State v. Sawyer

Summary

The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed James Sawyer’s convictions and sentences arising from two drive-by shootings, holding that the two prosecutions were properly joined and that none of his six ineffective-assistance claims warranted relief on the direct-appeal record. The court concluded that the shootings were closely related and that joinder did not deprive Sawyer of an appreciable chance of acquittal, while the alleged counsel errors either were not deficient, caused no prejudice, or were inadequately pleaded.