Martin Dean Gibbs v. State of Tennessee

The Petitioner, Martin Dean Gibbs, appeals as of right from the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, wherein he challenged his convictions for multiple counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child less than thirteen years of age and rape of a child more than three years of age but less than thirteen years of age.  See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-504; -522.  On appeal, the Petitioner contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel based on trial counsel’s failure to provide appropriate accommodations for the Petitioner’s hearing difficulties during his trial.  The Petitioner claims that, because of this failure, he was unable to meaningfully participate in his own defense at trial.  Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.