Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

233 Neb. 839

State v. Portsche

Nebraska Supreme Court

Decided November 22, 1989

Nebraska Supreme Court · decided 1989-11-22

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently September 1996

2 state decisions

Relies on State v. Kitt · State v. Broomhall · State v. Wiley

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1989-11-22

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

White, J.

¶1This is an appeal from an order denying postconviction relief by the district court for Lancaster County.

¶2A single ground was urged in the district court and is again asserted in this court, i.e., the appellant was denied effective assistance of counsel when retained counsel failed to timely file a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court after the district court imposed a sentence on August 22, 1988. The trial court, after a hearing, denied any relief. We affirm.

¶3Appellant pled guilty to a violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 39-669.07 (Reissue 1988), operation of a motor vehicle while *840the operator’s license was suspended for 15 years, a Class IV felony. As part of a plea bargain a number of misdemeanor charges were dismissed, the record indicating at least three. The court sentenced appellant to a term of from 12 to 18 months in the penal complex, with credit for 9 days’ jail time.

¶4No complaint was made in the district court or this court about any deficiency in the performance of counsel. The appellant, however, asserts that he was “shocked” by the sentence.

¶5At the postconviction hearing, appellant asserted that retained counsel promised to timely file a notice of appeal, but did not do so. However, he conceded that at a later meeting retained counsel stated that an appeal would be frivolous and that he would not represent appellant on appeal.

¶6Trial counsel also testified that he informed appellant that he would not represent him on appeal, that in his opinion an appeal was frivolous, and that he was never instructed, nor did he promise, to file an appeal. He further instructed appellant, should he determine to appeal, how to address the court for appointment of counsel on appeal, proceeding in forma pauperis, and about the necessity of filing the notice of appeal within 30 days of the date of sentence.

¶7The trial court resolved the factual dispute against the appellant, and this alone requires an affirmance, as we are bound by the factual findings in a postconviction proceeding having support in the record. State v. Wiley, 232 Neb. 642, 441 N.W.2d 629 (1989). It should also be noted that a sentence within the bounds of the statute will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Kitt, 232 Neb. 237, 440 N.W.2d 234 (1989).

¶8As the only error that could have been raised on appeal was the alleged excessiveness of the sentence, and considering the extensive history of driving offenses (at least 28 contacts), it is obvious that appellant cannot demonstrate that any prejudice was suffered by any alleged claim of incompetent counsel. See State v. Broomhall, 227 Neb. 341, 417 N.W.2d 349 (1988).

¶9The trial court correctly denied the appellant’s claim for postconviction relief.

¶10Affirmed.

/233/neb/839 · .json · Public domain