Eric Damon O'Farrell v. State of Mississippi
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 96-CA-00768-SCT
ERIC DAMON O'FARRELL
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND MAY NOT BE CITED,
PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-A
DATE OF JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
06/27/96
HON. JERRY OWEN TERRY, SR.
HANCOCK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
PRO SE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: PAT FLYNN
CONO CARANNA
CIVIL - POST CONVICTION RELIEF
AFFIRMED. - 12/08/97
12/31/97
BEFORE SULLIVAN, P.J., SMITH AND MILLS, JJ.
SULLIVAN, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
Eric O'Farrell was indicted by the Hancock County Grand Jury during the January, 1993 Term for the
murder of Barry Poyadou on or about December 13, 1992, in violation of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-319(1)(a) (1972). On May 17, 1993, O'Farrell signed a petition to enter guilty plea on the reduced
charge of manslaughter. Circuit Court Judge Jerry O. Terry sentenced O'Farrell to twenty years
imprisonment in an order dated May 17, 1993, finding that O'Farrell's guilty plea was entered
knowingly and voluntarily, and that there was a factual basis for the guilty plea. O'Farrell filed his
Petition to Vacate Guilty Plea/Set Aside Conviction (hereinafter PCR motion), alleging that he
entered his guilty plea upon erroneous advice from counsel, and that he did not receive effective
assistance of counsel. Judge Terry denied O'Farrell's PCR motion in an order dated September 15,
1994. On September 18, 1995, O'Farrell filed a Petition for Out of Time Appeal In Forma Pauperis,
reasserting his original post conviction relief claims. He subsequently filed a Supplemental Motion in
support of this petition. In a later motion, O'Farrell asserted that his reason for not filing a timely
appeal from the trial court's denial of post conviction relief was that he was unaware of his right to
appeal.
O'Farrell apparently filed a petition for writ of mandamus with this Court, requesting an order for the
trial court to enter a ruling on his petition for out of time appeal. Judge Terry filed a Reply to Petition
for Writ of Mandamus with this Court dated June 27, 1996, asserting that O'Farrell's petition for out
of time appeal was without merit. Mistaking this reply as an order denying his petition, O'Farrell filed
a notice of appeal from the June 27, 1996, "order." On August 22, 1996, Judge Terry finally did enter
his order denying O'Farrell's petition for out of time appeal in forma pauperis. This Court remanded
the order for compliance with the requirement of outlining reasons for the denial of pauper status. On
remand, Judge Terry granted O'Farrell's petition for out of time appeal in forma pauperis in an order
dated November 20, 1996. Although the record does not contain a notice of appeal from the
September 15, 1994, order denying post conviction relief, this Court now sits in a position to review
Judge Terry's original denial of post conviction relief through the lower court's granting of an out of
time appeal.
STATEMENT OF THE LAW
I.
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DENYING PETITIONER'S PCR MOTION UPON
GROUNDS OF UNKNOWING, INVOLUNTARY GUILTY PLEA DUE TO INEFFECTIVE
ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL?
O'Farrell asserts that his guilty plea was rendered involuntary and unknowing due to his attorney's
deficient performance. He alleges that he shot his wife's brother-in-law, Barry Poyadou, in order to
protect himself and his family when Poyadou attacked him in O'Farrell's home. He claims that he
intended to scare Poyadou off with a warning shot, but instead accidentally hit Poyadou in the
shoulder. Then, when Poyadou continued to attack him, he states that he shot him again for fear that
Poyadou would overtake him and gain control of the gun. O'Farrell maintains that he acted in self
defense and therefore was innocent of all charges. He argues that because his attorney failed to
properly inform him of his rights, prepare adequately for trial, or file pre-trial motions, he was
coerced into pleading guilty.
In Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969), the United States Supreme Court held that reversible
error occurs where the trial court record does not reflect that the defendant voluntarily and
knowingly entered a guilty plea. Boykin, 395 U.S. at 242-44. For a plea to be knowing and
voluntary, the record must reflect that the accused has been advised of his right to counsel, right
against self-incrimination, right to trial by jury, and right to confront adverse witnesses. Id. In order
to make a successful argument for ineffective assistance of counsel, the criminal defendant must show
that 1) his attorney's performance was deficient, and 2) that but for the attorney's deficiency, the
outcome of the proceedings would have been different. Wiley v. State, 517 So.2d 1373, 1378 (Miss.
