence that anything that she had said in that
video statement given to the defendant’s counsel was wrong or
incorrect, that evidence should have been presented to you. So,
in other words, is – was there anyone who contradicted what
[McDaniel] testified to? They have her statement, they knew
what she said, yet no evidence was presented to contradict what
she had told Detective Siddons either on the night following the
arrest or in regard to the testimony she presented here.
Id. at 833-835.
[13] The prosecutor later stated:
Finally, we presented evidence of motive. Why did we not
introduce the money, hundred dollar bills? To show the
defendant’s motive for having this methamphetamine. His
motive was to use it and sell it. The evidence of using it and
having it to sell it is the money and the electronic scales that was
used to measure it out. If he were just a user, he wouldn’t need
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that in his little black bag. That’s why we introduced evidence of
his unemployment, and that’s why we introduced Susie’s
testimony that she had seen it, the black bag of Tommy’s, lots of
times.
Id. at 837-838.
[14] During defense counsel’s closing argument, the prosecutor objected, and the
court again told the jury that statements of counsel were not evidence, that they
are simply arguments to attempt to persuade them, that “you have observed the
evidence by the testimony and the exhibits given, and you should consider on
that evidence and not on the statements of counsel.” Id. at 867. Defense
counsel later stated: “Mr. Borders is not of the – he’s not some scourge of your
community. He’s a fellow citizen. He’s a part of your community.” Id. at 871.
[15] Following defense counsel’s closing argument, the court again admonished the
jury and stated:
And before [the prosecutor] finishes his closing statement, ladies
and gentlemen of the jury, I’m going to admonish you at this
time that closing statements, there has – go ahead. In closing
statements by counsel to this point, there may have been an
inference made that the defendant was dealing
methamphetamine. You will be given instructions as to the exact
five charges that you are to consider and all the elements thereof.
And I would admonish you and tell you that he is not charged
with dealing methamphetamine and you should not consider any
inference, if there has been any such inference made. And
further, you are to judge this case based upon the evidence that’s
been presented. You may make any inferences therefrom for the
charges that have been filed against the defendant.
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Id. at 872-873.
[16] During the prosecutor’s rebuttal, he stated: “It’s not fair to have
methamphetamine in the community doing the things that it’s doing to children
and families affected.” Id. at 876-877. Defense counsel objected, and the court
overruled the objection.
[17] The prosecutor later stated:
[Golden] was in here not wanting to have to say the things she
had to say, but she’d already testified before Judge Akers to these
odd questions. She didn’t want to, but that doesn’t mean they’re
untruthful. And was there any evidence introduced by the
defendant that those statements were untruthful? Not an iota. It
wasn’t just Detective Siddons that smelled it. It was Officer Hill
at the traffic stop that smelled the meth and the marijuana. It
was Clay County’s drug recognition expert, Deputy Switzer, who
smelled these drugs. And you know who was never mentioned
by defense counsel? Onya (phonetic), the certified drug testing
dog. Silence. Did you hear counsel ever address whether there
was methamphetamine at that residence? Silence. We know it’s
meth. We knew it was an ounce of meth. We know it’s at his
residence. Now, the question is, based on the inferences and
evidence, did he know it was there? The inferences and
evidence, two persons who testify, the smells. Did you ever hear
of any syringes and paraphernalia in the house? Did you ever
hear them mentioned? Silence. This is a tragic story. This isn’t
we’re on a wild goose chase to persecute people. Our life
experiences tell us what methamphetamine does and does to a
community.
Id. at 879-881.
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[18] Following the closing arguments, the court instructed the jury that statements
made by the attorneys were not evidence, that their verdict should be based on
the law and the facts as they find them, that Borders was not required to present
any evidence, and that no defendant may be compelled to testify.
[19] Following the court’s instructions and outside the presence of the jury, the court
stated that during closing argument, defense counsel approached the court, and
the court instructed her that it would reserve her right to make a motion prior to
the jury beginning its deliberations. Borders’s counsel then asked the court to
declare a mistrial based on the prosecutor’s statements in closing that the
charges were appropriate because the prosecutor was duly elected, that
methamphetamine has an impact in the community, and that law enforcement
officers were risking their lives. The court denied the motion for a mistrial.
[20] The jury found Borders guilty of Count I, possession of methamphetamine as a
class A felony; Count II, possession of methamphetamine as a class C felony;
Count III, maintaining a common nuisance as a class D felony; and Count V,
possession of paraphernalia as a class A misdemeanor. The jury found Borders
not guilty of Count IV, possession of marijuana as a class A misdemeanor.
