      TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN


                                      NO. 03-10-00534-CR
                                      NO. 03-10-00535-CR



                                  Raouf Ishak Malek, Appellant

                                                v.

                                  The State of Texas, Appellee


             FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3 OF TRAVIS COUNTY
                      NOS. C-1-CR-09-213428 & C-1-CR-09-213429
                 THE HONORABLE DAVID CRAIN, JUDGE PRESIDING



                                MEMORANDUM OPINION


               Raouf Ishak Malek entered pleas of no contest to the offenses of gambling promotion

and keeping a gambling place, both Class A misdemeanors, and opted for the court to assess

punishment. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 47.03, 47.07 (West 2011). At the conclusion of the

punishment hearing, the trial court assessed Malek’s punishment for each offense at confinement for

225 days in the county jail. See id. § 12.21 (West 2011).

               On appeal, Malek raises two points of error, both complaining that his trial counsel

provided ineffective assistance during the sentencing proceeding. Because Malek fails to meet his

burden of demonstrating ineffective assistance of counsel in either point of error, we affirm the

judgments of the trial court.
                                          I. Background

                Raouf Ishak Malek left his engineering job and career to establish a full-time

illegal gambling enterprise, the Fun Poker Club, which he operated out of his home. Neighbors

repeatedly complained about the impact of the ongoing gambling activities on the

neighborhood—first to the homeowners association and then, ultimately, to law enforcement.

Law enforcement officers conducted an undercover investigation, eventually obtaining a search

warrant for the gambling house. When officers executed the search warrant, they found evidence

of an extensive, sophisticated, and well-organized gambling operation: multiple poker tables

and associated poker equipment, an employee manual, an operating and security manual,

documentation of a financing partner, a business plan, a marketing plan, a schedule of operations,

and revenue projections.

                After the raid of the gambling house, Malek was arrested and subsequently charged

by information with gambling promotion and keeping a gambling place. He retained Jesus Gabriel

Hernandez, a defense attorney and former patron of the Fun Poker Club, to represent him on these

charges. Evidence in the record indicates that during the course of his representation, Hernandez

obtained discovery from the State, provided copies of the discovery to Malek for his review, engaged

in plea negotiations with the State, discussed trial options with Malek, filed pretrial motions, and

prepared for trial.

                The record also contains evidence that, throughout his representation, Hernandez

advised Malek that he thought his punishment would most likely be community supervision,

from either a jury or the judge, but that he could not guarantee such a result. He informed Malek that

jail time was a possibility, though he did not think it likely. Malek repeatedly rejected an offer of

                                                  2
lengthy community supervision until the weekend just before the case was set for jury trial, when he

informed Hernandez that he would accept the probation offer. Both Malek and Hernandez thought

that the community supervision offer would still be available on the day of trial; however, the

prosecutor informed Hernandez that the State had withdrawn the offer.

               On the day of trial, Malek entered pleas of no contest to both offenses and waived

a jury trial, opting for the court to assess his punishment. At the punishment hearing, the State

presented evidence that demonstrated the extensive nature of Malek’s illegal gambling enterprise

as well as the fact that minors routinely smoked marijuana and drank alcohol while they gambled

at the club. The State’s evidence also showed that Malek continued running the illegal operation

even after an incident in which his club patrons were robbed at gunpoint while they were gambling

in his home. Malek testified on his own behalf, primarily about his educational and employment

background and lack of criminal history. According to his testimony, he has a master’s degree in

chemical engineering and worked briefly for IBM and ARCO, but quit his job and gave up his

profession to become a professional gambler. He admitted that he ran his illegal gambling operation

for approximately five or six years—knowing it to be illegal—out of the house his parents owned.

Citing the extensive nature of the gambling operation, Malek’s knowledge of the illegality of the

business, and the negative impact of the poker club on the community, the trial judge sentenced

Malek to serve 225 days in jail for each offense.

               After sentencing, Malek retained new counsel who filed a motion for new trial,

alleging that Malek was denied effective assistance of counsel at the punishment hearing. The

trial court conducted a hearing on the motion, but made no ruling. Consequently, the motion was




                                                    3
denied by operation of law. See Tex. R. App. P. 21.8(c). On appeal, Malek complains of ineffective

assistance of counsel.


