Paul David Childs v. State of Tennessee ( 2016 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs March 8, 2016
PAUL DAVID CHILDS v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County
No. 2009-D-2874 Cheryl Blackburn, Judge
No. M2015-00994-CCA-R3-PC – Filed April 28, 2016
The Petitioner, Paul David Childs, appeals as of right from the Davidson County
Criminal Court‟s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner
contends that he received ineffective assistance from his trial counsel. Specifically, the
Petitioner alleges that trial counsel was ineffective (1) for failing to “adequately inform”
the Petitioner about “his rights regarding a preliminary hearing” and failing to request a
preliminary hearing; (2) for failing to impeach the victim with an alleged prior
inconsistent statement; (3) for preventing the Petitioner from testifying at trial; (4) for
failing to sufficiently prepare for the trial, failing to present any witnesses at trial, and
pursuing a “highly questionable” trial strategy; and (5) for advising the Petitioner to
waive his right to appeal his conviction. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of
the post-conviction court.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed
D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which THOMAS T.
WOODALL, P.J., and CAMILLE R. MCMULLEN, J., joined.
David Harris, Nashville, Tennessee (on appeal); and David M. Hopkins, Murfreesboro,
Tennessee (at post-conviction hearing), for the appellant, Paul David Childs.
Herbert H. Slatery III, Attorney General and Reporter; Benjamin A. Ball, Senior Counsel;
Glenn R. Funk, District Attorney General; and Bret Thomas Gunn, Assistant District
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On June 14, 2010, the Petitioner was convicted by a jury of sexual battery, a Class
E felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-505. The facts underlying the Petitioner‟s
conviction were as follows: On October 22, 2008, the Petitioner went to the emergency
room at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. The Petitioner
complained of having suicidal thoughts. The victim, an employee of Mental Health
Cooperative, was asked to evaluate the Petitioner. The Petitioner told the victim “that he
was not suicidal or homicidal, but that he only wanted a certain prescription to be written
for him.”
The victim informed the Petitioner that she would arrange for him to see a mental
health doctor. As the victim attempted to leave the Petitioner‟s hospital room, the
Petitioner “jumped” at her and “wrapped his arms around [her] in a bear hug and forcibly
grasped her buttocks.” The Petitioner told the victim that he could “use a good f--king”
as he touched her buttocks. The victim “pushed the [Petitioner] away from her and fled”
the room. She reported the incident to hospital security, and the Petitioner was escorted
out of the hospital.
The Petitioner elected not to testify at trial. The trial court questioned the
Petitioner about his decision.1 The trial court asked the Petitioner if he had discussed the
decision with trial counsel, and the Petitioner responded that he had. The trial court
informed the Petitioner that “ultimately” he had to make the decision, and the Petitioner
informed the trial court that he had decided not to testify. The Petitioner also signed a
written waiver of his right to testify.
After the Petitioner‟s jury trial, he provided the following statement to the
presentence investigating officer:
I am guilty of sexual battery. I touched someone inappropriately without
their consent and frighted [sic] her [emotionally]. I am sorry and
remorseful. However, I realize an apology is not enough. [Whether] or not
I‟m granted probation, I must become a better person and a better citizen.
With support from church, family and friends, A.A., mental health
professionals and others. As for reason, I‟m not sure why I acted this way.
Very possibly from being angry and frustrated. Not [controlling] my
emotions.
1
In Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152 (Tenn. 1999), our supreme court outlined a prophylactic procedure
designed to insure that a defendant‟s waiver of his right to testify is voluntary, knowing, and intelligent.
See Mobley v. State, 397 S.W.3d 70, 90-91 (Tenn. 2013). Under the Momon procedure, defense counsel
should be the one to question the defendant, and the trial court should only question the defendant “when
defense counsel fails to adequately obtain a waiver.” State v. Rimmer, 250 S.W.3d 12, 28 n.4 (Tenn.
2008).
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On August 31, 2010, trial counsel announced to the trial court that the State had
agreed to a sentence of two years to be served on probation. After questioning the
Petitioner about whether or not he understood that by accepting the State‟s offer he was
waiving his right to a full sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed the agreed upon
sentence. The trial court then asked about scheduling the motion for new trial hearing.
