Menthen v. State

1971 OK CR 428, 492 P.2d 351
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedOctober 20, 1971
DocketNo. A-16154
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1971 OK CR 428 (Menthen 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
Menthen v. State, 1971 OK CR 428, 492 P.2d 351 (Okla. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

BUSSEY, Presiding Judge:

Thomas S. Menthen, hereinafter referred to as defendant, entered a plea of guilty in the District Court of Canadian County to the offense of Murder; his punishment was fixed at death by electrocution, and from said judgment and sentence, a timely appeal has been perfected to this Court.

The records, on appeal, reflect that on the morning of August 30, 1969, the defendant drove to a house owned by one Jack Graham, and stated that he needed to use the telephone to call the police because he had found a dead body.

After using the telephone, he asked if he could wash his hands. Officer Johnson responded to the defendant’s call and was subsequently taken to the location by the defendant, where the body of a small child was found. The defendant stated that he received an anonymous telephone call concerning the location of the body. The body had several stab wounds and the face was heavily beaten. Trooper Foltz arrived at the scene at the approximate time as the defendant and Officer Johnson. After preliminary investigation, the defendant was advised of his rights against self-incrimination, was placed under arrest and transported to the Oklahoma City Police Department. Thereafter, the defendant was then advised of his Miranda rights, and he made a statement to the effect that he promised the little boy some pop and candy to go for a ride with him. They went riding around for awhile, and went up on Morgan Road, where they stopped. The little boy got smart with him, whereupon defendant hit the boy several times, stabbed him with a screwdriver, and took the boy’s pants off, and also choked him. This statement was made in the presence of Trooper Foltz, the Assistant District Attorney, and the Sheriff of Canadian County. The victim was a three and one-half year old Indian male, who was discovered missing at approximately 9:00 a. m. on August 30, 1969, shortly after having been seen talking to the defendant.

The defendant was arraigned on September 2, 1969, at which time he waived his right to an attorney. On September IS, 1969, J. L. Pazoureck, the Public Defender, was appointed to represent the defendant. On the same date, the defendant was transported to Central State Griffin Me[354]*354morial Hospital at Norman, Oklahoma, for observation and an examination at the request of the District Attorney.

On November 12, 1969, Dr. Loraine Schmidt advised the court, by letter, that upon completing the examination that the defendant was not “mentally ill.”

Preliminary Hearing was conducted on December 8, 1969, at the conclusion of which, the defendant was bound over for trial on the charge of Murder. The defendant was arraigned on the same date before the District Court and entered a plea of Not Guilty. Thereafter, on the 30th day of December, 1969, the defendant filed objections to the psychiatric report and requested additional psychiatric evaluation.

On February 2, 1970, the defendant requested that he be furnished with a complete case history from Central State Griffin Memorial Hospital, which Motion was ruled upon on the 24th day of February, 1970, and sustained. On March S, 1970, the defendant appeared, with counsel, and announced to the court that he wished to change his plea previously entered from “Not Guilty” to “Guilty.” The record reflects the following transpired:

“THE COURT: This case is styled State of Oklahoma vs. Thomas S. Menthen being CR-69-38S, Information in which bears the title of Murder. Show the appearances as the District Attorney or Assistant District Attorney rather, Mr. George S. Turner, the Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Garland Bloodworth, the Public Defender, Mr. Jean Pazoureck, Defendant Thomas Men-then, — Father, what is your name for the record ?
BY FATHER FRANK WRIGLEY: Father Frank Wrigley.
THE COURT: Father Frank Wrigley of Norman, Catholic priest, am I not correct, Father?
BY FATHER FRANK WRIGLEY: Yes.
THE COURT: Mr. Menthen, would you approach the bench please? Was that by chance Mr. Menthen’s mother who you were with ?
BY FATHER FRANK WRIGLEY: Yes.
THE COURT: Would she like to be here?
BY MR. PAZOURECK: We prefer that she not be here.
THE COURT: All right. Let me ask you this, Mr. Menthen, I understand in general that you have asked to come over to change your plea in this case from not guilty to guilty. Before we go any further I just want to ask you if that is substantially correct in your position ?
A. Yes.
Q. All right, is Thomas S. Menthen your true and correct name ?
A. Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Mr. Pazoureck, the record reflects that you filed a demurrer in this case today. Are there any other motions on file in the case which have not been ruled upon ?
BY MR. PAZOURECK: No, sir.
THE COURT: There are no pending motions ?
BY MR. PAZOURECK: No, sir.
THE COURT: All right. Any precedent or argument you wish to make as to your demurrer ?
BY MR. PAZOURECK: No, sir.
THE COURT: Demurrer will be overruled.' Exceptions. What does the letter S stand for, Mr. Menthen? In your middle name ?
A. Stephen.
THE COURT: Thomas Stephen Menthen then is your true and correct name ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How old are you today, Mr. Men-then?
A. Twenty-five.
Q. Twenty-five years. Mr. Jean Pazo-ureck as Public Defender is your attorney, is that correct, sir ?
A. Yes.
Q. And have you in fact been previously appointed by this Court ?
[355]*355BY MR. PAZOURECK: Yes, sir, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And you also represented Mr. Menthen in Preliminary Hearing I presume ?
BY MR. PAZOURECK: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Mr. Menthen, do you understand you are charged in this Court with the crime of murder ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That the maximum punishment for that offense is death in the electric chair, the minimum punishment is life imprisonment, you understand that, sir?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Have you had a copy of this charge, this Information, which has been filed against you ?
A. Yes, sir.
THE COURT: You also, Mr. Pazoureck, acknowledge a copy of it ?
BY MR. PAZOURECK: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Mr. Menthen, do you understand that upon a plea of guilty you may be sentenced to either one of those two punishments, either death in the electric chair or life imprisonment?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. All right.

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Related

Menthen v. State
1972 OK CR 298 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1972)

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Bluebook (online)
1971 OK CR 428, 492 P.2d 351, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/menthen-v-state-oklacrimapp-1971.