                                           II. Discussion

                In two points of error, Malek asserts that his trial counsel provided ineffective

assistance during the sentencing proceeding. First, Malek argues that his counsel was ineffective

because he failed to adequately prepare for the punishment hearing and, further, failed to call

character witnesses to testify on Malek’s behalf. Second, Malek contends that he suffered ineffective

assistance of counsel because his attorney had a conflict of interest that adversely impacted counsel’s

performance.


A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

                In his first point of error, Malek complains initially that he suffered ineffective

assistance of counsel because his trial counsel failed to prepare for the punishment hearing. He then

asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call mitigating character witnesses at the

punishment hearing. However, Malek fails to demonstrate that counsel’s overall performance was

deficient or that any alleged deficiency prejudiced him. Accordingly, Malek did not meet his burden

under the two-prong Strickland v. Washington standard.


        1. The Standard of Review

                To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must show

by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) the performance of trial counsel was deficient in that

counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing



                                                   4
professional norms; and (2) the deficient performance of counsel prejudiced the defense—that is,

there is a reasonable probability, one sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome, that but for

counsel’s unprofessional errors the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland

v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984); Perez v. State, 310 S.W.3d 890, 892-93 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2010); Branch v. State, 335 S.W.3d 893, 904-05 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, pet. ref’d). Failure

to make the required showing of either deficient performance or sufficient prejudice defeats the

ineffectiveness claim. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 700; see Perez, 310 S.W.3d at 893; Thompson v. State,

9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Any allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly

founded in the record, and the record must affirmatively demonstrate the purported ineffectiveness.

Salinas v. State, 163 S.W.3d 734, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (citing Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813);

see Ex parte Martinez, 330 S.W.3d 891, 901 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).

               In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance, we must evaluate the quality of the

representation from the totality of counsel’s representation rather than counsel’s isolated acts or

omissions. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Perez, 310 S.W.3d at 893; see Branch, 335 S.W.3d at 905.

Our decision must be based on the facts of the particular case viewed at the time of counsel’s

conduct so as to avoid the distorting effects of hindsight. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; Martinez,

330 S.W.3d at 901; Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. We must indulge a strong presumption that

counsel’s representation falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance—that is,

we must presume that trial counsel’s actions or inactions and decisions were reasonably professional

and motivated by sound trial strategy. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686; Salinas, 163 S.W.3d at 740;

see Williams v. State, 301 S.W.3d 675, 687 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (citing Garcia v. State,

57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). The fact that another attorney may have pursued a

                                                  5
different tactic at trial is insufficient to prove a claim of ineffective assistance. Scheanette v. State,

144 S.W.3d 503, 509 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004); see Sessums v. State, 129 S.W.3d 242, 246

(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. ref’d).

                In addition, the burden is on the appellant to affirmatively demonstrate “that counsel’s

errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.”

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687; Perez, 310 S.W.3d at 893 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687). To

overcome the presumption that counsel rendered adequate assistance, the appellant must identify

the specific acts or omissions of counsel that allegedly constitute ineffective assistance and

then affirmatively prove that they fall below the professional norm for reasonableness. Strickland,

466 U.S. at 690; Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 835 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Even if an appellant

shows that particular errors of counsel were unreasonable, the appellant must further show that

they actually had an adverse effect on the defense. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693-95; Cochran v. State,

78 S.W.3d 20, 24 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2002, no pet.). Merely showing that the errors had some

conceivable effect on the proceedings will not suffice. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693; Martinez,

330 S.W.3d at 901. The appellant must prove that counsel’s errors, judged by the totality of the

representation, not by isolated instances of error or by a portion of the trial, denied him a fair trial.

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695.