At that point, trial counsel stated that the Petitioner was “going to discuss that with his
sister,” who happened to be an attorney. The trial court informed trial counsel that the
Petitioner would have to file a written waiver if he chose to waive his right to appeal his
conviction and informed the Petitioner that he had to make the decision within thirty
days. The Petitioner subsequently signed and filed a written waiver of his right to appeal.
On August 15, 2011, the Petitioner filed a timely pro se petition for post-
conviction relief alleging that trial counsel was ineffective for waiving the preliminary
hearing without the Petitioner‟s “signed consent” and that there was newly discovered
evidence which contradicted the victim‟s testimony at trial. The post-conviction court
summarily dismissed the petition on the basis that it “failed to provide any factual
grounds in support of his claims for relief.” Paul David Childs v. State, No. M2011-
02560-CCA-R3-PC, 2012 WL 5947379, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Nov. 15, 2012). This
court reversed the post-conviction court‟s summary dismissal and remanded the case for
the appointment of counsel and filing of an amended petition for post-conviction relief.
Id. at *3.
On September 25, 2013, an amended petition was filed alleging that trial counsel
was ineffective (1) “by failing to request a preliminary hearing”; (2) “by not presenting
evidence of [the] Petitioner‟s innocence at trial”; (3) “by not preparing [the] Petitioner to
testify in his own defense and by not calling him as a witness at trial”; and (4) “by
advising [the] Petitioner to waive his right to appeal his conviction . . . and by not filing a
motion for new trial.” On February 12, 2014, the post-conviction court held an
evidentiary hearing on this matter.
At the evidentiary hearing, the Petitioner testified that he first met trial counsel
approximately two weeks after his arrest for roughly fifteen minutes. The Petitioner
asserted that his next meeting with trial counsel was prior to a court appearance, and at
that meeting trial counsel explained a “possible plea agreement” to him where he would
plead “to a felony assault instead of the sexual battery.” However, the Petitioner stated
that trial counsel returned a short time later and stated that “there was a problem” with the
plea agreement because the victim “had not agreed to it somehow.”
The Petitioner testified that he remained in custody for thirty-five days until he
made bond. The Petitioner recalled that he did not have a preliminary hearing and
testified that he could not recall trial counsel having “any discussions with [him] about
the fact that [he] could have a preliminary hearing.” The Petitioner claimed that he only
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learned about his right to a preliminary hearing later, after his “sister pointed it out to”
him. The Petitioner testified that he would have insisted on a preliminary hearing had he
known of his right to the proceeding so that he could have presented his “side of the
story.”
The Petitioner claimed that after he was released on bond he only met with trial
counsel “three times” prior to his trial with each meeting lasting thirty or forty-five
minutes. The Petitioner admitted that trial counsel reviewed with him the victim‟s
statement, the sexual battery statute, and the discovery process. The Petitioner testified
that he could not recall if trial counsel provided him with a copy of the discovery
materials.
The Petitioner claimed that after his conviction, trial counsel provided him with a
copy of his medical records and other documents. The Petitioner testified that in these
documents he saw “things like statements that were made that [he] didn‟t know of before
the trial.” The Petitioner claimed that the report filed by “the reporting police officer”
stated that he had touched the victim‟s “lower back exterior” and that this contradicted
the victim‟s testimony at trial that he had touched her buttocks. The Petitioner asserted
that he had told trial counsel that he had actually touched the victim “briefly on her side,
her waist” but that trial counsel never “point[ed] out that discrepancy” to the victim.
The Petitioner claimed that he told trial counsel prior to trial that he would be
“comfortable taking the stand” and that trial counsel agreed to “meet at a later date and
go over what questions would be asked and that sort of thing” but that the meeting never
happened. The Petitioner asserted again that he wanted to testify at trial so that he could
explain that he “did not touch the young lady inappropriately” and that “she was mistaken
and . . . overreacted.” The Petitioner further explained that he “briefly touched [the
victim] around the waist” after she “pushed [his] arms downward” and “twisted her side .
. . in order to get between [him] and the examining table.”
