Ex Parte Amir Tavakkoli

In The

Court of Appeals
Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
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NO. 09-13-00082-CR
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EX PARTE AMIR TAVAKKOLI

________________________________________________________________________

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 1
Montgomery County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 12-26808
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MEMORANDUM OPINION

This is an appeal from the trial court’s denial of an application for writ of

habeas corpus in which Amir Tavakkoli, a legal resident alien, alleged that trial

counsel was ineffective for failing to properly advise him of the immigration

consequences of his guilty plea. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.09 (West

2005). We affirm the trial court’s order denying Tavakkoli’s application for writ

of habeas corpus.

I. BACKGROUND

Appellant, Amir Tavakkoli, was born in Iran on July 10, 1988. He moved

to the United States in 2002 and became a legal permanent resident. On December
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8, 2006, Tavakkoli was arrested for reckless driving. After he was placed in

custody, the arresting officer conducted an inventory of the car and found drug

paraphernalia and marijuana. Tavakkoli was charged with reckless driving and

possession of marijuana. At the time of his arrest, he was an eighteen-year-old

college student. On December 11, 2006, Tavakkoli was appointed legal counsel.

On December 15, 2006, appointed counsel met with Tavakkoli during the jail

docket. On the same day, Tavakkoli pled guilty to possession of marijuana in

exchange for a twenty-day jail sentence and dismissal of the reckless driving

charge. After serving his twenty-day sentence, he was released.

In July 2012, Tavakkoli left the United States to attend a family wedding in

Sweden. Upon his return to the United States, he was denied reentry because of

his 2006 guilty plea to possession of marijuana. In January 2013, Tavakkoli filed

an application for writ of habeas corpus under article 11.09 of the Texas Code of

Criminal Procedure alleging that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of

counsel by failing to advise him of the immigration consequences of pleading

guilty to the drug possession charge in 2006. At the time of the filing of his

application for habeas relief, Tavakkoli was a second-year law student working at

the Texas House of Representatives as a Texas Legislature Intern. After a hearing,

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the trial court denied Tavakkoli’s application for writ of habeas corpus and filed

findings of fact and conclusions of law. This appeal followed.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A trial court’s decision to grant or deny relief on a writ of habeas corpus is

reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. Ex parte Klem, 269 S.W.3d 711,

718 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2008, pet. ref’d). In reviewing the trial court’s

decision, we review the facts in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling

and afford almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of historical

facts supported by the record, especially when the trial court’s findings of fact are

based on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id. We apply this deferential

standard of review regardless of whether the trial court’s findings are explicit or

implied, or based on affidavits or live testimony. Ex parte Fassi, 388 S.W.3d 881,

886 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.). When the resolution of the

raised issue turns on an application of legal standards, we review the trial court’s

determination de novo. Id. To obtain habeas relief an applicant must prove his

allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. Id.

III. ANALYSIS

In his application for habeas corpus, Tavakkoli alleged that his appointed

counsel failed to advise him of the immigration consequences prior to him entering

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a guilty plea. Tavakkoli’s affidavit was attached to his application for habeas relief.

In his affidavit, Tavakkoli asserted that while in the Montgomery County Jail

following his arrest, he learned that he could not be released on bond because of an

immigration hold. Tavakkoli stated that when he met with his trial counsel during

the jail docket, he informed counsel that he was not able to bond out because of an

immigration hold even though he was a legal permanent resident. Tavakkoli

testified that he had college final exams coming up, and he was nervous he would

not be able to take them. According to Tavakkoli, counsel stated, “‘as long as you

are here legally don’t worry about it.’” In addition, Tavakkoli stated that counsel

did not advise him in any way that he “would be deported, removed, or

inadmissible to the United States upon reentry if [he] plead guilty to possession of

marijuana.” Tavakkoli alleged that counsel told him he could “‘get out of jail today

or tomorrow’ in exchange for a plea of guilty to the possession of marijuana

charge; and further that the reckless driving charge would be dismissed.’”

