JONATHAN GUTIERREZ, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 5th DCA | 2003-12-05
No. 5D03-3129
SAWAYA, C.J. and THOMPSON, J., concur.
860 So. 2d 1043 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2003) Caution
Cited by 15 cases

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Synopsis

Jonathan Gutierrez appealed the summary denial of his Rule 3.850 motion for postconviction relief following his convictions for attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery. The court affirmed the denial, rejecting his ineffective assistance of counsel claims and a double jeopardy argument because the evidence did not support the relief sought and binding precedent precluded his double jeopardy theory.


Holding

The trial court properly denied Gutierrez's Rule 3.850 motion because: (1) evidence of mental health conditions not rising to legal insanity is inadmissible on the guilt phase, and the voluntary intoxication defense was abolished effective October 1, 1999, before his February 2000 crimes; (2) there was no basis to request a mental health evaluation absent an insanity claim; and (3) Fifth District precedent established that attempted murder and aggravated battery constitute different crimes because attempted murder requires proof an act could result in death, an element not required for aggravated battery.


Headnotes

[1] A defendant must demonstrate both deficient performance and prejudice to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.

[2] A defendant is entitled to an evidentiary hearing on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel only when alleging specific facts not conclusively rebutted by the recor…

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Key Quotes

“To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance, a defendant must first show that counsel's performance was deficient, in that his or her representation fell below the objective standard of reasonableness based on prevailing norms. Second, the defendant must demonstrate prejudice by showing that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the results of the proceeding would have been different.”

Establishes the two-prong Strickland test for ineffective assistance of counsel claims.

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Facts & Procedural History

Gutierrez was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. He claimed his counsel was ineffective for…

The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.

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Opinion of the Court
ORFINGER, J.

ORFINGER, J.

Jonathan Gutierrez appeals the summary denial of his amended motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Gutierrez was tried and convicted of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. His convictions and sentences were affirmed. See Gutierrez v. State, 785 So. 2d 498 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001), review dismissed, 807 So. 2d 653 (Fla.2002).1 We affirm.

Gutierrez’s amended Rule 3.850 motion asserts six grounds for relief, the first three alleging ineffective assistance of trial counsel. There is a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable performance. See Lawrence v. State, 831 So. 2d 121 (Fla.2002), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 926, 123 S.Ct. 1575, 155 L.Ed.2d 319 (2003). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance, a defendant must first show that counsel’s performance was deficient, in that his or her representation fell below the objective standard of reasonableness based on prevailing norms. Second, the defendant must demonstrate prejudice by showing that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the results of the proceeding would have been different. See Jones v. State, 845 So. 2d 55, 65 (Fla.2003).

A defendant is only entitled to an evidentiary hearing when he or she alleges specific facts which are not conclusively rebutted by the record, and, which demonstrate a deficiency in performance which prejudiced the defense. Mere conclusory allegations are insufficient. Id. However, a defendant’s factual allegations must be presumed true when reviewing a summary denial. See Floyd v. State, 808 So. 2d 175, 182 (Fla.2002).

In his first claim, Gutierrez alleges that his counsel was ineffective for failing to fully investigate and develop evidence of his mental health problems, including a severe drug problem, depression, and a history of suicide attempts, despite being made aware of these matters. Gutierrez claims that if counsel had investigated these matters, “other alternatives besides self-defense could have been available to the judge and jury.”

Gutierrez admits that his counsel deposed three witnesses who detailed his drug problems as well as his mental and emotional difficulties. Another witness testified that he, the victim and Gutierrez had been smoking mariguana the night of the incident, but that the victim had not been aggressive. Gutierrez testified at trial that he had used marijuana the day of the incident and had a drug problem. He also testified that the victim attacked him and that he acted in self-defense.

Gutierrez also details his history of mental health problems and treatment. He claims that counsel should have presented evidence regarding his mental health and should have argued that as a result of paranoia, he perceived the need to defend himself. He further contends that his counsel should have raised his mental problems at sentencing for purposes of mitigation. However, he admits that the sentencing judge knew of his drug problems and had received numerous letters supporting him.

As the trial court correctly observed in its order denying relief, Gutierrez did not claim that he was insane at the time of the crimes. Consequently, evidence of his mental health history was inadmissible with respect to the issue of his guilt. See Spencer v. State, 842 So. 2d 52, 63 (Fla.2003) (stating that evidence of most mental conditions is too misleading to be allowed in the guilt phase, so counsel’s failure to present such evidence was not ineffective); Chestnut v. State, 538 So. 2d 820, 825 (Fla.1989) (stating that evidence of impaired mental condition, which does not rise to definition of insanity, is not admissible to show defendant could not form necessary specific intent). Evidence of an abnormal mental condition not constituting legal insanity is inadmissible to negate specific intent.

