R. Thomas Czarnik
Princeton, West Virginia
Attorney for the Appellant

Silas B. Taylor
Senior Deputy Attorney General
Charleston, West Virginia
Attorney for the Appellee

The Opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM
JUSTICE BROTHERTON and JUSTICE RECHT did not participate.
RETIRED JUSTICE MILLER sitting by temporary assignment.
JUDGE FOX sitting by temporary assignment.

    1.     "In the West Virginia courts, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are to be governed by the two-pronged test established in Strickland v. Washington, 446 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984): (1) Counsel's performance was deficient under an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceedings would have been different." Syl. Pt. 5, State v. Miller, ___ W. Va. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (W. Va. filed May 18, 1995).

    2.    "In reviewing counsel's performance, courts must apply an objective standard and determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or omissions were outside the broad range of professionally competent assistance while at the same time refraining from engaging in hindsight or second-guessing of trial counsel's strategic decisions. Thus, a reviewing court asks whether a reasonable lawyer would have acted, under the circumstances, as defense counsel acted in the case at issue." Syl. Pt. 6, State v. Miller, ___ W. Va. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (W. Va. filed May 18, 1995).

    
    3. "One who charges on appeal that his trial counsel was ineffective and that such resulted in his conviction, must prove the allegation by a preponderance of the evidence." Syl. Pt. 22, State v. Thomas, 157 W. Va. 640, 203 S.E.2d 445 (1974).

    4.    '"'An indictment [or information] for a statutory offense is sufficient if, in charging the offense, it substantially follows the language of the statute, fully informs the accused of the particular offense with which he is charged and enables the court to determine the statute on which the charge is based.' Syl. pt. 3, State v. Hall, [172] W. Va. [138], 304 S.E.2d 43 (1983)." Syl. pt. 3, State v. Wade, 174 W. Va. 381, 327 S.E.2d 142 (1985).' Syl. Pt. 3, State v. Donald S. B., 184 W. Va. 187, 399 S.E.2d at 898 (1990).
    
    5. "'Sentences imposed by the trial court, if within statutory limits and if not based on some unpermissible factor, are not subject to appellate review.' Syl. pt. 4, State v. Goodnight, 169 W. Va. 366, 287 S.E.2d 504 (1982)." Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Farmer, ___ W. Va. ___, 454 S.E.2d 378 (1994).

Per Curiam:

    This is an appeal by Ronnie R. (hereinafter "the Appellant")See footnote 1 from a March 10, 1994, order of the Circuit Court of Mercer County denying a post-conviction habeas corpus petition. The Appellant alleges various errors including ineffective assistance of counsel and insufficient funding of the Public Defender's Office. We find no error by the lower court in denying the post-conviction relief and affirm its decision.

    The Appellant was convicted in August 1992 of six counts of first degree sexual assault, three counts of second degree sexual assault, and three counts of child sexual abuse. The Appellant and his wife had three children, the oldest of whom was allegedly sexually abused by his father from age six to age eleven. Subsequent to the guilty verdict and presentence investigation, the Appellant was sentenced to fifteen to twenty-five years on each of counts one through six and one to five years on each of counts seven through twelve, culminating in an indeterminate sentence of sixteen to thirty years.

    The Appellant filed post-trial motions alleging that trial counsel had failed to utilize evidence which could potentially have been favorable to the Appellant. During an evidentiary hearing on such motions, the Appellant asserted that trial counsel had failed to offer an instruction regarding the uncorroborated testimony of the victim. The lower court ruled that there had been no showing that such an instruction would have made a difference to the decision of the jury and found that the Appellant "received a fair trial with adequate representation under the circumstances."

    The Appellant also stated in his post-trial motions that the State had suppressed evidence which allegedly existed regarding an investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services (hereinafter "DHHS") in which the victim son had allegedly informed DHHS that he had not been sexually abused. Counsel for the State denied that any such evidence existed, and no such exculpatory evidence has yet been identified by either the Appellant or the State.