According to Tavakkoli, no other consequences were disclosed. In his application

for writ of habeas corpus, Tavakkoli argued that under Padilla v. Kentucky, his

attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel. See 559 U.S. 356 (2010).

On appeal, Tavakkoli argues that his guilty plea was involuntary and

unknowing, and that counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him of the

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potential immigration consequences of his plea, by giving him affirmative

misadvice, and by encouraging him to plead guilty though plausible defenses could

have been pursued.1

A. Ineffective Assistance under Padilla

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees a

defendant effective assistance of counsel in a plea hearing. Ex parte Harrington,

310 S.W.3d 452, 458 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). In Padilla, the United States

Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment requires that the defense attorney

for a criminal defendant provide advice about the risk of deportation that arises

from a guilty plea. 559 U.S. at 374. Recognizing that immigration law is complex,

the Supreme Court stated that “[w]hen the law is not succinct and straightforward

. . ., a criminal defense attorney need do no more than advise a noncitizen client

that pending criminal charges may carry a risk of adverse immigration

consequences.” Id. at 369. But when the deportation consequence is clear, defense

counsel has a duty to give correct advice regarding the deportation consequences

of defendant’s plea. Id. “[T]o obtain relief on this type of claim, a petitioner must

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Tavakkoli also argues on appeal that his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights
were violated because counsel failed to conduct a thorough investigation, failed to
subject the prosecution’s case to meaningful adversarial testing, and failed to
pursue other viable plea options for a better outcome. Tavakkoli did not raise these
arguments in the trial court. We decline to address these arguments on appeal. See
Tex. R. App. P. 33.1; see also Tex. R. App. P. 47.1.
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convince the court that a decision to reject the plea bargain would have been

rational under the circumstances.” Id. at 372.

In Chaidez v. United States, the Supreme Court held that Padilla is not

applied retroactively. 133 S. Ct. 1103, 1113 (2013). “[D]efendants whose

convictions became final prior to Padilla therefore cannot benefit from its

holding.” Id. The Court issued its decision in Padilla on March 31, 2010. See

Padilla, 559 U.S. 356. Tavakkoli’s conviction became final on December 15,

2006. See Tex. R. App. P. 21.4; Jones v. State, 77 S.W.3d 819, 820 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2002) (holding that when there is no evidence that a defendant ever filed a

notice of appeal, a conviction is deemed final on the date of sentencing).

Therefore, the holding of Padilla is not applicable to Tavakkoli’s case. See

Chaidez, 133 S. Ct. at 1113.

On appeal, Tavakkoli argues that the trial court erred in applying the holding

of Chaidez to the present case because Chaidez does not apply to habeas

proceedings. Tavakkoli urges this Court to apply Padilla retroactively to state

habeas cases on collateral review. In Ex parte De Los Reyes, petitioner filed a writ

of habeas corpus relying on Padilla and alleging he received ineffective assistance

of counsel because his trial counsel failed to advise him of the deportation

consequences of his guilty plea. 392 S.W.3d 675, 676 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals concluded, under the United States Supreme

Court’s analysis in Teague v. Lane, “because Padilla imposed a ‘new rule’ of

constitutional criminal procedure, . . . a defendant whose conviction was already

final at the time that Padilla was handed down may not benefit from that decision

in a habeas or similar proceeding.” Id. at 679 (citing Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S.

288, 301 (1989)). The Court recognized that it “could accord retroactive effect to

Padilla as a matter of state habeas law.” Id. (citing Danforth v. Minnesota, 552

U.S. 264 (2008) (holding that Teague does not constrain “the authority of state

courts to give broader effect to new rules of criminal procedure than is required by

that opinion”)). But, it expressly declined to do so. Id. The court stated, “[w]e

adhere to the retroactivity analysis in Chaidez and its holding that Padilla does not

apply retroactively.” Id. Because Padilla does not apply retroactively, we will not

apply Padilla in analyzing Tavakkoli’s claim that he received ineffective

assistance of counsel. See id.; see also Chaidez, 133 S. Ct. at 1113.