The trial court also correctly noted that, effective October 1, 1999, the defense of voluntary intoxication was abolished. See § 775.051, Fla. Stat. (2000). Gutierrez’s crimes occurred in February, 2000, after the defense was eliminated. Therefore, Gutierrez’s drug use was not available as a defense, so counsel was not ineffective for failing to present evidence regarding Gutierrez’s drug use.

Gutierrez’s second claim of ineffective assistance is similar to his first claim. He alleges that his counsel was ineffective for failing to obtain a mental health evaluation. However, Gutierrez does not allege that he was insane at the time of the crime or that he told counsel he was insane. Consequently, there was no basis to request such an evaluation. See also Mills v. State, 603 So. 2d 482, 486 (Fla.1992) (competency is not an issue in every case); cf. Patton v. State, 784 So. 2d 380, 387-88 (Fla.2000) (finding that hearing required on claim of ineffectiveness for failing to pursue insanity defense where there was ample evidence to suggest defendant was insane when he committed murder, including fact he had previously been adjudicated insane).

In his third ineffective assistance claim, Gutierrez argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to a violation of his double jeopardy rights. Gutierrez was charged with attempted first-degree murder with a weapon and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm but was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery. Gutierrez argues that his counsel should have objected to the fact that he was convicted of two offenses arising from a single act. Gutierrez relies on Gresham v. State, 725 So. 2d 419 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999), in which the defendant was similarly charged and convicted, and the court held that under Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932), the two convictions were prohibited because the information and the evidence established that the battery was a lesser included offense of the attempted murder. See also Florida v. State, 855 So. 2d 109 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).

In denying Gutierrez relief, the trial court properly recognized that it was bound by the contrary precedent from this court. In Schirmer v. State, 837 So. 2d 587 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003), the defendant was convicted of attempted second-degree murder with a weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon or causing great harm. Both convictions were based on the defendant stabbing the victim with a knife. In concluding that no double jeopardy violation occurred, this court held that the elements of the two crimes were different because attempted murder requires proof of an act that could have resulted in death, which is not an element required for aggravated battery. See also McKowen v. State, 792 So. 2d 1251 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001) (holding that convictions for battery on a police officer and attempted second-degree murder based on attack with knife did not violate double jeopardy).

Gutierrez’s other claims were properly denied because they are procedurally barred or lack merit. See generally Johnson v. State, 769 So. 2d 990, 1005 (Fla.2000).

The order denying Gutierrez’s amended motion for postconviction relief is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.

SAWAYA, C.J. and THOMPSON, J., concur. . Because Gutierrez's rule 3.850 motion was denied without an evidentiary hearing, his brief was required to be filed within fifteen days of the filing of the notice of appeal. See Fla. R.App. P. 9.141(b)(1)(C). Although Gutierrez's brief was untimely, we have considered it carefully.


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  • Javarus Morgan v. State, 911 So. 2d 162 (Fla. 3d DCA 2005)
    …aims that his attorney “misadvised him of the DNA evidence and the fingerprints.” The trial court properly denied this claim as the defendant’s failure to specify what “misad-vice” he received was insufficient as a matter of law. Gutierrez v. State, 860 So. 2d 1043, 1044 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003)(“A defendant is only entitled to an evidentiary hearing when he or she alleges specific facts which are not conclusively rebutted by the record, and, which demonstrate a deficiency in performance which prejudiced the defens…
  • Newell v. State, 935 So. 2d 83 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006)
    …attempted voluntary manslaughter. See § 775.021(4) Fla. Stat. (2001). See also Bradley v. State, 901 So. 2d 924 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); Davis v. State, 892 So. 2d 1084 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004), review dismissed, 894 So. 2d 969 (Fla.2005); Gutierrez v. State, 860 So. 2d 1043 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003), review denied, 906 So. 2d 1058 (Fla.2005). The issue involving the convictions for two counts of sexual battery is governed by the principles announced by this court in Cabrera v. State, 884 So. 2d 482 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004). The…
  • Nasieve Bradley v. State, 901 So. 2d 924 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005)
    …Court in State v. Florida, 894 So. 2d 941 (Fla.2005), we conclude that because each offense has an element distinct from the other, and one offense is not a “degree variant” of the other, double jeopardy is not offended. See also Gutierrez v. State, 860 So. 2d 1043 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003); Schirmer v. State, 837 So. 2d 587 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003). AFFIRMED. SHARP, W. and GRIFFIN, JJ„ concur. . §§ 782.04(1)(a)1., 775.087(1), 775.087(2)(a)3., and 777.04, Fla. Stat. (2003). . §§ 784.045(1)(a)1., 775.087(1), and 775.0…

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