In discussing his decision not to testify at trial, the Petitioner claimed that he did
not realize his trial would actually occur on the scheduled trial date. Rather, the
Petitioner testified that he thought it would be “like it [was] on [television]” and that they
would “select a jury and then set a trial for couple of weeks after.” The Petitioner
asserted that he “thought [he] had time to convince [trial counsel] that [he] need[ed] to
take the stand.” The Petitioner claimed, however, that he decided not to testify after trial
counsel “shushed” him during the victim‟s testimony. The Petitioner explained that he
had “leaned over” to tell trial counsel that the victim‟s testimony was inconsistent with
how he “remember[ed] it” and that trial counsel simply looked at him and “[p]ut his
finger over his lips.” The Petitioner asserted that this caused him to believe that trial
counsel “was not going to support [him].”
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The Petitioner claimed that on the day he was scheduled to have his sentencing
hearing, trial counsel approached him and told him that the prosecutor would agree to a
probationary sentence if the Petitioner was able to “pass a drug test.” The Petitioner
further claimed that trial counsel never discussed with him about his right to appeal his
conviction and that trial counsel told him that “if [he] agreed to probation . . . [he]
couldn‟t appeal.” The Petitioner asserted that had he understood his right to appeal, he
would have appealed his conviction.
On cross-examination, the Petitioner admitted that he did not know how having a
preliminary hearing would have changed the outcome of his trial, but claimed that it
would have made it “more feasible” for him to testify at trial. The police report of the
incident was entered into evidence during cross-examination, and the Petitioner admitted
that it stated that he had touched the victim‟s buttocks and was consistent with her trial
testimony.
The Petitioner also admitted that he had stated that he was “guilty of sexual
battery” but claimed that he only made the statement “after a probation officer” told him
on “the day of [his] sentence” that he had to “admit guilt” “in order to be a candidate for
probation.” The Petitioner further claimed that the probation officer was a man named
“Mr. Yates.” However, the Petitioner was confronted with the fact that this statement
was contained in his presentence report, which was compiled by investigating officer
April Y. Lee prior to his scheduled sentencing hearing. The Petitioner admitted that trial
counsel had advised him against making the statement.
The Petitioner claimed on cross-examination that he was “led to believe that [he]
was going to testify” but that trial counsel had advised him against testifying a few days
before trial and that he had “just [gone] by [trial counsel‟s] recommendation.” The
Petitioner further claimed that he leaned over to trial counsel when the victim testified “in
hopes [that trial counsel] would change his mind and support [him]” but that trial counsel
“shushed” him instead. The Petitioner claimed that he only told the trial court he did not
want to testify because he “didn‟t think [he] had support from [his] attorney.” However,
the Petitioner admitted that trial counsel never “said that [he] couldn‟t testify” and that he
simply felt that trial counsel “didn‟t support [him] in that notion.”
On further cross-examination, the Petitioner claimed that no one told him
“anything about an appeal until [he] met with [his] probation officer.” However, the
Petitioner admitted that he signed a waiver of appeal document dated August 31, 2010.
The Petitioner claimed that trial counsel “showed [him] the document” and told him to
sign it with “no explanation of an appeal.” The Petitioner further claimed that trial
counsel told him that if he signed the document he would “get probation” and that he
signed it because whether he would get probation was “all [he was] thinking about” that
day.
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On redirect examination, the Petitioner was shown a “progress note” from his
medical records and written by the victim. In the note, the victim stated that the
Petitioner had “quickly got[ten] up from the bed, reached around [her], grabbed the lower
back exterior and pressed up against [her]. He then said, „I could use a good F‟ing
[sic].‟” The victim further stated that she pushed the Petitioner away and left the room.
The Petitioner testified that the progress note, rather than the police report, was the
document he was thinking of during his earlier testimony and that he did not see the
progress note until after his conviction when he was “meeting with the case manager
regarding [his] mental health issues.”
Trial counsel testified that he had been licensed to practice law since 1998 and that
for much of that time his practice consisted “[c]ompletely” of criminal defense work. At
the time he represented the Petitioner, trial counsel was an Assistant District Public
Defender. Trial counsel was assisted by another Assistant District Public Defender and
“an investigator who did some investigation.” Trial counsel recalled that he met with the
Petitioner within a few days of his arrest and that his initial goal “was to try to negotiate
anything [he] could that would not put [the Petitioner] on the [sex offender] registry.”
