Anu White v. Commonwealth of Kentucky

RENDERED: AUGUST 25, 2023; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2022-CA-0179-MR

ANU WHITE APPELLANT

APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE MARY M. SHAW, JUDGE ACTION NOS. 14-CR-003257 AND 14-CR-003257-004

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE

OPINION AFFIRMING

** ** ** ** ** BEFORE: COMBS, MCNEILL, AND TAYLOR, JUDGES. MCNEILL, JUDGE: In 2017, Appellant, Anu White (White), was convicted of first-degree robbery (complicity). He was found not guilty of murder. Prior to his sentencing phase of trial, White entered a conditional plea, wherein he agreed to waive his right to a jury-sentencing phase, and his right to appeal any trial issues. The Commonwealth recommended a sentence of twelve years’ imprisonment, which was imposed by the trial court. Nearly three years later, White filed a pro se Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to RCr1 11.42. The primary allegation here is that he pleaded guilty because of ineffective assistance of counsel. The court denied White’s request for RCr 11.42 relief. He appeals to this Court as a matter of right. For the following reasons, we affirm.

A successful petition for relief under RCr 11.42 for ineffective assistance of counsel must survive the twin prongs of “performance” and “prejudice” provided in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984); accord Gall v. Commonwealth, 702 S.W.2d 37, 39-40 (Ky. 1985). As to the second Strickland prong, the defendant has the duty to “affirmatively prove prejudice.” Id. at 693. In the context of a guilty plea:

A conclusory allegation to the effect that absent the error the movant would have insisted upon a trial is not enough. The movant must allege facts that, if proven, would support a conclusion that the decision to reject the plea bargain and go to trial would have been rational, e.g., valid defenses, a pending suppression motion that could undermine the prosecution’s case, or the realistic potential for a lower sentence.

Stiger v. Commonwealth, 381 S.W.3d 230, 237 (Ky. 2012) (citations and footnote omitted).

[W]hen reviewing a trial court’s findings of fact following an RCr 11.42 evidentiary hearing, an appellate court utilizes the clearly erroneous standard set forth in Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (CR) 52.01. Findings of fact are not clearly erroneous if supported by

1 Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure.

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substantial evidence. Even though claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are subject to de novo review, a reviewing court should defer to the determination of facts made by the trial judge.

Saylor v. Commonwealth, 357 S.W.3d 567, 570-71 (Ky. App. 2012) (citations omitted). With these standards in mind, we now return to the record and arguments at issue here.

White contends that the jury was presented with an erroneous facilitation to robbery instruction. The Commonwealth does not dispute this. But for this erroneous instruction, White claims that he would not have accepted the sentencing plea agreement. However, in denying White’s RCr 11.42 petition, the circuit court correctly concluded that the jury did not consider the tendered facilitation instruction, because it found White guilty under the preceding complicity instruction. White does not take issue with the complicity instruction, which concluded with the admonition, “[I]f you do not find Anu White guilty under this instruction, proceed to Instruction 2a [facilitation].” Therefore, because White cannot “affirmatively prove prejudice” pursuant to Strickland, we need not address trial counsel’s “performance.” Accordingly, we AFFIRM.

ALL CONCUR.

-3-BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

Jacquelyn Bryant-Hayes Daniel Cameron LaGrange, Kentucky Attorney General of Kentucky

REPLY BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: Thomas A. Van De Rostyne Assistant Attorney General Kara Stinson Lewis Frankfort, Kentucky LaGrange, Kentucky

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