        2. Representation by Hernandez

                In asserting that his trial counsel failed to prepare for the punishment hearing, Malek

contends that Hernandez’s representation was non-existent. The record, however, does not support

such a conclusion. The record contains evidence that, during the course of his representation,



                                                    6
Hernandez met with the State’s attorney, engaged in plea negotiations, communicated plea offers

to Malek and made counteroffers to the State, reviewed trial options with Malek discussing the pros

and cons of a trial to a jury or to the judge, reviewed the punishment range with Malek, filed relevant

pretrial motions, discussed trial strategies with defense counsel representing Malek’s co-defendants,

obtained discovery and supplemental discovery well in advance of trial, provided the discovery to

Malek for review, and prepared for trial by reviewing the voluminous discovery, thinking about

different trial strategies, considering ways to attack the State’s arguments, thinking about different

defenses, preparing questions to ask witnesses, preparing Malek to testify at trial, and discussing

character evidence with Malek.1

               Although Hernandez testified at the hearing on the motion for new trial that he was

not prepared for a punishment hearing, the context of his testimony merely indicates that Hernandez

did not anticipate a punishment hearing because he thought Malek would be accepting the State’s

plea bargain offer. At the time of the punishment hearing, when asked by the trial court if both

sides were “a hundred percent ready,” Hernandez affirmatively indicated that he was ready. While

Hernandez may have suggested that he had not done anything to prepare specifically for a

punishment hearing following a plea, the record reflects that he was in fact prepared for a full trial

based upon all that he had done throughout the course of his representation of Malek. The record

demonstrates that Hernandez was thoroughly familiar with the facts of the case and provided

satisfactory representation to his client. He had a clear trial strategy that, although ultimately

unsuccessful in obtaining community supervision for Malek, we cannot say was unreasonable.


       1
         It was during Hernandez’s final trial preparations the weekend before trial was scheduled
that Malek indicated that he wanted to accept the community supervision offer.

                                                  7
                Also in his first point of error, Malek asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for

failing to call mitigating character witnesses at the punishment hearing. At the hearing on the motion

for new trial, five witnesses testified about Malek’s good character: a longtime friend, his girlfriend,

both of his parents, and his younger brother. Malek argues on appeal that these witnesses were

available to testify at the punishment hearing about his family, educational, and religious

background, his acts of kindness and generosity, and his positive influence on the lives of others.

Therefore, he maintains, his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call them to testify as

mitigating witnesses.

                First, we note that the record reflects that Malek did not want his friends or

family members involved in the trial. Accordingly, he is not in a position to complain about

counsel’s failure to involve them. See Dowthitt v. Johnson, 230 F.3d 733, 748 (5th Cir. 2000)

(counsel will not be deemed ineffective for following client’s wishes, so long as client made an

informed decision). Second, the record is silent as to counsel’s reasons for not calling these

witnesses. The decision whether to present witnesses is largely a matter of trial strategy. Lair

v. State, 265 S.W.3d 580, 594 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, pet. ref’d). “[A]n attorney’s

decision not to present particular witnesses at the punishment stage may be a strategically sound

decision if the attorney bases it on a determination that the testimony of the witnesses may

be harmful, rather than helpful, to the defendant.” Shanklin v. State, 190 S.W.3d 154, 164

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005), pet. dism’d, improvidently granted, 211 S.W.3d 315

(Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (citing Weisinger v. State, 775 S.W.2d 424, 427 (Tex. App.—Houston

[14th Dist.] 1989, pet. ref’d)). Counsel was never directly asked about his decision not to call

Malek’s friends and family to testify at the punishment hearing. During questioning by the State,

                                                    8
Hernandez indicated possible concerns about calling Malek’s parents to testify.2 Other than

that, however, the record is silent as to Hernandez’s reasoning. When the record is silent as to the

motivations underlying counsel’s decisions, the defendant usually cannot overcome the strong

presumption that counsel’s conduct was reasonable. Mallett v. State, 65 S.W.3d 59, 63 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2001); Jaynes v. State, 216 S.W.3d 839, 851 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.).

Hernandez may well have concluded that the testimony of Malek’s family and friends could

have been harmful. Not one of these five witnesses was aware of the nature of the offenses Malek

committed or the extent of his ongoing illegal gambling enterprise. This reveals that Malek deceived

those whom he was closest to for an extended period of time. Counsel could have decided that

exposing the extremely deceitful nature of Malek’s conduct would not have been helpful.