    Post-trial motions were denied, and an appeal to this Court was also denied. A habeas corpus petition was thereafter filed challenging the conviction on generally the same grounds as those alleged in the post-trial motions.See footnote 2 The habeas petition also requested the lower court to take judicial notice that the Public Defender's Office for Mercer County was underfunded and lacked an investigatory staff to adequately assist attorneys. By order dated March 10, 1994, the lower court concluded that the Appellant had not proven ineffective assistance of counsel. The lower court also found that the funding of the Public Defender's Office did not affect the Appellant's defense and that the Public Defender's Office was not inadequately staffed, did not have an excessive caseload during the Appellant's case, and did not inadequately prepare for the Appellant's case. The Appellant now appeals that determination of the lower court.

    The Appellant maintains that trial counsel ineffectively assisted him and advances numerous examples of this alleged ineffectiveness. With regard to a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, we explained the following in syllabus point five of State v. Miller, ___ W. Va. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (W. Va. filed May 18, 1995):
            In the West Virginia courts, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are to be governed by the two-pronged test established in Strickland v. Washington, 446 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984): (1) Counsel's performance was deficient under an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceedings would have been different.

___ W. Va. at ___, ___ S.E.2d at ___, Syl. Pt. 5.

We also explained the following in syllabus point six of Miller:
            In reviewing counsel's performance, courts must apply an objective standard and determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or omissions were outside the broad range of professionally competent assistance while at the same time refraining from engaging in hindsight or second-guessing of trial counsel's strategic decisions. Thus, a reviewing court asks whether a reasonable lawyer would have acted, under the circumstances, as defense counsel acted in the case at issue.                        

___ W. Va. at ___, ___ S.E.2d at ___, Syl. Pt. 6.

                        III.

    With regard to the Appellant's contention that trial counsel should have offered an instruction on uncorroborated testimony of a victim and the necessity to view such testimony with care and caution, this Court has held that failure to give such an instruction is reversible error where the testimony of the prosecuting witness is uncorroborated. State v. Payne, 167 W. Va. 252, 280 S.E.2d 72 (1981); State v. Garten, 131 W. Va. 641, 49 S.E.2d 561 (1948).See footnote 3

    The necessity of a jury instruction informing the jurors that uncorroborated testimony of a victim should be scrutinized was initially discussed in State v. Perry, 41 W. Va. 641, 24 S.E. 634 (1896), as follows:
        In the trial of all felony cases, the jury should scrutinize the testimony of all contradicted and uncorroborated witnesses with care and caution. This instruction propounds a general principle of law, is unobjectionable, and should have been given, as it leaves the weight of the testimony entirely with the jury, and relates only to the proper discharge of the duty they owe to the accused and the state alike.

Perry, 41 W. Va. at 651-52, 24 S.E. at 638.    

    In Payne, we concluded that the "care and caution" instruction was necessary because the defendant was the only person who could have contradicted the prosecuting witness, and the defendant, due to other errors at trial, was effectively precluded from testifying. Id. at 261, 280 S.E.2d at 78. Moreover, the identification of the defendant by the prosecuting witness in Payne was questionable because (1) the victim did not see her attacker until they were in a shaded area, and (2) the description she initially gave was inconsistent with the defendant's physical appearance. Id. at 260, 280 S.E.2d at 77.

    In the present case, the identification of the defendant, as the father of the victim, is not in issue. This case is also distinguishable from Payne because the defendant in this case did testify. The decision of this Court in Payne was founded to some extent upon the fact that the defendant, due to trial court error, was unable to testify. Id. at 261, 280 S.E.2d at 78. We also noted in Payne that the use of this instruction should not be deemed mandatory in every uncorroborated testimony case, explaining as follows:
            We think that this type instruction may be appropriate in cases where the State's case rests largely upon the uncorroborated identification testimony of a witness. The instruction may also be modified to fit the circumstances of any other type of case involving identification testimony where, in the trial judge's discretionary opinion, the giving of such an instruction would aid the jury. We emphasize that we are not here mandating the use of this type instruction in every case involving identification testimony. Rather, we note that this type instruction may be proper in cases where the identification testimony is uncorroborated.

