Mario Gordon v. State of Maine

Summary

The Court affirmed the denial of Gordon’s post-conviction petition, holding that counsel’s advice to accept a twelve-year sentencing cap was a reasonable strategic decision and that counsel’s inaccurate sentencing prediction did not establish ineffective assistance. Gordon also failed to show deficient performance or prejudice from counsel’s failure to object when the twelve-year sentence was imposed. The Court emphasized Gordon’s plea-colloquy acknowledgment that he could receive up to twelve years and that no sentencing promise had been made beyond the agreement’s stated cap.