Trial counsel met with the prosecutor and the victim. Trial counsel recalled that
the victim was open to the Petitioner pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault but that the
prosecutor “insist[ed] that he plead to a felony.” The prosecutor proposed a plea
agreement where the Petitioner would plead guilty to reckless endangerment. Trial
counsel testified that “there was no preliminary hearing” because they “did an
information” to expedite the plea agreement. Trial counsel testified that the Petitioner
“was fine with that,” that the Petitioner‟s sister was “very involved,” and that she was
also “fine with that.”
However, when the case advanced from General Sessions Court to Criminal
Court, a new prosecutor was assigned to the case. The new prosecutor “did not think that
the facts of this [case] met the statute [for] reckless endangerment. So the plea
[agreement] basically fell apart.” Trial counsel testified that, at that point, he discussed
what had happened with the Petitioner and his sister, and they “discussed the pros and
cons of having a preliminary hearing.” Trial counsel recalled that he “explained to [the
Petitioner] that [the case] was going to the grand jury anyway, [and] that the preliminary
hearing would not stop the case from being prosecuted.” Trial counsel worried that
having a preliminary hearing would make the victim “more invested in prosecuting.”
Overall, trial counsel felt that a preliminary hearing could have been “strategically bad
for” the Petitioner and that the Petitioner and his sister “all decided that [they] should
probably not go there.”
Trial counsel testified that he thought he met with the Petitioner more than just
three times prior to trial. Trial counsel recalled that they discussed trial strategy and
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whether the Petitioner would testify at trial during those meetings. Trial counsel believed
that the victim would appear very credible and sympathetic to the jury. Trial counsel
testified that his strategy was to convince the jury to acquit the Petitioner because the
victim “chose to do this kind of work” and to work with “people [who] have issues.”
Trial counsel hoped that the jury would think that the Petitioner‟s actions did not rise to
the level of sexual battery. Trial counsel admitted that “maybe this was a bad strategy.”
Trial counsel also recalled that the Petitioner “made it clear that he did not want to
testify, that he would not feel comfortable testifying.” Trial counsel denied that he tried
to convince the Petitioner not to testify shortly before trial. Trial counsel recalled
discussing the issue with the Petitioner and that the Petitioner was clear that he did not
want to testify at trial. Trial counsel stated that he agreed with the Petitioner‟s decision
and thought it was the best course of action.
Trial counsel testified that he believed he received the Petitioner‟s medical
records, including the progress note, after the Petitioner‟s conviction when he was
“requesting all the records” to prepare for the sentencing hearing. Trial counsel also
recalled giving the Petitioner “all of the discovery[,] . . . all of the records[,] and
everything.” Trial counsel noted that the description in the progress note differed from
the victim‟s testimony and her other statements. However, trial counsel was not sure
whether, if he had the document prior to trial, he would have used it to impeach the
victim because she could have explained that she “was saying that in a nice way” and that
he was afraid it “may have just reinforced” her testimony.
Trial counsel testified that he advised the Petitioner not to provide an account of
the offense to the presentence report investigator. Trial counsel further testified that he
did not recall the Petitioner‟s sentencing agreement requiring the Petitioner to waive his
right to appeal. Trial counsel did recall talking to the Petitioner and the Petitioner‟s sister
about an appeal. Trial counsel‟s opinion was that there was no basis for an appeal, but he
advised the Petitioner that he “had an absolute right to appeal.” Trial counsel recalled the
Petitioner stating that he did not want to appeal his conviction. However, trial counsel
admitted that his discussion of the issue with the Petitioner “probably was not as
thorough as [it] should have been.”
On April 28, 2015, the post-conviction court entered a written order dismissing the
petition. With respect to the Petitioner‟s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to request a preliminary hearing, the post-conviction court accredited the
testimony of trial counsel that he discussed the issue with the Petitioner and the
Petitioner‟s sister, that they all believed that there was no strategic value in conducting a
preliminary hearing, and that the Petitioner agreed with the decision not to request a
preliminary hearing. The post-conviction court further concluded that there was no
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evidence that the Petitioner was prejudiced by the failure to request a preliminary
hearing.