[21] The court then proceeded to the second phase of the trial addressing whether
Borders was an habitual substance offender, and Borders waived his right to a
jury trial on the second phase. The court found Borders to be an habitual
substance offender. The court sentenced him to an aggregate term of forty-five
years of imprisonment.
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[22] On appeal, Borders’s appellate counsel argued that there was no probable cause
to support the issuance of the search warrant, the trial court abused its
discretion in admitting evidence seized during the traffic stop, and the trial
court improperly sentenced Borders. Borders v. State, No. 11A05-1001-CR-203,
slip op. at 2 (Ind. Ct. App. April 18, 2011), trans. denied. We affirmed. Id.
With respect to the search warrant, we observed that the statement of an
unidentified informer describing the means by which Borders acquired the
methamphetamine and the assumptions of a police detective regarding
Borders’s dealing methamphetamine were insufficient but that the officers’
observations of strong marijuana odors and odors consistent with the
manufacturing of methamphetamine coming from Borders’s home were
sufficient to support a finding of probable cause. Id. at 4. As to the traffic stop,
the court held that the narcotics detection dog’s alert on the exterior of
Borders’s vehicle to the presence of contraband supplied the probable cause
necessary for further police investigation of the contents of Borders’s vehicle.
Id. at 8. Borders’s appellate counsel filed a petition for rehearing and a petition
for transfer, both of which were denied.
[23] On October 13, 2011, Borders filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief.
On June 27, 2013, Borders filed an amended petition and alleged that he
received ineffective assistance of appellate counsel and asserted that “[a]ppellate
counsel failed to raise . . . the issue of improper argument by the prosecuting
attorney. Specifically, the prosecution vouched for the credibility of the
investigation and the state’s witnesses.” Appellant’s Appendix at 30. On July
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3, 2013, Borders, by counsel, filed a motion to amend his original petition filed
on October 13, 2011, by substituting the petition filed on June 27, 2013. On
July 9, 2013, the court granted Borders’s motion to substitute the June 27, 2013
petition.
[24] On January 29, 2014, an evidentiary hearing was held. During the hearing,
Borders’s appellate counsel testified, and when asked whether he considered
raising any other issues on direct appeal, he stated:
Yes, . . . prior to my appointment, I had . . . perfected probably . .
. over a hundred and fifty (150) uh appellate briefs and probably a
hundred (100), hundred and fifty (150) or more trial, uh trial
cases on . . . I reviewed the . . . record of proceedings and, and I
have uh, reviewing my personal notes I have about, I believe
almost fifty (50) pages that er [sic] in excess of fifty (50) pages of
a handwritten notes regarding . . . the transcript. I have about
five (5) pages of . . . hot, potential issues that I considered raising
and . . . researched the merits of raising and . . . not raising and
after, as part of my process and determining what issues to raise
on the appeal, I narrowed those the issues as a strategy decisions
[sic] down to the three (3) issues that I raised on appeal.
Post-Conviction Transcript at 8. After Borders’s post-conviction counsel
referred to the beginning of the prosecutor’s closing argument and asked if he
made any notation of it, appellate counsel stated:
I did, I was aware of . . . that issue in the final argument, in those
those [sic] object . . . or those issues as I recall were not objected
to by . . . trial counsel and I decided not to raise them as
fundamental error because I thought the issues that I rose were
much more substantial if we had won on the suppression issues
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then everything would have been moot and a new trial would
have been granted.
Id. at 9. Borders’s post-conviction counsel referenced other parts of the
prosecutor’s closing argument, and appellate counsel stated:
Yes, I’d considered them as issues, and then again, I didn’t
consider those to be in terms of winning issues, I didn’t consider
those to be of the same magnitude as issues regarding the
suppression. An . . . and over the years the Appellate Courts
have made it clear, that on appeal they desire you to be as
succinct as possible and raise your best issues put your . . . best
foot forward and raise the issues that you consider to be the
strongest and uh, that if granted lead to a reversal and . . . it was
in that strategy decision in my opinion that I raised the three (3)
issues that I thought were most likely to win a reversal.
Id. at 9-10.
[25] Borders’s post-conviction counsel asked appellate counsel whether he felt the
issues “that the prosecutor, say vouching for the witnesses, in pages eight oh
three (803) to um eight oh seven (807) and also . . . (inaudible) new evidence
being a fifth (5th) amendment violation on page eight thirty four (834) and eight
seventy-seven (877), you thought those were issues, just not the strongest
issues?” Id. at 10. Appellate counsel stated: “Yes, yes.” Id.
