Harlow (Paul) v. State

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA PAUL STEPHEN HARLOW, No. 68300 Appellant, vs. THE STATE OF NEVADA, ALED Respondent. JUN 1 7 2016 ORDER OF AFFIRMANCE This is a pro se appeal from a district court order denying appellant Paul Stephen Harlow's postconviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County; Eric Johnson, Judge. Harlow pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual assault. In his petition, Harlow sought to withdraw his plea on the basis that counsel incorrectly advised him that he was eligible for probation, which caused him to enter an unknowing plea. See Hill u. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58-59 (1985) (observing that, to prove ineffective assistance of counsel sufficient to invalidate a judgment of conviction based on a guilty plea, a petitioner must demonstrate that his counsel's performance was deficient in that it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and resulting prejudice such that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, petitioner would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial); Kirksey u. State, 112 Nev. 980, 988, 923 P.2d 1102, 1107 (1996). The district court denied the petition because Harlow was eligible for probation and therefore he failed to demonstrate that counsel was ineffective. We agree. See NRS 176A.100(1)(a) (listing crimes SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA (0) 1947A for which probation is not permissible); NRS 176A.110(1) (explaining that the court shall not grant probation to a person convicted of attempted sexual assault unless he does not represent a high risk to reoffend as certified in a psychosexual evaluation report). To the extent Harlow contended he was not adequately informed regarding the import of NRS 176A.110, or that he was promised he would receive probation, his contentions are belied by the record and did not warrant relief.' Accordingly, we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED. Gibbons cc: Hon. Eric Johnson, District Judge Paul Stephen Harlow Attorney General/Carson City Clark County District Attorney Eighth District Court Clerk 'We also conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by declining to appoint counsel. See NRS 34.750(1). SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 2 (0) 1947A aea