Haga v. State

1967 OK CR 38, 425 P.2d 483
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 22, 1967
DocketNo. A-14015
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1967 OK CR 38 (Haga v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Haga v. State, 1967 OK CR 38, 425 P.2d 483 (Okla. Ct. App. 1967).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

BUSSEY, Judge.

On the 7th day of June, 1966, Earnest Haga, hereinafter referred to as defendant as he appeared in the trial court below; filed herein an application for post conviction review of judgments and sentences rendered against him in the District Court of Tulsa County, cases no. 21481 and 21482, wherein he was sentenced to terms of five years for the crime of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and 20 years for the crime of Manslaughter in the First Degree. Defendant also asserts that he is entitled to a new trial [484]*484on the grounds of newly discovered evidence.

His first proposition is founded upon the allegation that he was not represented by competent counsel and his second proposition is based on the allegation that after having entered a plea of guilty and on the day of judgment and sentence, he discovered a witness to the offenses, for which he was sentenced, whose affidavit is that defendant acted in his necessary self-defense. Accompanying the petition is a transcript of the proceedings in the District Court of Tulsa County which reflects the following:

“TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS ON DEFENDANT’S PLEA OF GUILTY, * * * Tulsa, Oklahoma, December 9, 1965 * * *
THE COURT: In case 21481, State vs. Earnest Haga, what says the parties? MR. X.: May it please the Court, I have discussed this matter at length with the defendant. I have advised him of his right to a trial by a jury and he has advised me that he wishes to waive his right to a trial by jury and tender a plea of guilty to the offense of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon.
THE COURT: How old are you, Mr. Haga?
.MR. HAGA: Forty-four.
THE COURT: As you know your case is set for trial today before a jury. We are ready now to impanel a jury. You have heard your attorney tell me that after conference with him, you have decided that you desire to waive your right to a jury trial and enter a plea of guilty in case 21481 wherein you are charged with Assault and Battery With a Dangerous Weapon. What do you tell me?
MR. HAGA: That’s right.
THE COURT: You tell me that you want to plead guilty ?
MR. HAGA: Yes.
THE COURT: You are represented by a good lawyer and I am certain that you have fully conferred with him on this, but I must for the sake of the record ask you if you have fully considered the matter and fully conferred with your attorney before announcing this decision in the matter ?
MR. HAGA: Yes.
THE COURT: And you tell me that you are guilty and want to plead guilty ?
MR. HAGA: Yes.
THE COURT: Mr. X. is appearing here as your lawyer. He was selected by you may I assume?
MR. HAGA: Yes.
THE COURT: And have you been satisfied with his representation?
MR. HAGA: Yes.
THE COURT: Let the record show that the defendant is present in court, represented by counsel, waives his right to a jury trial, withdraws his former plea of not guilty and enters his plea of guilty. Inasmuch as the defendant has another case on the docket, perhaps we should get an announcement on that before fixing formal sentencing date on the case that he has just plead guilty to. In case 21482, State vs. Earnest Haga, the charge Murder.
MR. X.: May it please the Court, I have discussed this matter at length with the defendant on many different days and different occasions, and the last conversation I had with the defendant he advised me that he had made up his mind to follow my recommendation to waive his right to a jury trial in this case and ask permission to withdraw his former plea of not guilty and to tender a plea of guilty to a lesser offense and included offense of First Degree Manslaughter.
THE COURT: Mr. Haga, you have heard the announcement of your attorney that you desire to tender a plea of guilty to the lesser and included offense of First Degree Manslaughter. You understand that manslaughter is a felony, punishable by not less than four years nor more than life. He tells me you want to tender a plea of guilty to the offense of First [485]*485Degree Manslaughter, what do you tell me?
MR. HAGA: Yes, guilty.
THE COURT: You have heard your attorney tell me that you and he have conferred many times before making this decision. Is that true ?
MR. HAGA: Yes.
THE COURT: I am not familiar with the facts of this case. Mr. Griffin, what is the desire of the State with reference to my accepting or rejecting this tendered plea?
MR. GRIFFIN: We would recommend that the Court accept the plea.
THE COURT: The record may show that the defendant represented by counsel of his own choosing, withdraws his former plea of not guilty and tenders a plea of guilty to the included offense of First Degree Manslaughter. Let the record further show that the Court accepts said tendered plea of guilty. So now that you have entered a plea of guilty in 21481 which is Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, and in 21482 to First Degree Manslaughter, what is your pleasure with reference to a formal sentencing date?
MR. X.: We are entitled under the law to forty-eight hours from this date to be formally sentenced on the pleas just entered. You can wait that forty-eight hours, or if you wish you may waive the forty-eight hour period and consent to be sentenced at this time, whichever you wish.
THE COURT: I would prefer that you take until next Tuesday since I will not be here Monday and tomorrow would not be the full two days, and I will abide by the decision of yours and your client to wait until Tuesday morning, so I will set formal sentencing on these two cases for Tuesday morning, December 14th, at 9:30 a. m.”
* * * “TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS ON FORMAL SENTENCING OF DEFENDANT * * Tulsa, Oklahoma, December 14, 1965
THE COURT: Mr. Haga, you in case 21482 have heretofore entered your plea of guilty to the offense of First Degree Manslaughter, and this is the time set by the Court to pronounce judgment and sentence upon you. Do you now know of any legal reason why I should not sentence you at this time?
MR. HAGA: No.
THE COURT: And as his attorney, do you know of any legal reason why I should not sentence him?
MR. X.: No, I know of none, your Hon- or.
THE COURT: It will be the judgment of the Court that you be sentenced to serve a term of twenty (20) years in the State Penitentiary at McAlester, your sentence to begin from the date of your delivery to the warden. From the judgment and sentence you have a legal right to appeal to the Criminal Court of Appeals if you so desire.

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Related

Jones v. State
1969 OK CR 287 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1969)

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Bluebook (online)
1967 OK CR 38, 425 P.2d 483, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/haga-v-state-oklacrimapp-1967.