               Moreover, the “failure to call witnesses at the guilt-innocence and punishment stages

is irrelevant absent a showing that such witnesses were available and appellant would benefit from

their testimony.” Perez, 310 S.W.3d at 894 (quoting King v. State, 649 S.W.2d 42, 44 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1983)). While it is true that these witnesses generally testified about Malek’s good character,

their testimony could just as easily have harmed Malek because the evidence they offered revealed

that Malek had no need to resort to criminal activity. Rather, their testimony demonstrated that

Malek made a conscious choice to abandon a promising career, ignore the benefits of his education,

reject his religious teachings, and deceive his friends and family in order to purposefully engage in

ongoing criminal activity.


       2
         These concerns appear to have been related to the fact that their unemployed son was using
the proceeds from his illegal gambling enterprise to pay them for the home mortgage payments they,
as the home owners, were making as well as from the fact that he was using their house for illegal
purposes and had been doing so for years without their knowledge.

                                                 9
               The record reveals that counsel’s trial strategy was to focus more on the nature of the

offenses rather than the character of the offender. Hernandez attempted to minimize the seriousness

of the offenses instead of emphasizing Malek’s character. The fact that this strategy ultimately

proved unsuccessful does not render counsel’s assistance ineffective.

               Mitigating character evidence may be helpful to show that a defendant’s criminal

conduct was an isolated aberration of otherwise good character. Here, however, Malek engaged in

ongoing criminal activity for a period of five to six years. Counsel may well have determined that

mitigation evidence of the type offered at the motion for new trial hearing would not have

convincingly shown that Malek’s offenses were an aberration. Indeed, the ongoing nature of the

offenses suggests that Malek’s criminal conduct was not an aberration but rather the norm and

behavior that was entirely consistent with his character. Malek’s own testimony revealed that his

character was such that he was willing to knowingly and repeatedly engage in criminal conduct for

an extended period of time. In addition, mitigating evidence ordinarily offers a reason or explanation

for why a defendant engaged in criminal conduct, perhaps lessening the individual’s moral

culpability. Here, the testimony of these character witnesses fails to offer any explanation for

Malek’s behavior. In fact, their testimony emphasizes the fact that Malek had no reason to engage

in criminal conduct but simply chose a life of crime. Thus, Hernandez could have concluded that,

rather than lessening Malek’s culpability, this testimony could serve to increase his culpability.

               We are not convinced that Malek necessarily would have benefitted from the

testimony of the five witnesses presented at the motion for new trial hearing. Further, we do not see

a reasonable probability that their testimony would have changed the result of Malek’s punishment




                                                 10
hearing.3 Malek has failed to demonstrate deficient performance on the part of his defense counsel,

and, moreover, has failed to show any prejudice to his defense. Accordingly, he has failed to meet

the two-prong Strickland standard. We overrule his first point of error.


B. Ineffective Assistance Due to Conflict of Interest

               In his second point of error, Malek asserts that his counsel had an actual conflict of

interest because several years earlier Hernandez had gambled at his house. However, Malek fails

to demonstrate that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his counsel’s performance. The

record does not show that Hernandez advanced his own interest to Malek’s detriment. Thus, Malek

did not meet his burden under Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335 (1980).


       1. The Standard of Review

               When an appellant asserts that the ineffective assistance of his counsel derived from

a conflict of interest, we do not apply the two-part standard of Strickland v. Washington but instead

use a separate standard to analyze the claim. Acosta v. State, 233 S.W.3d 349, 356 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2007); see Strickland, 466 U.S. at 692; Cuyler, 446 U.S. at 349-50 (1980). Under the Cuyler

standard, an appellant must show that: (1) counsel had an actual conflict of interest, and (2) that

conflict adversely affected counsel’s performance at trial. Cuyler, 446 U.S. at 350; Acosta,

233 S.W.3d at 355. If an appellant shows both elements, prejudice is presumed. Cuyler, 446 U.S.

at 349-50; Routier v. State, 112 S.W.3d 554, 582 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).


       3
          We note that the trial court judge who conducted the hearing on the motion for new trial
was the same judge who heard the evidence in the punishment hearing and assessed the jail time
sentences. Yet, after hearing the mitigating character evidence presented at the motion for new trial
hearing, he did not opt to grant the motion for new trial.

