Strickland v. State

Don Lee Strickland appeals the circuit court's denial of his Rule 32, Ala.R.Crim.P., petition for postconviction relief. The petition sought relief from his December 11, 1996, conviction for theft of property in the first degree and his sentence to life in prison as a habitual felony offender. This court affirmed Strickland's conviction on direct appeal on June 20, 1997. Strickland v. State, 717 So.2d 900 (Ala.Cr.App. 1997) (table). The certificate of judgment was issued on July 8, 1997. Strickland's Rule 32 petition was timely filed on November 6, 1998.

Strickland presented two claims in his…