Alvarado

MEMORANDUM **

Gilbert Alvarado appeals the denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition. He asserts that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. Specifically, he claims deficient performance of trial counsel on five grounds: 1) failure to investigate and prepare for trial; 2) failure to hire an investigator to identify and interview potential witnesses; 3) failure to call important defense witnesses to testify; 4) failure to investigate or present expert testimony; and 5) the cumulative effect of the foregoing errors. We AFFIRM.

In order to prevail on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Alvarado must show both that his trial counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and that his trial counsel’s performance was so deficient it prejudiced his defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 , 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). We afford great deference to counsel’s performance and trial strategy. Id. at 689 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . In order to establish prejudice, Alvarado must show a “reasonable probability” that “but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceedings…