Adrian Lamont Henry v. State of Tennessee

The petitioner, Adrian Lamont Henry, pled guilty to second degree murder, a Class A felony, and was sentenced to forty years in confinement.  The petitioner filed the instant petition for post-conviction relief, in which he alleged that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel and that his guilty plea was involuntary.  Following an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief.  On appeal, the petitioner argues that his constitutional rights were violated when he was not given proper Miranda warnings and when he was interviewed while under the influence of marijuana.  The petitioner also argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when trial counsel: (1) failed to communicate the defense strategy, defenses, or theory of the case with the petitioner; (2) failed to file a motion to suppress the petitioner’s statements to law enforcement; (3) failed to utilize important witnesses; and (4) pressured the petitioner into pleading guilty.  The petitioner argues that due to these errors, his guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered.  After our review of the parties’ briefs, the record, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.