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Following the denial of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea to trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and providing a false name and date of birth to police, Alasan Lawton appeals, contending that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance, which resulted in a manifest injustice. We disagree and affirm. The record shows that in April 2005, police searched a house pursuant to a warrant and discovered Lawton, reaching for a loaded assault rifle, in a bedroom where digital scales, cocaine, and nearly $1,000 in cash were subsequently found. Lawton was arrested and indicted on five charges related to the weapon and the drugs. Lawton initially sought a jury trial, which was held in October 2005. However, during the jury’s deliberation, Lawton elected to enter a negotiated plea of guilty, allowing him to avoid a potential life sentence as a recidivist. Approximately two weeks after he was sentenced in accordance with the negotiated plea, Lawton moved to withdraw his plea. Following a hearing at which Lawton argued his trial counsel was ineffective, the trial court denied his motion, giving rise to this appeal.

Because Lawton’s sentence had already been pronounced, “withdrawal of his guilty plea is allowed only to correct a manifest injustice, and the trial court’s refusal to allow withdrawal will not be disturbed on appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion.” Punctuation omitted. McDowell v. State .1 “In determining the motion, the trial court is the final arbiter of all factual disputes raised by the evidence. If evidence supports the trial court’s findings, we must affirm.” Punctuation omitted. Norris v. State .2

 
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