167 W. Va. at 263, 280 S.E.2d at 79 (emphasis added).

    We conclude that while the "care and caution" instruction may have been applicable in the present case, its use was not mandatory, and trial counsel's failure to propose it was harmless error. As we explained in syllabus point nineteen of State v. Thomas, 157 W. Va. 640, 203 S.E.2d 445 (1974), "proved counsel error which does not affect the outcome of the case" is to be considered harmless error. 157 W. Va. at 643, 203 S.E.2d at 449, Syl. Pt. 19. We also emphasize that "[o]ne who charges on appeal that his trial counsel was ineffective and that such resulted in his conviction, must prove the allegation by a preponderance of the evidence." Id., Syl. Pt. 22. As referenced above, a party advancing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must also prove that "there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceedings would have been different. Miller, ___ W. Va. at ___, ___ S.E.2d at ___, Syl. Pt. 5. We discern no reasonable possibility that the omission of the instruction in the case sub judice affected the jury's conclusion. The jury was adequately instructed concerning its role as determiner of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given each witness. Furthermore, the jury was instructed regarding the Appellant as follows:
            The Defendant is a competent witness in his own behalf, and you should not disregard or disbelieve his evidence in whole or in part solely because he is on trial charged with a crime. It is the duty of the jury to give his evidence the same careful and thorough consideration as the evidence of other witnesses, and to weigh his evidence by the same rules as you weigh the evidence of other witnesses, and to give to his evidence such weight and credit as you believe it is entitled to receive.

    The jury had before it detailed testimony of the child victim regarding the acts of sexual abuse perpetrated upon him by his father for over five years. The victim provided specific examples of his father's penetration of his mouth and anus, explaining that his father forced him to engage in this behavior while his mother was not present. While more prudent counsel may have suggested an instruction regarding the uncorroborated testimony of a victim, we find this omission to be harmless in this instance.

                        IV.

    The Appellant also contends that his counsel should have introduced medical records indicating that the Appellant had gonorrhea from 1986 through 1988 and that the victim, when tested in October 1991, had no sexually transmitted diseases. The Appellant testified at trial that he had gonorrhea in 1986. However, his medical records, not introduced by trial counsel,See footnote 4 indicated that the Appellant had been treated for possible gonorrhea in April 1988 and that testing one week later indicated no gonorrhea. Moreover, the Appellant had no access to the victim during the time he allegedly had gonorrhea, since the Appellant and his wife were separated during this time for two months, with the wife having custody of the children. It was during this two-month separation that the Appellant allegedly contracted the gonorrhea and sought medical attention. By the time the Appellant had access to the victim again, the gonorrhea was no longer present. Thus, the fact that the victim son did not have gonorrhea over three years later is of no probative value, and trial counsel's failure to introduce medical records indicating possible gonorrhea for one week in 1988 does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.

    The Appellant also asserts that trial counsel erred by failing to challenge the medical credentials of the State's medical expert, Dr. William C. Byrd, who testified regarding repeated anal intercourse and its physical effect on a victim. The Appellant presents this Court with no evidenceSee footnote 5 that Dr. Byrd was incompetent or that his testimony could have been challenged or limited in any manner. Moreover, Dr. Byrd's testimony was actually favorable to the Appellant in that he explained that there were absolutely no physical findings of sexual abuse in his October 1992 examination of the victim.

     The Appellant further suggests that trial counsel should have introduced evidence of an alleged interview of the victim by DHHS. However, no evidence existed or currently exists regarding this alleged interview. During the habeas corpus hearing, trial counsel testified that he was informed by the Appellant's sister prior to submission of the case to the jury that a representative of either DHHS or some other state agency had told her that the victim had been interviewed and had not reported any sexual abuse by his father.See footnote 6 At the time this potential evidence was revealed to trial counsel, both sides had rested, and trial counsel's failure to seek reopening based upon this unverified information does not constitute error. Furthermore, the Appellant's sister was not called as a witness in the habeas corpus hearing, and no further evidence of this alleged interview has been produced to date.
    
