State vs. Michael Cardenas

The appellant, Michael Brian Cardenas, appeals from the order of the Chester County Circuit Court denying his petition for post-conviction relief. On appeal, the appellant argues that his guilty plea was involuntary because "he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at the trial level." In the appellant's brief, he raises four general areas of ineffectiveness: (1) his attorney failed to investigate, prepare or present a defense to charges against him; (2) counsel failed to file a motion to suppress the statement that appellant had provided to arresting authorities; (3) counsel failed to file a motion for change of venue; and (4) potential character witnesses were never interviewed to determine whether their testimony could be used during the trial. We find this argument without merit. The judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.