Dorsciak v. Gladden

425 P.2d 177, 246 Or. 233, 1967 Ore. LEXIS 570
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 15, 1967
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 425 P.2d 177 (Dorsciak v. Gladden) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dorsciak v. Gladden, 425 P.2d 177, 246 Or. 233, 1967 Ore. LEXIS 570 (Or. 1967).

Opinions

DENECKE, J.

In 1962 the plaintiff pleaded guilty to the crimes of rape of daughter and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief contending, among other things, that his confession and plea of guilty to the rape charge were not voluntarily or understandingly made. He does not seek relief from the contributing conviction. The post-conviction court held a hearing and denied the petition.

We hold that the confession was not voluntarily made.

The defendant was 43 years old at the time of his conviction; he had a seventh grade education. He had no prior criminal record.

The defendant was arrested on March 28, 1962, under a warrant issued pursuant to an indictment for rape of daughter. He was taken to the county courthouse and interrogated for approximately one hour by a deputy district attorney and a deputy sheriff. The interrogation was taped; therefore, there is no dispute as to what was said. Ultimately the defendant stated he had sexual relations with his daughters.

The defendant remained incarcerated until April 2, 1962, when he was arraigned and pleaded guilty to both charges. During his incarceration only a minister visited him; however, there is no evidence that others could not have communicated with him. He was never brought before a magistrate as ORS 133.550 requires. He never had the advice of counsel.

[236]*236At the arraignment the court informed him that if he desired the court could appoint an attorney for him. The defendant stated he did not want an attorney. When the defendant indicated he wanted to waive the time given to him to plead and make his plea at that time the court asked, “Do you do that of your own free will and without any promises of any kind?” The answer was, “Yes.” The trial court informed the defendant that “this is a serious charge.” The district attorney made a statement of the charged crime and thereafter the defendant said he did not care to make any statement.

Before the interrogation commenced defendant was advised of his right to remain silent and to have counsel; however, when the defendant asked for counsel, the following occurred:

“Dorsciak: I think that mayhe I see a lawyer and then if he tells me to, you know, that the judge does that, well that’s different, but I’ve got to know, I’ve got to know for sure.
“Conn: Well, I’m certain that the attorney will tell you that—
“Dorsciak: If I could just talk to one just for a minute, he don’t have to take the case, or anything like that, if I could just talk to him and ask him some questions—
“Conn: Well, you’d have to go through proceedings for that or else make arrangements for yourself.
“Tankersley: Well, you understand that you are talking to an attorney now?
“Dorsciak: Yes.
“Conn: I’m the prosecuting attorney and I’m not trying to be unfair and I don’t care whether I have convictions or don’t but I want to be convicted [sic] [convinced] in my own mind that— * *

[237]*237The defendant repeatedly told the interrogators he did not want any publicity to embarrass his daughters. He was told there would be a lot of publicity if there were a trial; however, this could be avoided if he would tell what happened.

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Related

State v. Foster
729 P.2d 599 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1986)
State v. Smith
725 P.2d 894 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1986)
State v. Roberti
644 P.2d 1104 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1982)
State v. Mendacino
603 P.2d 1376 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1979)
State v. Earp
440 P.2d 214 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1968)
Commonwealth v. Baity
237 A.2d 172 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1968)
Dorsciak v. Gladden
425 P.2d 177 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1967)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
425 P.2d 177, 246 Or. 233, 1967 Ore. LEXIS 570, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dorsciak-v-gladden-or-1967.