[26] Borders’s post-conviction counsel asked to amend the petition for post-
conviction relief to allege that trial counsel was ineffective on the same grounds
that appellate counsel was ineffective. The court allowed Borders leave to
amend the petition. On February 24, 2014, post-conviction counsel filed a
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notice informing the court that he would not be amending the petition for post-
conviction relief or requesting to present any further evidence.
[27] On January 23, 2015, the court denied Borders’s petition for post-conviction
relief. Specifically, the court stated:
In support of its ruling, the Court finds that [Borders] has failed
to prove his request for relief by a preponderance of evidence in
that there is no sufficient evidence presented the appellate
counsel’[s] performance was deficient, no sufficient evidence that
the performance fell below the objective standard of
reasonableness, and that there is no sufficient evidence the
performance contained errors so serious it resulted in a denial of
[Borders’s] 6th Amendment rights. Further, the Court finds there
is no error in the appellate counsel’s performance that the result
of any such error(s) would have caused a different outcome.
Also, the Court finds that the trial counsel did not object to
prosecutorial statements which [Borders] claims constituted
misconduct. There is not sufficient evidence the prosecutorial
statements claimed by [Borders] constituted fundamental error.
The prosecutorial statements did not make a fair trial for
[Borders] impossible.
Appellant’s Appendix at 93.
Discussion
I.
[28] The first issue is whether Borders was denied the effective assistance of
appellate counsel. Before discussing Borders’s allegations of error, we observe
that the purpose of a petition for post-conviction relief is to raise issues
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unknown or unavailable to a defendant at the time of the original trial and
appeal. Reed v. State, 856 N.E.2d 1189, 1194 (Ind. 2006). A post-conviction
petition is not a substitute for an appeal. Id. Further, post-conviction
proceedings do not afford a petitioner a “super-appeal.” Id. The post-
conviction rules contemplate a narrow remedy for subsequent collateral
challenges to convictions. Id. If an issue was known and available but not
raised on appeal, it is waived. Id.[29] We also note the general standard under which we review a post-conviction
court’s denial of a petition for post-conviction relief. The petitioner in a post-
conviction proceeding bears the burden of establishing grounds for relief by a
preponderance of the evidence. Fisher v. State, 810 N.E.2d 674, 679 (Ind. 2004);
Ind. Post-Conviction Rule 1(5). When appealing from the denial of post-
conviction relief, the petitioner stands in the position of one appealing from a
negative judgment. Fisher, 810 N.E.2d at 679. On review, we will not reverse
the judgment unless the evidence as a whole unerringly and unmistakably leads
to a conclusion opposite that reached by the post-conviction court. Id. “A post-
conviction court’s findings and judgment will be reversed only upon a showing
of clear error – that which leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a
mistake has been made.” Id. In this review, we accept findings of fact unless
clearly erroneous, but we accord no deference to conclusions of law. Id. The
post-conviction court is the sole judge of the weight of the evidence and the
credibility of witnesses. Id.
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[30] Borders argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the
issue of prosecutorial misconduct as fundamental error. He argues that the
prosecutor’s statements regarding the community and law enforcement during
closing argument were an attempt to improperly arouse the passion and
prejudice of the jury, that the prosecutor’s statements regarding the appearance
of McDaniel and Golden were an improper comment on their condition, that
the prosecutor’s statements that his motive was to sell the methamphetamine
was improper because he was not charged with dealing methamphetamine, and
that the prosecutor improperly commented on his right to remain silent.
[31] The State argues that Borders’s petition focused only on the prosecutor’s
statements that “vouched for the credibility of the investigation and the state’s
witnesses.” Appellee’s Brief at 11. The State asserts that Borders’s arguments
on appeal with respect to the other statements made by the prosecutor are
waived for failure to raise them in the petition for post-conviction relief. The
State also contends that Borders’s claims fail waiver notwithstanding.
[32] Borders’s petition for post-conviction relief alleged only the ineffective
assistance of appellate counsel as the ground for relief and in the portion of the
petition listing the facts which support the ground for relief stated merely:
“Appellate counsel failed to raise on direct appeal the issue of improper
argument by the prosecuting attorney. Specifically, the prosecution vouched for
the credibility of the investigation and the state’s witnesses.” Appellant’s
Appendix at 30. To the extent Borders challenges his appellate counsel’s failure
to raise the prosecutor’s other statements, we find those arguments waived
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because his petition challenged only appellate counsel’s failure to challenge the
prosecutor’s alleged vouching for the credibility of the investigation and the
State’s witnesses. See Allen v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1158, 1171 (Ind. 2001) (“Issues
not raised in the petition for post-conviction relief may not be raised for the first
time on post-conviction appeal.”), reh’g denied, cert. denied, 535 U.S. 1061, 122 S.
