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:
Date Published:
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.