Uceda (Alexander) Vs. State ( 2021 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA
ALEXANDER UCEDA, No. 81899
Appellant,
vs.
THE STATE OF NEVADA,
FILED
Respondent.
ORDER OF AFFIRMANCE
This is an appeal from a district court order denying a
postconviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Eighth Judicial District
Court, Clark County; Cristina D. Silva, Judge.
Appellant Alexander Uceda argues that the district court erred
in denying his claims that both trial and appellate counsel were ineffective.
To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must demonstrate
that counsel's performance was deficient in that it fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness, and resulting prejudice such that, but for
counsel's errors, there is a reasonable probability of a different outcome in
the proceedings. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 (1984);
Warden v. Lyons, 100 Nev. 430, 432-33, 683 P.2d 504, 505 (1984) (adopting
the test in Strickland); Kirksey v. State, 112 Nev. 980, 998, 923 P.2d 1102,
1113-14 (1996) (applying Strickland to claims of ineffective assistance of
appellate counsel). Both components of the inquiry must be shown,
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, and the petitioner must demonstrate the
underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence, Means v. State, 120
Nev. 1001, 1012, 103 P.3d 25, 33 (2004). We give deference to the district
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court's factual findings if supported by substantial evidence and not clearly
erroneous but review the court's application of the law to those facts de
novo. Lader v. Warden, 121 Nev. 682, 686, 120 P.3d 1164, 1166 (2005).
First, Uceda argues that counsel should have objected to the
trial court's failure to administer the jury oath required by NRS 16.030(5),
which constitutes structural error pursuant to Barral v. State, 131 Nev. 520,
525, 353 P.3d 1197, 1200 (2015). Uceda has not shown prejudice. In fact,
at the evidentiary hearing, Uceda conceded that he had not satisfied
Strickland's prejudice prong. While structural errors generally warrant
automatic reversal when the issue was preserved at trial and raised on
direct appeal, a petitioner raising an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim
based on trial counsel's failure to preserve a structural error must
demonstrate prejudice. Weaver v. Massachusetts, 137 S. Ct. 1899, 1910
(2017); see also id. at 1911 (analyzing whether prejudice was established by
showing either a reasonable probability of a different outcome or
fundamental unfairness). Therefore, we conclude that the district court did
not err in denying this claim.
Second, in a related claim, Uceda argues that counsel should
have moved for a new trial based on the jury oath error. Uceda has not
shown deficient performance. In Barral, this court considered, as "an issue
"Uceda also argues that appellate counsel should have raised the jury
oath issue on appeal. However, he did not raise this claim in his
postconviction petition, and we decline to consider it in the first instance.
See Davis v. State, 107 Nev. 600, 606, 817 P.2d 1169, 1173 (1991), overruled
on other grounds by Means v. State, 120 Nev. 1001, 1012-13, 103 P.3d 25,
33 (2004).
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of first impression," whether a violation of NRS 16.030(5) warrants relief.
131 Nev. at 523, 353 P.3d at 1198. At the time of Uceda's trial, counsel did
not have the benefit of that decision, which announced that a violation of
the statute constituted structural error, and we cannot use hindsight in
evaluating counsel's performance. See Doyle v. State, 116 Nev. 148, 156,
995 P.2d 465, 470 (2000) ("The failure of counsel to anticipate a change in
the law does not constitute ineffective assistance."). "This is true even
where, as here, the theory upon which the court's later decision is based is
available, although the court had not yet decided the issue." Id. Therefore,
we conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim.
Third, Uceda argues that counsel should have obtained the
victims written statements. Uceda has not shown deficient performance or
prejudice. During the evidentiary hearing, counsel testified that he raised
the issue of the allegedly missing statements during trial and law
enforcement asserted that no statements existed. Counsel cannot be
deficient for not obtaining evidence that the State did not possess. And
Uceda did not demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome
given the strong evidence of guilt, including law enforcement engaging in a
high-speed chase of a vehicle after receiving a report that the occupants had
just committed a robbery, the subsequent discovery of Uceda's wallet in the
abandoned vehicle, and Uceda himself hiding nearby. Therefore, we
conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim.2
2Uceda also argues that appellate counsel was ineffective for omitting
a portion of the trial record regarding the statements. Uceda has not shown
prejudice. Having reviewed the omitted portion of the transcript, we
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Fourth, Uceda argues that counsel should have moved to
suppress his identification contained in his wallet that law enforcement
discovered during a vehicle search. Uceda has not shown deficient
performance or prejudice. At the evidentiary hearing, counsel testified that
a motion to suppress would have been frivolous. We agree. Uceda and his
codefendant evaded law enforcement during a high-speed chase before
abandoning the vehicle, which was owned by the codefendant's girlfriend,
and fleeing on foot. Police officers recovered Uceda's wallet and
identification discarded on the floorboard within the vehicle. Uceda lacked
standing to challenge the search of either his wallet or the vehicle. See State
v. Lisenbee, 116 Nev. 1124, 1130, 13 P.3d 947, 951 (2000) (concluding "that
any evidence found as a result of [defendant's] flight was not obtained in
violation of the Fourth Amendment"); State v. Taylor, 114 Nev. 1071, 1077-
78, 968 P.2d 315, 320 (1998) ("A person who voluntarily abandons his
property has no standing to object to its search or seizure because he loses
a legitimate expectation of privacy in the property and thereby disclaims
any concern about whether the property or its contents remain private.");
Scott v. State, 110 Nev. 622, 627, 877 P.2d 503, 507 (1994) (defendant lacked
standing to challenge search of a vehicle where he was a passenger and did
not own the vehicle). Uceda did not demonstrate that there was a
reasonable probability of a different outcome given that law enforcement
conclude that Uceda has not demonstrated a reasonable probability of a
different outcome on appeal and therefore the district court did not err in
denying this claim. See Kirksey, 112 Nev. at 998, 923 at 1113 (a petitioner
must show that the omitted issue would have had a reasonable probability
of success of appeal).
