Billy Coffelt v. State of Tennessee

The Petitioner, Billy Coffelt, appeals the Davidson County Criminal Court’s denial of post-conviction relief from his convictions for aggravated assault, three counts of misdemeanor theft, four counts of false imprisonment, and felony escape. In his appeal, the Petitioner argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel based upon allegations that Counsel failed to move for an election of offenses; failed to pursue a claim based on the dismissal of one of the Petitioner’s co-defendant’s charges on appeal; and failed to request a jury instruction on the “natural and probable consequences” rule for criminal responsibility or raise it as a ground for relief on direct appeal.   Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.