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Case No. 19-1520

Andrew Faulkner
v.
State of Iowa

Appellant

Andrew Faulkner

Appellee

State of Iowa

Attorney for the Appellant

Mark C. Meyer

Attorney for the Appellee

Sharon K. Hall, Assistant Attorney General

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
19-1520
Date Published:
Jan 21, 2021
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Butler County, James M. Drew, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Mullins and Greer, JJ.  Opinion by Greer, J.  (14 pages)

            Andrew Faulkner appeals the denial of his request for postconviction relief, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel.  OPINION HOLDS: We agree with the district court that trial counsel did not render ineffective assistance in advising Faulkner to enter Alford guilty pleas.  The record shows Faulkner understood the plea agreement and voluntarily entered into the Alford guilty pleas to avoid the risks of a trial.  Faulkner has not demonstrated that providing more detailed information about the nature and elements of the charges would have swayed him to take his case to trial.  Thus, we affirm his conviction and sentence. 

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