Ct. 1925 (2002); Post-Conviction Rule 1(8) (“All grounds for relief available to
a petitioner under this rule must be raised in his original petition.”).
[33] Even assuming that Borders properly raised all of the prosecutor’s statements,
we cannot say that reversal is warranted. Generally, to prevail on a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must demonstrate both that his
counsel’s performance was deficient and that the petitioner was prejudiced by
the deficient performance. French v. State, 778 N.E.2d 816, 824 (Ind. 2002)
(citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984), reh’g
denied). A counsel’s performance is deficient if it falls below an objective
standard of reasonableness based on prevailing professional norms. Id. To
meet the appropriate test for prejudice, the petitioner must show that there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of
the proceeding would have been different. Id. A reasonable probability is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Perez v. State,
748 N.E.2d 853, 854 (Ind. 2001). Failure to satisfy either prong will cause the
claim to fail. French, 778 N.E.2d at 824. Most ineffective assistance of counsel
claims can be resolved by a prejudice inquiry alone. Id. We apply the same
standard of review to claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel as we
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apply to claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Williams v. State, 724
N.E.2d 1070, 1078 (Ind. 2000), reh’g denied, cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1128, 121 S.
Ct. 886 (2001).
[34] When considering a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a “strong
presumption arises that counsel rendered adequate assistance and made all
significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment.”
Morgan v. State, 755 N.E.2d 1070, 1072 (Ind. 2001). “[C]ounsel’s performance
is presumed effective, and a defendant must offer strong and convincing
evidence to overcome this presumption.” Williams v. State, 771 N.E.2d 70, 73
(Ind. 2002). Evidence of isolated poor strategy, inexperience, or bad tactics will
not support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Clark v. State, 668
N.E.2d 1206, 1211 (Ind. 1996), reh’g denied, cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1171, 117 S.
Ct. 1438 (1997). “Reasonable strategy is not subject to judicial second
guesses.” Burr v. State, 492 N.E.2d 306, 309 (Ind. 1986).
[35] Ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claims fall into three categories: (1)
denial of access to an appeal; (2) waiver of issues; and (3) failure to present
issues well. Garrett v. State, 992 N.E.2d 710, 724 (Ind. 2013). “To show that
counsel was ineffective for failing to raise an issue on appeal thus resulting in
waiver for collateral review, ‘the defendant must overcome the strongest
presumption of adequate assistance, and judicial scrutiny is highly deferential.’”
Id. (quoting Ben-Yisrayl v. State, 738 N.E.2d 253, 260-261 (Ind. 2000), reh’g
denied, cert. denied, 534 U.S. 1164, 122 S. Ct. 1178 (2002)). “To evaluate the
performance prong when counsel waived issues upon appeal, we apply the
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following test: (1) whether the unraised issues are significant and obvious from
the face of the record and (2) whether the unraised issues are ‘clearly stronger’
than the raised issues.” Id. (quoting Timberlake v. State, 753 N.E.2d 591, 605-
606 (Ind. 2001), reh’g denied, cert. denied, 537 U.S. 839, 123 S. Ct. 162 (2002)).
“If the analysis under this test demonstrates deficient performance, then we
evaluate the prejudice prong which requires an examination of whether ‘the
issues which . . . appellate counsel failed to raise would have been clearly more
likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial.’” Id. (quoting Bieghler v.
State, 690 N.E.2d 188, 194 (Ind. 1997), reh’g denied, cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1021,
119 S. Ct. 550 (1998)).
[36] Generally, in reviewing a properly preserved claim of prosecutorial misconduct,
we determine: (1) whether the prosecutor engaged in misconduct, and if so, (2)
whether the misconduct, under all of the circumstances, placed the defendant in
a position of grave peril to which he should not have been subjected. Cooper v.
