Kevin Taylor v. State of Tennessee

A jury found the petitioner guilty of felony murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery. For these offenses he received sentences of life and ten years respectively, which were set to run concurrently. The petitioner unsuccessfully pursued a direct appeal. See State v. Kevin Taylor, No. 01C01-9707-CR-00263, 1998 WL 849324 at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Nashville, Dec. 9, 1998). Following his unsuccessful direct appeal, the petitioner then filed for post-conviction relief. He was subsequently appointed counsel, and this attorney filed a "Supplemental Petition for Post-Conviction Relief" alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and the deprivation of the petitioner's right to due process. Following an evidentiary hearing on these matters, the trial court found that the petition did not merit relief. The petitioner now appeals this denial maintaining that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to subpoena and introduce alleged telephone records; to interview and/or call certain potential witnesses; and to properly investigate and cross-examine two State witnesses. After reviewing the record and applicable case law, we find that these claims lack merit and, therefore, affirm the trial court's judgment.