B. Ineffective Assistance under Pre-Padilla Law

To be valid, a guilty plea must be entered voluntarily, knowingly, and

intelligently. Fuller v. State, 253 S.W.3d 220, 229 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Klem,

269 S.W.3d at 718. An involuntary plea violates a defendant’s Fifth Amendment

right to due process. U.S. Const. amends. V, XIV; Burke v. State, 80 S.W.3d 82,

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93 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002, no pet.). A plea is not voluntarily and

knowingly entered if it is made as the result of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Ulloa v. State, 370 S.W.3d 766, 771 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, pet.

ref’d). To prevail on a claim that a plea was involuntary because it was entered

upon ineffective advice of counsel a defendant must show (1) counsel’s advice was

not within the wide range of competence required of criminal defense attorneys,

and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the defendant

would have pleaded “not guilty” and insisted on a trial. Id. (citing Ex parte

Morrow, 952 S.W.2d 530, 536 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). “There is a strong

presumption that counsel’s conduct fell within a wide range of reasonable

representation.” Id. To obtain relief, counsel’s ineffective assistance “must be

firmly founded in the record[.]” Id.

“Affirmative misadvice by counsel regarding a material issue that the plea

hearing reflects was key to the defendant’s plea decision may constitute deficient

performance.” Ex parte Arjona, 402 S.W.3d 312, 318 (Tex. App.—Beaumont

2013, no pet.). In Arjona, we recognized that even when counsel has no initial

duty to advise a defendant of the immigration consequences of his guilty plea

because of the non-retroactive effect of Padilla, when counsel gives advice

regarding the immigration consequences of the plea, he becomes obligated to

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provide the defendant with accurate information. Id. Without such a rule, counsel

would be free to mislead a defendant merely because there was no initial duty. Id.

The only evidence presented by Tavakkoli regarding counsel’s alleged

ineffective assistance was Tavakkoli’s testimony and affidavit.2 Tavakkoli alleged

in his affidavit that counsel made the following affirmative representations:

I informed [counsel] that I was not able to bond out because of an
immigration hold. He asked me if I was here legally. I told
[counsel] that I was not a United States citizen, but I was here
legally as a permanent resident with a resident alien/green card. .
. . He stated, ‘as long as you are here legally don’t worry about it.’

....

[Counsel] then stated ‘All you have to do is plead guilty to possession
of marijuana and the reckless driving charge will be dismissed;’ and
he also said ‘you will get out today or tomorrow.’ I thought that was
odd so I informed him immediately that I did not have or possess any
marijuana. [Counsel] said ‘What do you want to do? You can take it
to trial, but it may take a long time, they will probably take the police
officer’s word over yours and you will be in jail for some time
pending trial.’ I then said, ‘I just want to get out, I have class.’
[Counsel] responded by stating[,] ‘Just plead guilty, it’s not a big deal.
You will get out tonight or tomorrow night.’ No other options were
discussed.

Tavakkoli’s testimony at the hearing comported with the allegations set forth in his

affidavit.

2
Tavakkoli’s immigration attorney also testified at the habeas hearing
regarding Tavakkoli’s immigration case and the immigration consequences of his
guilty plea.
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 At the habeas hearing, Tavakkoli’s trial counsel testified that he had no

independent recollection of representing Tavakkoli. Counsel stated that he has

many Hispanic clients, both legal and illegal, and he is familiar with the

immigration consequences for both in controlled substance cases. He stated that if

a client charged with only a misdemeanor was still in jail at the time of the jail

docket call, he would inquire of the client as to why he was still in jail as bond is

usually set very low for misdemeanor charges. In this case, Tavakkoli was unable

to bond out of jail due to an immigration hold. Tavakkoli was concerned with

getting out of jail because of his impending college semester final exams. Counsel

testified that when a client has an immigration hold, while they are still entitled to

bond, once the client bonds out, immigration officials normally transport them to

an immigration center. Counsel was adamant that he would never tell a client

under the circumstances alleged in this case, “don’t worry about it.”