Regarding the Petitioner‟s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
present evidence of the Petitioner‟s innocence, specifically the progress note, the post-
conviction court concluded that the term “lower back exterior” was “essentially
synonymous” with the term “buttocks”; therefore, the progress note did not contradict the
victim‟s trial testimony. The post-conviction court further concluded that given the
victim‟s numerous consistent statements, the progress note was unlikely to impeach her
testimony.
Regarding the Petitioner‟s claim that trial counsel‟s actions forced him to waive
his right to testify at trial, the post-conviction court accredited the testimony of trial
counsel that the Petitioner did not want to testify at trial and had repeatedly expressed
that to trial counsel. The post-conviction court further noted that the transcript of the
Momon hearing and the written waiver of the right to testify signed by the Petitioner
belied his claims.
Finally, regarding the Petitioner‟s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for
advising the Petitioner to waive his right to appeal, the post-conviction court accredited
the testimony of trial counsel that he discussed the issue with the Petitioner and the
Petitioner‟s sister and that the Petitioner decided not to appeal his conviction. The post-
conviction court also noted that the waiver of appeal document signed by the Petitioner
and the transcript of the sentencing agreement belied the Petitioner‟s claims.
ANALYSIS
The Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred in dismissing his
petition for post-conviction relief. Specifically, the Petitioner argues that trial counsel
was ineffective (1) for failing to “adequately inform” him about “his rights regarding a
preliminary hearing” and failing to request a preliminary hearing; (2) for failing to
impeach the victim with an alleged prior inconsistent statement; (3) for preventing him
from testifying at trial; (4) for failing to sufficiently prepare for the trial, failing to present
any witnesses at trial, and pursuing a “highly questionable” trial strategy; and (5) for
advising him to waive his right to appeal his conviction. The State responds that the
post-conviction court did not err in dismissing the petition. The State further responds
that the Petitioner has waived his claims that trial counsel insufficiently prepared for trial,
did not present any witnesses at trial, and pursued a “high questionable” trial strategy by
failing to include them in his petition or amended petition for post-conviction relief.
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I. Standard of Review
Post-conviction relief is available when a “conviction or sentence is void or
voidable because of the abridgment of any right guaranteed by the Constitution of
Tennessee or the Constitution of the United States.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-103.
Criminal defendants are constitutionally guaranteed the right to effective assistance of
counsel. Dellinger v. State, 279 S.W.3d 282, 293 (Tenn. 2009) (citing U.S. Const.
amend. VI; Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 344 (1980)). When a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel is made under the Sixth Amendment to the United States
Constitution, the burden is on the petitioner to show (1) that counsel‟s performance was
deficient and (2) that the deficiency was prejudicial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 687 (1984); see Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 368-72 (1993).
Deficient performance requires a showing that “counsel‟s representation fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness,” despite the fact that reviewing courts
“must indulge a strong presumption that counsel‟s conduct falls within the wide range of
reasonable professional assistance.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688-89. Prejudice requires
proof of “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel‟s unprofessional errors, the result
of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 694. “Because a petitioner must
establish both prongs of the test, a failure to prove either deficiency or prejudice provides
a sufficient basis to deny relief on the ineffective assistance claim.” Goad v. State, 938
S.W.2d 363, 370 (Tenn. 1996). The Strickland standard has been applied to the right to
counsel under article I, section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution. State v. Melson, 772
S.W.2d 417, 419 n.2 (Tenn. 1989).
The burden in a post-conviction proceeding is on the petitioner to prove his
allegations of fact supporting his grounds for relief by clear and convincing evidence.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-110(f); see Dellinger, 279 S.W.3d at 293-94. On appeal, we
are bound by the post-conviction court‟s findings of fact unless we conclude that the
evidence in the record preponderates against those findings. Fields v. State, 40 S.W.3d
450, 456 (Tenn. 2001). Additionally, “questions concerning the credibility of witnesses,
the weight and value to be given their testimony, and the factual issues raised by the
evidence are to be resolved” by the post-conviction court. Id. Because they relate to
mixed questions of law and fact, we review the post-conviction court‟s conclusions as to
whether counsel‟s performance was deficient and whether that deficiency was prejudicial
under a de novo standard with no presumption of correctness. Id. at 457.
