Mendoza v. State

Defendant Francisco Mendoza appeals the trial court’s order denying, without an evidentiary hearing, his motion for post-conviction relief pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Mendoza’s motion raised six claims. While we find that none of the claims has merit, one of Mendoza’s claims does warrant further discussion.

Mendoza asserted in his posteonviction motion that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to call certain witnesses to testify at the trial, 1 and that such failure constituted deficient performance resulting in prejudice, warranting…