Thomas v. State

679 S.W.3d 550

Johnny M. THOMAS, Appellant,

v.STATE of Missouri, Respondent.

No. ED 111245

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, DIVISION ONE.

Filed: November 21, 2023

Appeal from the Circuit Court of St. Charles County, Honorable Michael J. Fagras, Judge

FOR APPELLANT: Gwenda R. Robinson, Missouri Public Defender’s Office, 1010 Market Street, Suite 1100, St. Louis, Missouri 63101.

FOR RESPONDENT: Alex D. Beezley, Assistant Attorney General, PO Box 899, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.

Philip M. Hess, Judge

Introduction

Johnny M. Thomas ("Movant") appeals the motion court’s judgment after it overruled his amended Rule 24.035 post-conviction relief motion following an evidentiary hearing.¹ In his sole point on appeal, Movant alleges the motion court clearly erred in overruling his amended motion finding his plea counsel ("Counsel") was not ineffective for failing to advise him he could proceed to trial with the viable defense he was guilty of first-degree child molestation rather than plead guilty to attempted first-degree statutory rape because there was no evidence of penetration or attempted penetration to support his conviction. Because Movant did not carry his burden of proving Counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him of this defense, we deny Point I. We affirm.

Factual and Procedural History

In September 2018, Movant was indicted on one count of first-degree statutory rape for knowingly having sexual intercourse with [Victim], a child less than twelve years old. Victim was nine years old at the time of the offense. Victim’s mother told police she walked in on the assault and saw Movant penetrating Victim. Victim gave a forensic interview in which she stated Movant’s penis "went into a hole." Movant told police his penis was "trying to go in" at the time of the assault.

On September 16, 2019, the State filed a substitute indictment alleging Movant committed one count of attempted first-degree statutory rape when he knowingly attempted to have sexual intercourse with Victim. That same day, Movant filed a petition to enter a guilty plea. The petition included several statements, which Movant indicated his agreement with by his signature at the bottom of each page. Movant indicated, "My attorney has explained to me the nature of each charge, any lesser included charge(s), and all possible defenses that I might have in this case." Movant also indicated, "I am satisfied with my attorney’s services" and "I have no complaints whatsoever about my attorney’s services on my case."

At the plea hearing addressing the factual basis for his plea, Movant stated, "I rubbed my penis on her vagina and attempted to have sexual intercourse." Counsel testified she reviewed all defenses with Movant.

At the sentencing hearing, the plea court noted Movant made inconsistent statements in his sentencing assessment report on whether he committed the offense. After discussing additional details of the sentencing assessment report, the plea court sentenced Movant to twenty years’ imprisonment. After pronouncing the sentence, the plea court questioned Movant about Counsel’s performance. Movant stated Counsel did everything he required of her, she investigated and explained his case, and she shared discovery with him.

On January 17, 2020, Movant timely filed his pro se Rule 24.035 motion for post-conviction relief. The motion court appointed counsel ("initial counsel") who did not file an amended motion. In the spring of 2021, substitute postconviction counsel ("substitute counsel") entered her appearance and moved to seek a finding initial counsel abandoned Movant and requesting counsel be reappointed so an amended motion could be filed on Movant’s behalf. The motion court sustained the motion. Substitute counsel filed a timely amended motion, raising two claims of ineffective assistance of counsel alleging Counsel: (1) failed to investigate and advise Movant of the defense there was no penetration or attempted penetration and (2) failed to advise Movant of the defense he was guilty of first-degree child molestation instead of attempted first-degree statutory rape because there was "merely surface-level touching" and no penetration or attempted penetration. The motion court granted Movant an evidentiary hearing on these claims.

Movant and Counsel testified at the evidentiary hearing. After the evidentiary hearing, the motion court issued its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment finding Movant not credible and overruling Movant’s amended motion. Movant appeals.