II. Preliminary Hearing
In his post-conviction petitions, the Petitioner alleged that trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to request a preliminary hearing. On appeal, the Petitioner alleges
that trial counsel was ineffective for failing “to adequately inform [him] about his rights
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regarding a preliminary hearing.” Neither argument is persuasive. The post-conviction
court accredited trial counsel‟s testimony that he discussed the preliminary hearing issue
with the Petitioner and the Petitioner‟s sister and that they all came to the conclusion that
they “should probably not go there” over the Petitioner‟s testimony that trial counsel
never discussed the issue with him. Additionally, trial counsel testified that he believed
“that the preliminary hearing would not stop the case from being prosecuted” and could
have been “strategically bad for” the Petitioner. The Petitioner has not presented any
evidence that the waiver of the preliminary hearing affected the outcome of his trial in
any way. Accordingly, we conclude that the Petitioner has failed to demonstrate that he
was prejudiced by trial counsel not requesting a preliminary hearing.
III. Victim’s Prior Statement
On appeal, the Petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
impeach the victim with her statement from the progress note that the Petitioner touched
her “lower back exterior.” However, the Petitioner has failed to establish his factual
allegations regarding this claim by clear and convincing evidence. Trial counsel testified
he was unsure if his office had received the document prior to trial. As such, the
Petitioner has failed to establish that the document was available for use during his trial.
Furthermore, the Petitioner has not established that he was prejudiced given that the
victim could have easily explained that she meant buttocks when she wrote “lower back
exterior” and that the rest of the statement was consistent with her trial testimony and
other prior statements, including the fact that the Petitioner told her that he could “use a
good f--king.” Accordingly, we conclude that this issue is without merit.
IV. Waiver of Right to Testify
The Petitioner argues on appeal that trial counsel prevented him from invoking his
right to testify at trial. However, the post-conviction court accredited trial counsel‟s
testimony that the Petitioner “made it clear that he did not want to testify, that he would
not feel comfortable testifying.” Furthermore, the transcript of the Momon hearing and
his signature on a waiver of his right to testify both belie the Petitioner‟s claims that trial
counsel somehow coerced him into not testifying at trial. Accordingly, we conclude that
this issue is devoid of merit.
V. Remaining Trial Issues
On appeal, the Petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
sufficiently prepare for the trial, failing to present any witnesses at trial, and pursuing a
“highly questionable” trial strategy. However, these issues were not raised in the
Petitioner‟s original pro se petition or his amended petition for post-conviction relief.
“Issues raised for the first time on appeal are considered waived.” State v. Johnson, 970
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S.W.2d 500, 508 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). Furthermore, issues not included in a petition
for post-conviction relief may not be presented on appeal. Cone v. State, 747 S.W.2d
353, 356 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). Accordingly, these issues have been waived.
VI. Waiver of Right to Appeal
The Petitioner argues on appeal that trial counsel was ineffective for advising him
to waive his right to appeal his conviction. A criminal defendant may knowingly and
voluntarily waive his right to appeal. Collins v. State, 670 S.W.2d 219, 221 (Tenn.
1984). When a defendant choses to waive his right to appeal, counsel must file written
waiver of appeal. Tenn. R. Crim. P. 37(d)(2). Here, the trial court accredited trial
counsel‟s testimony that he discussed this issue with the Petitioner and the Petitioner‟s
sister and that Petitioner knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal. Contrary
to the Petitioner‟s testimony that he only signed the waiver document in order to be
placed on probation, the transcript of the sentencing agreement is consistent with trial
counsel‟s testimony that the issue was not brought up until after the Petitioner‟s sentence
had been entered. Furthermore, the Petitioner has failed to allege any potential
arguments he would have pursued on appeal or otherwise demonstrate how he was
prejudiced by the waiver. Accordingly, we conclude that this issue has no merit.
CONCLUSION
Upon consideration of the foregoing and the record as a whole, the judgment of
the post-conviction court is affirmed.
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D. KELLY THOMAS, JR., JUDGE
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