Cotner (David) v. State

by specific factual allegations that, if true and not repelled by the record, would entitle him to relief. Hargrove v. State, 100 Nev. 498, 502, 686 P.2d 222, 225 (1984). First, appellant claimed that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate, call an expert witness to rebut, and object to the testimony of the State's witness that wires had been cut from the utility pull box where a photograph of the pull box allegedly did not show any cut wires. Appellant failed to demonstrate deficiency or prejudice. Appellant did not state on what grounds counsel could have objected to the witness's testimony. Further, even if one of the three photographs of the pull box admitted at trial did not show cut wires, appellant was silent as to what the other two depicted and the State's witness testified that the street light was inoperative because the wires had been cut. Appellant thus failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel challenged the witness's testimony regarding what the photograph depicted. We therefore conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim. Second, appellant claimed that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the dollar amount of the damage appellant caused, because had counsel done so, appellant may have been convicted only of a misdemeanor instead of a felony. Appellant failed to demonstrate deficiency or prejudice. Appellant was charged with cutting wires from two utility pull boxes, and the State's witness estimated the total damage from the two acts to be $1,960. Appellant, who was convicted of damaging one of the pull boxes, failed to demonstrate that the amount of damage for the single pull box would be below the $500 felony threshold. See NRS SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 2 (0) 1947A 4(11Z1)-4 202.582(2). We therefore conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim. Finally, appellant claimed that counsel was ineffective• for failing to challenge the restitution amount of $10,346, which was clearly for damage to multiple locations but where appellant was convicted of damaging only one location. Appellant's claim was repelled by the record as counsel did object to the restitution amount. However, appellant stated that he did not want to delay the sentencing hearing and, against the advice of counsel, stipulated to the $10,346 restitution amount. We therefore conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that appellant's claims were without merit, and we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED. J. Hardesty 1D-o L9(M J. Douglas J. cc: Hon. Valorie J. Vega, District Judge David Michael Cotner Attorney General/Carson City Clark County District Attorney Eighth District Court Clerk SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 3 (0) 1947A