Counsel testified, based on his review of the allegations in the offense

report, he saw no valid defenses to the charged offenses. He explained that

probable cause for the stop existed, Tavakkoli was arrested, and an inventory

search was conducted during which the police found “a pipe with some debris in it

and . . . a baggy with marijuana[,]” according to the police report. Counsel

explained that he would have advised Tavakkoli that the prosecutor would have to

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bring the marijuana to court, they could have it tested, and the jury could look at it

and decide if it was a usable amount of marijuana. Counsel disputed Tavakkoli’s

assertion that counsel failed to pursue plausible defenses, stating that if Tavakkoli

had stated it was not his marijuana, they would have explored that defense.

Counsel further explained that if Tavakkoli had told him the baggie only contained

“‘stems and seeds[,]’” he would have encouraged him to “fight ” the possession

charge because “you have to have a usable amount of marijuana” to be convicted

of possession of marijuana.

Regarding an assertion by Tavakkoli in his affidavit that at the time of the

plea he did not understand English well, counsel testified that he would not have

represented someone who was unable to understand him, that Tavakkoli would

have been entitled to an interpreter if he did not understand English, and that

notably, at the time of the plea hearing Tavakkoli was a college student. Though

he did not recall the details related to Tavakkoli’s case,3 counsel testified it is the

practice of the court to have the parties stand before the court, and for the court to

ask the defendant “‘Did you read the admonishments and fully understand them

and did you have them explained to you by an attorney’” inserting the attorney’s

3
We note that in this case we are without the benefit of a transcript of the
plea hearing. Compare Arjona, 402 S.W.3d at 318 (A plea hearing may show
relevant circumstances surrounding the entering of the plea).
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specific name into the sentence. Counsel characterized several of Tavakkoli’s

allegations as “blatant lie[s].” Regarding Tavakkoli’s allegation that counsel told

him, “‘Just plead guilty. It’s not a big deal’” counsel testified, “I wouldn’t do that.

No way.” When asked if he could have totally failed to discuss immigration

consequences of the plea with Tavakkoli counsel responded, “[a]bsolutely not.

And especially given the fact that he was a legal resident.” Counsel testified as

follows:

When you go through the admonishments, they are set up fairly early
in the admonishments. And the judge – all the county court judges –
all the judges in Montgomery County and have for years and years
and years asked, “Are you a citizen[?]” And if they say no, they dwell
on that and they make sure that they understand it clearly before they
accept their plea. And when I go through it, especially when I have a
young legal resident, I explain it very, very thoroughly, tell them that
they do have a bond and then also that a drug charge can trip them up.

The written admonishments signed by Tavakkoli appear in the record before us

and state: “I understand . . . that if I am not a citizen of the United States, my plea

of guilty or nolo contendere may result in my deportation, exclusion from

admission to this country, or denial of naturalization under federal laws[.]”

Counsel further testified Tavakkoli’s assertion that counsel told him “‘[y]ou

will get out today or tomorrow[]’” was a “blatant lie.” Counsel explained, “if

somebody has an immigration hold on them, they are not going to get out until

immigration deals with them.” Counsel stated, “[t]ypically what I tell them when
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they’re --- when they’re here and there’s an immigration hold on them is if they

plead guilty after they serve their time in jail, if that’s the offer that they took, then

immigration is going to transfer them from jail to the immigration proceeding.”

Counsel testified that if his client is a legal resident and facing a drug charge, theft

charge, or felony charge and has an immigration hold on him, he advises them to

get advice from an immigration attorney. Counsel was adamant that with regard to

his clients who have an immigration hold on them, he explains that if they plead

guilty and serve time, once they finish their sentence, they will be transferred to the

immigration facility.

