Barrientos v. United States

Appellant, Manuel Barrientos a/k/a Manny Redmon, and his mother, Luchea Barrientos, were jointly indicted for possession and delivery of heroin. The facts indicate that Redmon sold some heroin to an undercover DEA agent, such substance having been delivered to the agent as ""incense"" purchased from Redmon's mother, at Luchea's Psychic World, a business establishment used by Redmon as a front for the sale of narcotics. Following his indictment, Redmon retained counsel to represent both his mother and himself. According to counsel, Pat Robertson, Redmon initially told him that he was innocent of the crime for which he was charged. After flunking Robertson's lie detector test, however, Redmon confessed his guilt to his lawyer. At some point thereafter, counsel advised his client of the possibility of plea bargaining, as well as testifying in his mother's case. Redmon had indicated to counsel that he alone was responsible for the sale of the heroin.