                                                 11
                An actual conflict of interest exists if counsel “‘is required to make a choice between

advancing his client’s interest in a fair trial or advancing other interests (perhaps counsel’s own)

to the detriment of his client’s interest.’” Acosta, 233 S.W.3d at 355 (quoting Monreal v. State,

947 S.W.2d 559, 564 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)); see also Mickens v. Taylor, 535 U.S. 162, 171 (2002)

(clarifying the phrase “actual conflict of interest” in the Court’s remand instruction in a previous case

by stating “we think ‘an actual conflict of interest’ meant precisely a conflict that affected counsel’s

performance—as opposed to a mere theoretical division of loyalties”). A showing of a potential

conflict of interest is not sufficient to constitute an actual conflict of interest. Ex parte McFarland,

163 S.W.3d 743, 759 n. 52 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); James v. State, 763 S.W.2d 776, 780

(Tex. Crim. App. 1989) (“potential, speculative conflicts of interest” may not be “elevated to the

position of actual, significant conflicts”).

                “[A] potential conflict may become an actual conflict, but [an appellate court need

not] speculate about a strategy an attorney might have pursued . . . in the absence of some showing

that the potential conflict became an actual conflict.” Routier, 112 S.W.3d at 585 (referencing

the analysis in James, 763 S.W.2d at 781). “‘[U]ntil a defendant shows that his counsel actively

represented conflicting interests, he has not established the constitutional predicate for his claim of

ineffective assistance.’” Acosta, 233 S.W.3d at 355 (quoting Cuyler, 446 U.S. at 349-50) (emphasis

in original). An appellant cannot obtain a reversal on appeal unless he shows that his attorney was

operating under an actual conflict of interest that adversely affected counsel’s performance. Cuyler,

446 U.S. at 348; Routier, 112 S.W.3d at 581-82.

                To show that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected counsel’s performance,

the appellant must show “that trial counsel actually acted on behalf of those other interests during

                                                   12
the trial.” Acosta, 233 S.W.3d 355-56. “An appellant must identify specific instances in the record

that reflect a choice that counsel made between possible alternative courses of action, such as

‘eliciting (or failing to elicit) evidence helpful to one [interest] but harmful to the other.’ ” Lopez

v. State, No. 04-10-00562-CR, 2011 WL 3847241, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Aug. 31, 2011,

no pet.) (citing Gaston v. State, 136 S.W.3d 315, 318 (Tex App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004,

pet. struck) (en banc)); see State v. Hart, 342 S.W.3d 659, 665 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2011, no pet.); Ramirez v. State, 13 S.W.3d 482, 488 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000), pet. dism’d,

improvidently granted, 67 S.W.3d 177 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). The appellant must show that his

trial counsel “had to forego a strategy in the appellant’s trial that counsel would have otherwise

pursued if he had not represented [a conflicting interest].” See Routier, 112 S.W.3d at 586.


          2. Cuyler Standard Not Met

                Malek claims that his defense counsel had an actual conflict because several

years earlier Hernandez had gambled at his house at the Fun Poker Club. But the mere fact that

Hernandez had prior gambling connections with Malek does not prove an actual conflict. See

Routier, 112 S.W.3d at 581. An actual conflict of interest means a conflict that did in fact

affect counsel’s performance, not merely a theoretical division of loyalties. Malek must show

that Hernandez advanced his interest to the detriment of Malek’s interest. See Acosta, 233 S.W.3d

at 355.

                Malek theorizes that Hernandez had an actual conflict because counsel feared

exposure of his previous criminal gambling conduct. He maintains that his counsel provided false

information because of his desire to avoid a trial that would expose his prior gambling offenses.



                                                  13
Malek characterizes Hernandez’s professional opinion that Malek would probably get community

supervision as false information and further asserts that Hernandez lied to him about the plea offer

made by the State.

               First, the record reflects that Hernandez communicated his professional opinion

about the probability of Malek’s receiving community supervision but made no guarantees. Just

because his opinion ultimately proved to be incorrect does not mean that Hernandez provided false

information to his client. Second, while there is some confusion as to when and by whom a

plea bargain offer was made, the record contains evidence that Hernandez did in fact engage in

plea negotiations with the State. During the hearing on the motion for new trial, the State

questioned Hernandez about counteroffers Malek made that were rejected by the State. Logically,

if counteroffers were made by the defense, an original offer had initially been extended by the State.