Counsel disputed Tavakkoli’s statement that he did not inform Tavakkoli of

his rights and the consequences of pleading guilty. Counsel maintained that he

would have advised Tavakkoli, and any similarly situated clients, that they were

entitled to a bond both at the jail and the immigration center. Counsel reiterated

that the admonishments explain the immigration consequences of pleading guilty

and that he reviews those with clients:

I go through the admonishments and admonishments that he signed
and I dwell on them. And one of the things that I dwell on is, look, a
possession of marijuana charge counts just like a cocaine charge for
immigration purposes . . . I say, look, as it stands right now they’re
going to want to deport you for a drug charge. It could be that you
could hire an attorney and they may be able to straighten it out but
you’re going to need to consult with an immigration attorney about
that.
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Counsel testified, “I told [Tavakkoli] what was going to happen if he . . . pled

guilty. I mean, because it’s a conversation that takes place with everybody that has

an immigration hold on them.” Counsel further testified that he represents many

Mexican Nationals who do not have immigration holds on them and it is his

practice to advise his non-citizen clients that if they plead guilty, they cannot return

to their home country because if they leave the United States and try to come back

“you’re not coming back in.” When asked if he would have had a conversation

with Tavakkoli about the difference between removability and admissibility after

voluntarily leaving the country, counsel stated, “[a]bsolutely.”

Counsel maintained throughout his testimony that he did not make the

affirmative representations set forth in Tavakkoli’s affidavit, and that he advises all

of his non-citizen clients of the deportation and admissibility consequences of

pleading guilty. Counsel also stated that he would not have discouraged Tavakkoli

from going to trial, would not have told him trial would take a long time, and that

he is not afraid to try a case in which it is his client’s word against an officer’s.

Counsel explained that he has tried “many cases” for non-citizen clients, the bulk

of his trials have involved illegal immigrants, that he would not tell them a jury

was going to believe the police officer over them, and that during such trials he

attacks the credibility of the testifying officer.
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 In reviewing the trial court’s decision to grant or deny Tavakkoli’s

application for habeas corpus relief, we view the facts in the light most favorable to

the trial court’s ruling and defer to the trial court’s implied factual findings that are

supported by the record. Ex parte Wheeler, 203 S.W.3d 317, 325-26 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2006). We will uphold the trial court’s ruling absent an abuse of discretion.

Ex parte Peterson, 117 S.W.3d 804, 819 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (per curiam),

overruled on other grounds by Ex parte Lewis, 219 S.W.3d 335 (Tex. Crim. App.

2007). We afford almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of

historical facts that are supported by the record, especially when the trial court’s

fact findings are based on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id.

Tavakkoli alleges that trial counsel failed to advise him regarding

immigration consequences, told him “not to worry about” the immigration hold

that was purportedly placed on him while in jail, advised him to plead guilty to

possession of marijuana because it would be his word against the police officer’s,

and failed to evaluate and pursue plausible defenses. As the fact finder, the trial

court was entitled to disbelieve Tavakkoli’s testimony, even though it was

supported by his affidavit. See Wheeler, 203 S.W.3d at 325-26. Likewise, it was

within the trial court’s discretion to believe trial counsel’s testimony that he would

have properly advised Tavakkoli regarding his right to bond out, any relevant

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defenses, and the deportation and inadmissibility consequences of pleading guilty.

See Ulloa, 370 S.W.3d at 771-72 (Even where trial counsel could not recall his

specific conversation with defendant, the trial judge was entitled to believe trial

counsel’s testimony that it was his policy to give special attention to informing

clients that successful completion of sex-offender counseling typically requires an

admission of guilt and that he would not have told defendant that a “no contest”

plea was the same as a “not guilty” plea.).

We cannot hold that the trial court abused its discretion in finding that

Tavakkoli failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that counsel rendered

ineffective assistance. Tavakkoli has not met his burden of showing that his state

or federal constitutional rights were violated. We overrule Tavakkoli’s appellate

issues. On the record before us we will not disturb the trial court’s ruling. We

affirm the judgment of the trial court.

AFFIRMED.

__________________________
CHARLES KREGER
Justice

Submitted on July 11, 2013
Opinion Delivered September 25, 2013
Do not publish

Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Horton, JJ.

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