State v. Harell

Paul Harell pleaded guilty to three counts of rape. He later sought to withdraw his pleas, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel during the plea stage. The court granted a hearing on the motion to withdraw. At the hearing defense counsel declined to assist Harell, the attorney-client privilege was waived by order of the court, and defense counsel testified as a witness for the State. Finding that defense counsel was not ineffective in assisting Harell during the plea stage, the trial court denied Harell’s motion to withdraw his guilty pleas. The case proceeded to judgment, and Harell was…