Plowman Blames Voyles For Federal Bribery Conviction

Former Indianapolis City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman has filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming that high-profile criminal defense attorney Jim Voyles provided ineffective counsel to him during a federal trial at which he was found guilty of bribery and attempted extortion charges. Plowman is currently serving a 40-month prison sentence at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, a federal detention facility that holds both male and female inmates of all security levels. He's currently scheduled for release on December 25, 2014. The Star's Tim Evans sums up the arguments that Plowman is making in a PCR he filed pro se in an effort to clear his name.

Plowman — acting without an attorney — claims Voyles did not effectively challenge the indictment handed down by a federal grand jury; failed to argue that Plowman had no intention to commit the alleged crimes; and did not call a witness, despite Plowman’s request, who he claims could have proven his innocence.

I sat through most of Plowman's trial. The evidence against him was overwhelming. I couldn't understand why Plowman didn't accept a plea offer before trial. I understand even less why he took the stand in his own defense, which proved disastrous. Any doubts the jurors had after hearing the convincing testimony of the undercover FBI agent who successfully solicited a bribe from Plowman in exchange for his assistance in gaining zoning approval for a fictitious strip club sought by the undercover agent were removed after Plowman took the stand and struggled to explain the damning statements he made to the undercover agent, which were recorded and replayed to jurors. I gathered that it was Plowman's decision not to accept a plea offer and to testify in his own defense. He should consider himself lucky that the feds left other charges on the table. Voyles called all of the defense witnesses scheduled to testify, except for State Rep. Mike Speedy, whose testimony was barred by the judge after prosecutors objected to it. An ineffective counsel argument would appear to be a tough sell. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals previously affirmed an appeal of Plowman's conviction.