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discovered Uceda hiding in a bush nearby after he fled the vehicle.
Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not err in denying this
claim. See Donovan v. State, 94 Nev. 671, 675, 584 P.2d 708, 711 (1978)
(concluding that counsel was not ineffective for omitting a futile suppression
motion).
Fifth, Uceda argues that counsel should have objected to the
introduction of police reports. Uceda has not shown deficient performance
or prejudice. The record supports the district court's conclusion that counsel
made a strategic decision to use the police reports to cross-examine law
enforcement witnesses about inaccuracies contained in the reports. See
Doleman v. State, 112 Nev. 843, 848, 921 P.2d 278, 280-81 (1996) (counsel's
strategic decisions are virtually unchallengeable absent extraordinary
circumstances). Uceda has not demonstrated extraordinary circumstances
in this case nor has he shown a reasonable probability of a different outcome
given the strong evidence of guilt. Therefore, we conclude that the district
court did not err in denying this claim.
Sixth, Uceda argues that counsel should have objected to the
use of the phrase "bullet hole during trial. Uceda has not shown deficient
performance or prejudice. The male victim testified that the passenger in
the perpetrators vehicle fired a gun at him and one bullet struck his vehicle,
and he identified the resulting damage. And law enforcement recovered a
spent bullet casing in the abandoned vehicle. The State therefore made a
reasonable inference that the defect on the victim's vehicle was a bullet hole.
Under these circumstances, Uceda has not demonstrated a reasonable
probability of a different outcome had counsel objected. Therefore, we
conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim. See Ennis
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v. State, 122 Nev. 694, 706, 137 P.3d 1095, 1103 (2006) (stating that counsel
is not ineffective for failing to make futile objections).
Seventh, Uceda argues that counsel should have objected when
the State improperly refreshed the recollection of a witness. Uceda has not
shown prejudice. Uceda points to two instances where the State refreshed
the recollection of a law enforcement witness when he provided imprecise
times for events during the investigation, e.g., when the officer responded
to the scene. Even assuming the State's method of refreshing the witness's
recollection was improper, Uceda has not shown a reasonable probability of
a different outcome had counsel objected to the State's examination of its
witness. Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not err in
denying this claim.
Eighth, Uceda argues that counsel should have objected to the
State's argument that NRS 207.012 mandated imposing a habitual felon
sentence. Uceda has not shown deficient performance or prejudice. Under
NRS 207.012, defendants who have previously been convicted of two violent
felonies, which are enumerated in the statute, and are again convicted of a
violent felony, qualify as habitual felons and must be sentenced as such.
See NRS 207.012(1), (2). Likewise, Uceda has not demonstrated a
reasonable probability of different outcome because the district court had
no discretion to dismiss the relevant counts. See NRS 207.012(3); Ennis,
122 Nev. at 706, 137 P.3d at 1103 (stating that counsel is not ineffective for
failing to make futile objections). Therefore, we conclude that the district
court did not err in denying this claim.
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Finally, Uceda argues that the cumulative effect of counsers
errors warrants relief. Even assuming that instances of deficient
performance may be cumulated, see McConnell v. State, 125 Nev. 243, 259,
212 P.3d 307, 318 (2009), Uceda has not shown that cumulative error
warrants relief based on the strong evidence of his guilt discussed above.
Having considered Uceda's contentions and concluding that
they lack merit, we
ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.3
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Hardesty
Herndon
cc: Hon. Cristina D. Silva, District Judge
Gaffney Law
Attorney General/Carson City
Clark County District Attorney
Eighth District Court Clerk
3The Honorable Mark Gibbons, Senior Justice, participated in the
decision of this matter under a general order of assignment.
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