Hernandez’s advice to wait and see if the plea bargain offer improved was based upon his

experience that, as the prosecutor acknowledged, offers will often improve during the course of

plea negotiations and as the trial date approaches. Contrary to Malek’s assertion, the record does not

reflect any attempt by Hernandez to dupe Malek or to prevent a trial to avoid exposure of his prior

criminal gambling.

               In fact, the record reflects that Hernandez did not fear that his gambling conduct

would be exposed. During the punishment hearing counsel actually questioned one of the State’s

witnesses, Malek’s co-defendant, about the witness’s prior acquaintance with Hernandez when that

acquaintanceship was based upon their gambling association. While not specifically mentioning the

fact that they knew each other from the Fun Poker Club, Hernandez asked this witness about their

long-time acquaintance prior to Malek’s arrest—after the State had established that this witness

                                                 14
knew Malek because he played at poker games run by Malek and then began dealing for Malek.

Counsel’s questions of this witness could have easily exposed his prior gambling.

               Further, Hernandez testified at the hearing on the motion for new trial that his prior

gambling connection with Malek did not hinder his representation of Malek because he “never

considered that.” Additionally, the record reflects that Hernandez had no fear of prosecution for his

prior gambling conduct because he knew, based upon his experience, that Travis County normally

prosecuted only the “runners and dealer,” not the individual gamblers. Malek only speculates that

Hernandez had an interest in preventing the exposure of his prior gambling conduct. The record

itself does not reflect that Hernandez actually had such an interest. Nor does the record reflect that

Hernandez advanced this purported interest over Malek’s interest.

               Malek’s interest in these cases was to receive community supervision as punishment

for his criminal conduct. Malek conceded at the hearing on the motion for new trial that he had

no defense to the charges themselves. Thus, the only genuine issue in this case was the issue of

punishment. Malek’s primary concern was avoiding jail. The record reflects that Hernandez

zealously advanced this interest at the punishment hearing.

               Hernandez’s trial strategy was to demonstrate that these offenses were not jail-worthy

crimes by emphasizing the social aspect of the poker games and the safe atmosphere of the club.

Hernandez also attempted to demonstrate that Malek was not a jail-worthy individual by producing

evidence of his good character, particularly his education and employment background and lack of

criminal history. Though this strategy was ultimately not successful, the record does not show that

following this trial strategy in any way advanced any purported interest of Hernandez’s over that of

Malek. Malek fails to identify, and the record does not show, how Hernandez advanced any other

                                                 15
interest to Malek’s detriment. See Gaston, 136 S.W.3d at 318. Therefore, we hold that Hernandez’s

prior gambling connection to Malek did not become an actual conflict of interest. See Acosta,

233 S.W.3d at 355; Routier, 112 S.W.3d at 582.

               Furthermore, even assuming arguendo that an actual conflict of interest existed,

Malek also fails to show that the actual conflict had an adverse effect on Hernandez’s performance.

See Mitchell, 989 S.W.2d at 748. Malek argues that Hernandez’s cross-examination of the State’s

witnesses may have been chilled because he feared exposure of his prior gambling conduct.

However, the record does not support this conclusion. The record reflects that Hernandez never had

concerns about such exposure or even a concern about being prosecuted for his gambling conduct.

Furthermore, Malek fails to indicate how the cross-examination of the State’s witnesses should have

been conducted, nor does he identify what areas, topics, or questions were left unexplored. Malek

has not shown any adverse effect on defense counsel’s performance, and thus we do not presume

prejudice. See Mitchell, 989 S.W.2d at 748.

               Malek fails to show that his defense counsel had an actual conflict of interest or

that his defense suffered an adverse effect. Therefore, he has failed to meet the ‘actual conflict’ and

‘adverse effect’ standard of Cuyler and fails to establish ineffective assistance of counsel due to

a conflict of interest. We overrule his second point of error.


                                          III. Conclusion

               Malek has failed to demonstrate that he suffered ineffective assistance of counsel

during the sentencing proceeding. Accordingly, we overrule his two points of error and affirm the

judgments of the trial court.



                                                  16
                                           __________________________________________

                                           J. Woodfin Jones, Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Pemberton and Henson

Affirmed

Filed: December 22, 2011

Do Not Publish




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