    The Appellant also asserts that trial counsel was inept in his failure to seek a "prompt complaint" instruction. There is no authority in West Virginia for an instruction advising the jury that the testimony of the victim is to be viewed with skepticism where a prompt complaint of rape or abuse was not made. The "prompt complaint" rule in West Virginia has been applied to permit a witness to "testify that a victim of sexual assault complained of the assault soon after its occurrence." State v. Murray, 180 W. Va. 41, 46, 375 S.E.2d 405, 410 (1988). That principle has not been expanded to include an entitlement to any particular instruction in a situation in which the victim did not make a "prompt complaint" concerning the alleged activity, and we decline to make such an expansion at this time.See footnote 7

    The Appellant also complains that trial counsel failed to call witnesses to testify regarding the Appellant's character, pursuant to Rule 608(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence.See footnote 8 Two handwritten testimonials were introduced at trial, one by the Appellant's mother and another by the Appellant's employer. When questioned at the habeas corpus hearing regarding availability of additional character witnesses, the Appellant suggested other former employers who could possibly have testified regarding the Appellant's reputation as a good employee and diligent worker. Such evidence would not have been admissible to specifically demonstrate the Appellant's "character for truthfulness or untruthfulness" under Rule 608(a) since the testimony would only have addressed the Appellant's work history and reliability. Moreover, based upon Rule 403 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, the lower court may not have permitted introduction of additional character evidence based upon the fact that the Appellant's trial counsel had already offered two testimonials concerning the Appellant's character.See footnote 9

    The Appellant also asserts that trial counsel failed to adequately prepare defense witnesses, including the Appellant and Chris BartonSee footnote 10, for their direct and cross examinations. However, trial counsel testified at the habeas corpus hearing that he had spoken with his client on several occasions prior to trial, discussing the types of questions to be addressed. Trial counsel also explained that he did not rehearse the specific testimony with the witnesses due to his recognition that such rehearsal often leads to testimony which appears staged and unbelievable. The Appellant has offered no examples of any specific failure of trial counsel in advising his client or Mr. Barton, nor has he demonstrated any particular prejudice allegedly created thereby.See footnote 11

    The Appellant also suggests that trial counsel should have objected to the indictment's lack of specificity. We find no error in failure to offer such an objection. As we explained in syllabus point three of State v. Donald S. B., 184 W. Va. 187, 399 S.E.2d 898 (1990):
            "'An indictment [or information] for a statutory offense is sufficient if, in charging the offense, it substantially follows the language of the statute, fully informs the accused of the particular offense with which he is charged and enables the court to determine the statute on which the charge is based.' Syl. pt. 3, State v. Hall, [172] W. Va. [138], 304 S.E.2d 43 (1983)." Syl. pt. 3, State v. Wade, 174 W. Va. 381, 327 S.E.2d 142 (1985).

184 W. Va. at 188, 399 S.E.2d at 899, Syl. Pt. 3.

    We have also consistently acknowledged the "body of law suggesting that omission of a date is not fatal to an indictment unless a statute of limitations applies or unless time enter into the essence of the offense." State v. Hensler, 187 W. Va. 81, 84 n.1, 415 S.E.2d 885, 888 n.1 (1992); see State v. Chaffin, 156 W. Va. 264, 192 S.E.2d 728 (1972).

    The Appellant also asserts that his sentence was excessive, comparing his sentence to that of an individual upon a verdict of guilty, with mercy. As we explained in syllabus point two of State v. Farmer, ___ W. Va. ___, 454 S.E.2d 378 (1994), "'[s]entences imposed by the trial court, if within statutory limits and if not based on some unpermissible factor, are not subject to appellate review.' Syl. pt. 4, State v. Goodnight, 169 W. Va. 366, 287 S.E.2d 504 (1982)." In this case, the Appellant could have been sentenced to 138 years in prison, if all sentences were served consecutively. We do not find the Appellant's indeterminate sentence of sixteen to thirty years excessive.See footnote 12

    Upon review of the record and the arguments of counsel, we conclude that the Appellant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel, that he was not prejudiced by any lack of resources of the Public Defender's Office, and that his sentence was not excessive. Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the lower court.