State, 854 N.E.2d 831, 835 (Ind. 2006). Whether a prosecutor’s argument
constitutes misconduct is measured by reference to caselaw and the Rules of
Professional Conduct. Id. The gravity of peril is measured by the probable
persuasive effect of the misconduct on the jury’s decision rather than the degree
of impropriety of the conduct. Id. Where, as conceded by Borders here, a
claim of prosecutorial misconduct has not been properly preserved, our
standard of review is different from that of a properly preserved claim. Id.More specifically, the defendant must establish not only the grounds for the
misconduct, but also the additional grounds for fundamental error. Id.Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 11A05-1502-PC-68 | April 5, 2016 Page 17 of 24
[37] Fundamental error is an extremely narrow exception that allows a defendant to
avoid waiver of an issue. Id. It is error that makes “a fair trial impossible or
constitute[s] clearly blatant violations of basic and elementary principles of due
process . . . present[ing] an undeniable and substantial potential for harm.” Id.“This exception is available only in ‘egregious circumstances.’” Brown v. State,
929 N.E.2d 204, 207 (Ind. 2010) (quoting Brown v. State, 799 N.E.2d 1064, 1068
(Ind. 2003)), reh’g denied. “Fundamental error is meant to permit appellate
courts a means to correct the most egregious and blatant trial errors that
otherwise would have been procedurally barred, not to provide a second bite at
the apple for defense counsel who ignorantly, carelessly, or strategically fail to
preserve an error.” Ryan v. State, 9 N.E.3d 663, 668 (Ind. 2014), reh’g denied.
[38] We note that Borders’s appellate counsel testified that he narrowed the issues
down to the three issues raised on appeal as a strategic decision. Further, as
discussed, the trial court admonished the jury multiple times and informed
them that the statements of counsel were not evidence, that they could judge
the evidence and the laws presented to them, and that they should consider the
evidence and not the statements of counsel. During final instructions, the court
stated: “Statements made by the attorneys are not evidence,” and “[y]our
verdict should be based on the law and the facts as you find them. It should not
be based on sympathy or bias.” Trial Transcript at 904, 907. The court also
stated: “And I would admonish you and tell you that [Borders] is not charged
with dealing methamphetamine and you should not consider any inference, if
there has been any such inference made.” Id. at 872-873.
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[39] As for Borders’s argument that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing
to raise the prosecutor’s comments that allegedly commented on his right to
remain silent, and to the extent that Borders cites Davis v. State, 685 N.E.2d
1095 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997), we do not find that case requires reversal. In Davis,
a police officer testified that the defendant admitted “I took the car,” when he
was arrested for auto theft. 685 N.E.2d at 1097. During closing argument, the
State argued that the defendant “said he took the car. There is nothing to
controvert that. There is no evidence saying that isn’t so. There’s not even an
argument that he didn’t say that.” Id. On appeal, we held that “before
determining whether a prosecutor’s comment is improper, it must first be
determined whether a reasonable jury could have interpreted the comment as a
suggestion to infer the defendant’s guilt from his failure to testify.” Id. at 1098.
We observed that the prosecutor’s comments called attention to the defendant’s
alleged admission and pointed out that there was no claim to the contrary and
the prosecutor indirectly brought to the jury’s attention the fact that the
defendant did not deny this allegation. Id. We noted that the defendant was
the only one who could have denied that this statement was made because only
he and the police officer were present at the time. Id. Accordingly, we
concluded that a reasonable jury could have taken that comment as an
invitation to consider the defendant’s failure to testify as an inference of guilt
and the prosecutor’s comments were improper. Id. We then observed that the
defendant failed to object and addressed fundamental error as follows:
We have held that where a prosecutor made no direct reference
to a defendant’s decision to remain silent, but instead
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emphasized the uncontradicted nature of the testimony, there
was no fundamental error. Channell v. State, 658 N.E.2d 925, 932
(Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied. In addition, the Indiana
Supreme Court has indicated that “if in its totality the
prosecutor’s comment is addressed to other evidence rather than
the defendant’s failure to testify, it is not grounds for reversal.”
Hopkins v. State, 582 N.E.2d 345, 348 (Ind. 1991), reh. denied. In
each of the prosecutor’s comments complained of by Davis, the
prosecutor emphasized the lack of contradictory evidence and
made no direct mention of the defendant’s failure to testify.
Davis was not placed in grave peril by these comments, and it is
improbable that the prosecutor’s comments, taken in context,
would have had a persuasive effect on the jury’s decision. We
conclude that the prosecutor’s comments did not constitute
fundamental error.
Id. at 1098-1099.
