Brandon Richmond Bowling v. State of Tennessee

Brandon Richmond Bowling, Petitioner, was charged in a twelve-count indictment with
six counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery, two counts of aggravated rape, one count
of first degree felony murder, and one count of first degree premeditated murder for his
role in the death of H.M.1, a 22-year-old woman. The State filed an intent to seek a sentence
of life without the possibility of parole. Prior to trial, counsel for Petitioner filed a motion
to suppress video evidence of an incident found on Petitioner’s phone. The motion was
never litigated. Petitioner pled guilty to one count of aggravated rape and one count of
second degree murder in exchange for dismissal of the remaining charges. As a result,
Petitioner received an effective sentence of 40 years at 100%. Petitioner filed a petition
for post-conviction relief raising the issue that trial counsel’s failure to advise him that the
search warrant justifying the search of his cell phone was constitutionally defective
rendered his guilty plea involuntary. After a hearing, the post-conviction court denied
relief. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court because Petitioner has failed
to satisfy the burden to establish that he is entitled to post-conviction relief. Furthermore,
the record establishes that trial counsel’s strategy of filing the motion, initiated negotiations
that resulted in a very favorable resolution for Petitioner. Accordingly, the judgment of
the post-conviction court is affirmed.