Opinion
2015-UP-299
06-24-2015
Troy Robinson, Respondent, v. State of South Carolina, Petitioner. Appellate Case No. 2011-198349
Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Salley W. Elliott, and Senior Assistant Attorney General David A. Spencer, all of Columbia, for Petitioner. Appellate Defender Robert M. Pachak and Appellate Defender Benjamin John Tripp, both of Columbia, for Respondent.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Heard April 14, 2015
Appeal From Bamberg County Doyet A. Early, III, Plea Judge James R. Barber, III, Post-Conviction Relief Judge
Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Salley W. Elliott, and Senior Assistant Attorney General David A. Spencer, all of Columbia, for Petitioner.
Appellate Defender Robert M. Pachak and Appellate Defender Benjamin John Tripp, both of Columbia, for Respondent.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI
PER CURIAM
The State appeals the order of the circuit court granting Troy Robinson post-conviction relief (PCR). We find the circuit court erred in holding Robinson was prejudiced by plea counsel's allegedly deficient performance. See Terry v. State, 383 S.C. 361, 370, 680 S.E.2d 277, 282 (2009) (providing a PCR applicant has the burden of establishing he is entitled to relief); Stalk v. State, 383 S.C. 559, 562, 681 S.E.2d 592, 594 (2009) ("'[The prejudice requirement] focuses on whether counsel's constitutionally ineffective performance affected the outcome of the plea process. In other words, in order to satisfy the prejudice requirement, the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.'" (quoting Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985)) (internal quotation marks omitted)).
REVERSED.
THOMAS, KONDUROS, and GEATHERS, JJ., concur.