[40] Without citation to the record, Borders asserts that the prosecutor specifically
highlighted the fact that Borders introduced no evidence that McDaniel’s
statements were not truthful and that the only one who could have disproved or
discredited McDaniel’s statements was Borders. McDaniel testified that
Borders had previously provided methamphetamine to her and that Borders
kept meth in his bag, but Borders does not cite to the record or develop an
argument that only he could have contradicted her testimony. Thus, we cannot
say that Borders has demonstrated that the prosecutor’s comments were
improper similar to those in Davis. Further, as in Davis, the prosecutor’s
comments complained of emphasized the lack of contradictory evidence and
made no direct mention of Borders’s failure to testify. Further, the trial court
here stated:
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The defendant is not required to present any evidence to prove
innocence or to prove or to explain anything. The burden is
upon the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant is guilty of the crimes charged.
Trial Transcript at 898-899. The court also gave the following instruction to the
jury: “No defendant may be compelled to testify. The defendant has no
obligation to testify. If the defendant did not testify, you must not consider this
in any way.” Id. at 903.
[41] Under the circumstances, we cannot say that Borders was placed in grave peril
by the prosecutor’s comments, and it is improbable that the prosecutor’s
comments, in light of the court’s admonishments and instructions, would have
had a persuasive effect on the jury’s decision. We cannot say that the
prosecutor’s comments constituted fundamental error or that appellate counsel
was ineffective in failing to raise fundamental error based upon the prosecutor’s
individual comments or their cumulative impact.
II.
[42] The next issue is whether Borders was deprived of a procedurally fair post-
conviction hearing. Borders argues that his post-conviction counsel’s failure to
raise the issue of whether he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel
constitutes a due process violation. He appears to assert that he is not claiming
that his post-conviction counsel was ineffective under the Sixth Amendment but
that his post-conviction counsel violated his due process rights under the
Fourteenth Amendment. In other words, “Borders is raising the claim that
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post-conviction counsel’s ineffectiveness extends to his equal protection rights,
under the 14th Amendment, for counsel’s failure to raise an issue that was
known to him at the time he argued the case.” Appellant’s Brief at 25. The
State argues that Borders’s claim is not a cognizable claim for relief and that
post-conviction counsel appeared and represented Borders in a procedurally fair
setting.
[43] The Indiana Supreme Court discussed performance by a post-conviction
counsel as follows:
This Court declared its approach to claims about performance by
a post-conviction lawyer in Baum v. State, 533 N.E.2d 1200 (Ind.
1989). We observed that neither the Sixth Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution nor article 1, section 13 of the Indiana
Constitution guarantee the right to counsel in post-conviction
proceedings, and explicitly declined to apply the well-known
standard for trial and appellate counsel of Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674(1984). Baum, 533 N.E.2d at 1201. The Baum Court noted that
post-conviction pleadings are not regarded as criminal actions
and need not be conducted under the standards followed in them.
Id. We held unanimously that a claim of defective performance
“poses no cognizable grounds for post-conviction relief” and that
to recognize such a claim would sanction avoidance of legitimate
defenses and constitute an abuse of the post-conviction remedy.
Id. at 1200-01.
We therefore adopted a standard based on principles inherent in
protecting due course of law—one that inquires “if counsel in
fact appeared and represented the petitioner in a procedurally fair
setting which resulted in a judgment of the court.” Id. at 1201.
As Justice DeBruler explained later, speaking for a majority of
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us, it is “not a ground for post-conviction relief that petitioner’s
counsel in a prior post-conviction proceeding did not provide
adequate legal assistance,” but such a contention could provide a
prisoner with a basis for replying to a state claim of prior
adjudication or abuse of process. Hendrix v. State, 557 N.E.2d
1012, 1014 (Ind. 1990) (DeBruler, J., concurring).
Graves v. State, 823 N.E.2d 1193, 1196 (Ind. 2005).
[44] At the post-conviction hearing, Borders’s post-conviction counsel introduced
and the court admitted the trial record, the appellate briefs in the direct appeal,
the petition for rehearing and petition for transfer filed by appellate counsel, and
this court’s opinion on direct appeal. Post-conviction counsel called Borders’s
appellate counsel and questioned him. Post-conviction counsel also filed
proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law concluding that appellate
counsel provided ineffective assistance.
[45] Based upon the record, we cannot say that Borders was deprived of a
procedurally fair post-conviction hearing. See Graves, 823 N.E.2d at 1197
(affirming the post-conviction court’s denial of relief when post-conviction
counsel appeared at the post-conviction relief hearing, directly examined the
petitioner, and tendered affidavits).
Conclusion
[46] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of
Borders’s petition for post-conviction relief.
[47] Affirmed.
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Kirsch, J., and Mathias, J., concur.
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