James Hilliard v. State of Mississippi

CARLTON, J., for the Court:

¶ 1. James Hilliard appeals the Lafayette County Circuit Court’s dismissal of his motion for postconviction relief (PCR). On appeal, Hilliard raises the following issues: (1) whether the circuit court erred by dismissing his ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim without an evidentiary hearing; and (2) whether his sentencing as a habitual offender is illegal. Finding no error, we affirm.

FACTS

¶ 2. On December 1, 2009, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle containing Hilliard and two other passengers. After obtaining a search warrant, authorities searched the…