1987) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)). The Strickland test also applies
to the challenge of a guilty plea based upon ineffective assistance. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58
(1985). Trial counsel has a duty to reasonably investigate the law and facts of the case to prepare
adequately for trial. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690-91; Ferguson v. State, 507 So.2d 94, 96 (Miss.
1987); Turner v. State, 383 So.2d 489, 493 (Miss. 1980) (Bowling, J. dissenting); Martin v. State,
312 So.2d 5, 6 (Miss. 1975). Failure by counsel to adequately advise the criminal defendant of his
rights is sufficient to prove ineffective assistance of counsel. Nelson v. State, 626 So.2d 121, 127
(Miss. 1993).
The State responds by asserting that O'Farrell fails to state a reason for granting an out of time
appeal. However, this assertion is based upon a misconception that O'Farrell appeals to this Court
from an order denying his request for an out of time appeal. The trial court has already granted
O'Farrell leave to file an out of time appeal, so this argument is ineffectual.
The State otherwise contends that because O'Farrell has failed to include the plea hearing transcript in
the record before this Court, we must assume that Judge Terry's acceptance of O'Farrell's guilty plea
was proper. The State cites Smith v. State, 572 So.2d 847 (Miss. 1990), in support of its contention.
In Smith, we accepted the argument in the State's brief that, "The result of appellant's failure to
present a full record here is that the presumption of correctness stands unrebutted--appellant fails to
carry his burden of proof." Smith, 572 So.2d at 849. The appellant carries the duty of providing this
Court with the trial court record. Id. (citing Walker v. Jones County Community Hospital, 253
So.2d 385 (Miss.1971)).
O'Farrell responds to this argument by pointing out that it is unfair to place the burden of producing
an adequate record upon inmates without assistance of counsel or adequate funds. Inmates filing pro
se appeals from the denial of post conviction relief generally have little or no knowledge of the
appellate process. It is seemingly unjust to place procedural requirements upon them and summarily
dismiss their appeals for failure to comply with these requirements. However, as the law currently
stands, the State is correct in its position that we cannot find trial court error without the benefit of
the trial court record.
Even taking his statement of facts as true, O'Farrell could at least have been convicted of
manslaughter under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-31 (1994) (unnecessary killing of another while resisting
such other's attempt to commit a felony), § 97-3-35 (heat of passion manslaughter), or § 97-3-47
(every other homicide not otherwise defined being manslaughter). His contention of innocence,
therefore, is without merit. The petition to enter guilty plea reveals that O'Farrell was at least given
notice of his rights and the minimum and maximum penalties for manslaughter by signing the petition.
However, this Court has stated:
It is not enough to ask an accused whether counsel has explained his constitutional rights. Nor
is a standardized petition to enter a plea sufficient standing alone. The court must go further and
determine in a face-to-face exchange in open court that the accused knows and understands the
rights to which he is entitled.
Nelson, 626 So.2d at 126 (citing Wilson v. State, 577 So.2d 394, 397-398 (Miss. 1991)). Without
the benefit of a trial transcript or supporting affidavits, this Court has no basis for determining
whether O'Farrell's claims of involuntary guilty plea and ineffective assistance of counsel are true.
CONCLUSION
Although O'Farrell makes a convincing argument for shifting the burden of producing a sufficient
record on appeal, current law places that burden on the appellant. Without the plea hearing transcript
or supporting affidavits, we cannot make a competent ruling on O'Farrell's claims of involuntary
guilty plea and ineffective assistance of counsel. We therefore affirm the lower court's decision in this
case.
LOWER COURT'S DENIAL OF POST CONVICTION RELIEF AFFIRMED.
LEE, C.J., PRATHER, P.J., PITTMAN, BANKS, ROBERTS, SMITH AND MILLS, JJ.,
CONCUR. McRAE, J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.
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