Standard of Review

[1–3] This Court’s review of a Rule 24.035 post-conviction relief motion is "limited to a determination of whether the findings and conclusions of the trial court are clearly erroneous." Rule 24.035(k). "A motion court’s findings are presumed correct, and we will overturn the ruling only if we are left with a definite and firm impression that a mistake has been made." James v. State, 462 S.W.3d 891, 893 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015) (quoting Nichols v. State, 409 S.W.3d 566, 569 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013)). Movant must prove claims "by a preponderance of the evidence." Rule 24.035(i). When reviewing the record, "[t]his Court defers to the motion court’s determination of witness credibility, as it is in a superior position to evaluate such." Lusk v. State, 655 S.W.3d 230, 235 (Mo. App. E.D. 2022) (quoting Porter v. State, 575 S.W.3d 731, 736 (Mo. App. E.D. 2019)). "The motion court is not required to believe the testimony of the movant or any other witness, even if uncontradicted …." Id. (quoting Smith v. State, 413 S.W.3d 709, 715 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013)).

[4] When raising an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the movant must allege facts, not refuted by the record, showing "counsel’s performance did not conform to the degree of skill, care and diligence of a reasonably competent attorney," resulting in prejudice to the movant. Jackson v. State, 660 S.W.3d 679, 682 (Mo. App. E.D. 2023) (quoting Matthews v. State, 175 S.W.3d 110, 113 (Mo. banc 2005)); see also Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Prejudice exists where the movant shows, "but for counsel’s ineffective assistance, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on taking his case to trial." Jackson, 660 S.W.3d at 682 (quoting Taylor v. State, 456 S.W.3d 528, 534 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015)). "If the movant fails to satisfy either the performance prong or the prejudice prong, we need not consider the other." Lusk, 655 S.W.3d at 234 (quoting Farr v. State, 408 S.W.3d 320, 322 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013)). "Where there is a plea of guilty, a claim of ineffective assistance of plea counsel is immaterial ‘except to the extent that the conduct affected the voluntariness and knowledge with which the plea was made.’" Id. (quoting Worthington v. State, 166 S.W.3d 566, 573 (Mo. banc 2005)).

Discussion

Point I: Viable Defense Party Positions

In his sole point on appeal, Movant alleges the motion court clearly erred in overruling his amended motion finding Counsel was not ineffective for failing to advise him he could proceed to trial with the viable defense he was guilty of first- degree child molestation rather than plead guilty to attempted first-degree statutory rape.² Movant argues because there was no evidence of penetration or attempted penetration of Victim’s vagina, Counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him of the viable defense theory he committed first-degree child molestation rather than attempted first-degree statutory rape. Movant also argues the motion court’s finding Counsel testified she had not considered or advised Movant about presenting this lesser-included offense defense theory because Counsel did not believe it would be successful at trial was not supported by her evidentiary hearing testimony. Movant also urges this Court to reject the motion court’s credibility determination regarding his testimony because the record supports he is entitled to relief on this claim.

The State argues the motion court did not clearly err in denying relief on this claim because Movant failed to meet his burden of proving Counsel was ineffective given Movant’s guilty plea petition, Movant’s sentencing hearing testimony, and testimony adduced at the evidentiary hearing. The State further argues Movant failed to carry his burden of demonstrating he was prejudiced by Counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness.

Analysis

[5] Movant argues Counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him of the viability of proceeding to trial to assert he was guilty of first-degree child molestation rather than entering his guilty plea to attempted first-degree statutory rape because there was no evidence of penetration or attempted penetration. "It is counsel’s basic duty ‘to discuss the circumstances and possible consequences of entering a plea in order to ensure that the defendant makes an informed and intelligent decision about waiving the right to a trial.’" Lusk, 655 S.W.3d at 234 (quoting Wiggins v. State, 480 S.W.3d 379, 383 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015)). "Plea counsel’s failure to inform the movant of the relevant and viable defense to the charges filed against the movant may negate the knowing entry of a guilty plea." Id. (quoting Rueger v. State, 498 S.W.3d 538, 543 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016)). A plea may also be rendered unknowing and involuntary if plea counsel fails to advise a movant of possible lesser-included offenses. Id. at 235.

This Court initially addresses Movant’s request to disregard the motion court’s determination his testimony was not credible because "in isolated instances" appellate courts have rejected credibility determinations. Movant relies on Stats v. Ivy, 869 S.W.2d 297, 301 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994) and Masden v. State, 62 S.W.3d 661, 667–68 (Mo. App, W.D. 2001), which are distinguishable because those eases involved rejecting credibility determinations made without an evidentiary hearing. Here, the motion court found Movant’s testimony he lied under...