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Stephen Craig Leonard
v.
State of Iowa
Appellant
Stephen Craig Leonard
Appellee
State of Iowa
Attorney for the Appellant
Elizabeth K. Elsten
Attorney for the Appellee
Israel Kodiaga, Assistant Attorney General
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Clay County, Don E. Courtney, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., and Ahlers and Chicchelly, JJ. Opinion by Chicchelly, J. (7 pages)
Stephen Leonard appeals the district court’s denial of his application for postconviction relief (PCR), contending his trial counsel was ineffective in advising him to waive trial by a jury, in failing to secure an expert witness, and in failing to depose one of the State’s witnesses. OPINION HOLDS: Because Leonard failed to prove either breach of an essential duty by his trial counsel nor prejudice, we find he did not establish ineffective assistance of counsel and affirm the district court’s denial of Leonard’s PCR application.
