People v. Elbert

176 N.W.2d 467, 21 Mich. App. 677, 1970 Mich. App. LEXIS 2138

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 6, 1970
• Docket: Docket 7,035
• Status: Published

Opinion

Levin, P. J.

The defendant was convicted of breaking and entering 1 upon his plea of guilty and, on November 29, 1967, was placed on probation for three years. He was later charged with violating conditions of his probation, pled guilty and was sentenced to serve a term in state prison. He now appeals.

The alleged probation violations were that the defendant had failed to report to his probation officer in the months of May and September, 1968 and that he was $14 in arrears in paying court costs. 2

At a hearing on November 25, 1968 the court explained the probation violation charges and the following colloquy then ensued:

“The Court: And do you understand that if the terms of the probation order are violated that a person, instead of being allowed to remain in the community, generally is sent to prison?

“The defendant: Yes.

“The Court: And do you understand, that is, if not a probability, at least a possibility in this case? Do you understand that?

“The defendant: Yes.

“The Court: Now, understanding the seriousness of this matter, is it your wish that you be represented by an attorney in this matter?

“The defendant: No.”

The defendant then pled guilty and the court thereupon revoked probation; sentencing was deferred.

Two days later, November 27, 1968, the defendant appeared in court for sentencing. On being asked by the judge whether he wished an attorney, he again replied in the negative. The judge then said that the defendant seemed to be performing well on probation until May, 1968,

“The Court: '* * * But then apparently something happened, you became unemployed, and you started a series of threats and other problems with your family. And, although the technical violations of your probation for wbieb you are before the court today are not serious in and of themselves, they, coupled with your actions since your being placed on probation, seem to indicate that you are not now, at least, a good probation risk.

“Is it true that you have become unemployed since we put you on probation?

“The defendant: For the last month I have been working with my brother-in-law, Art’s Auto Collision.

“The Court: That has not been a steady employment though, has it?

“The defendant: (No audible response)

“The Court: That has not been steady employment. And you have had some problems with your father and your mother, haven’t you?

“The defendant: Tes.

“The Court: Well, if you will recall, at the time I put you on probation I told you that we would hope you wouldn’t violate your probation; and I said at that time that I make this guarantee to you: that if you do violate the terms of your probation, it won’t be any question about what you would get, some prison time. 3

“And, unfortunately for you, you have not kept your part of the bargain; and I am going to have to keep my part of the bargain.”

The defendant was then sentenced to serve nine to ten years in state prison. For reasons we now state we reverse and remand for a new hearing.

Although the judge told the defendant before he waived counsel and pled guilty that probation violators generally go to jail and that this was a serious matter, he also told the defendant that a jail sentence was a possibility, not a probability, in his case. No doubt the defendant was greatly relieved to hear this, particularly if he recalled the judge’s “guarantee” (see footnote 3) that if he violated the terms of probation he would be sentenced to the penitentiary.

It also appears that the judge did not view the charged violations as serious; he thought they were “technical violations.” The factors which tipped the scales were the defendant’s unemployment and arguments with his parents. It was not, however, a condition of probation that the defendant obtain and retain employment and that he avoid arguments with his parents. 4

Under the statute (MOLA § 771.4 [Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1134]) a probationer is entitled to a written copy of a charge of probation violation and to a hearing thereon. 5 Only evidence relating to the charge may be considered and on the basis of that evidence alone is the decision whether to terminate or revoke the probationary order to be made. 6

We recognize that the judge’s announcement, at the conclusion of the first hearing, that he was revoking the defendant’s probation was made before he became aware of the defendant’s unemployment and arguments with his parents. That announcement was, however, clearly provisional. We say this because a decision to revoke probation is tantamount to a resolve to jail the defendant in the state penitentiary; there is no middle ground — either a defendant is on probation or in jail. And we cannot ascribe to the judge a final resolve at the conclusion of the first hearing to sentence the defend ant to the penitentiary under the circumstance that he had just minutes before advised the defendant that a penitentiary sentence was a possibility, not a probability, and the defendant waived counsel and pled guilty immediately following that statement of the judge. 7

"We are, therefore, persuaded that the announced decision, at the conclusion of the first hearing, to revoke probation was a nominal or provisional, and not a final, revocation, and that the final decision to revoke, to jail the defendant, was based on charges of acts which the order of probation did not require the defendant to refrain from committing. 8 Furthermore, such charges were not stated in the notice of probation violation or mentioned in open court before the defendant pled guilty.

We recognize that in sentencing a judge may take into consideration factors other than those upon which an accused person’s conviction is based. We can also appreciate, however, that an accused person who has been “guaranteed” a jail sentence if he again appears in court might well conclude, in the few seconds that intervened in this case between the judge’s statement and his queries as to whether the defendant wished to waive counsel and plead guilty, that his salvation lies in placing himself in the judge’s hands; that he might turn a possibility of a jail sentence into a probability of a jail sentence if he shows a lack of confidence in the judge’s evaluation and prediction by demanding counsel and contesting the probation violation charges.

While a lawyer would realize that the judge’s statement was not a promise of probation, a frightened, untrained and possibly unsophisticated defendant groping for straws is likely to be misled by any intimation from a judge who, even the untutored know, holds in his hands a prisoner’s fate. A waiver of counsel and plea of guilty immediately following even a guarded intimation from a judge that the defendant may anticipate leniency is suspect.

In this case we think the defendant should be given another opportunity to demand counsel and to plead to the probation violation charges. Accordingly, he is remanded to the custody of the sheriff of Genesee county for further proceedings on the probation violation charges lodged against him. 9

Reversed and remanded.

All concurred.

1 MOLA § 750.110 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.305).

2 As a condition of probation the defendant was required to pay court costs of $272, $72 was to be paid at the rate of $2 per month and the balance within two years. A statutory condition of probation required that he report to his probation officer monthly. MCLA § 771.3 (Stat Ann 1954 Bey § 28.1133).

3 At the time the defendant was placed on probation the judge said: “I can make this guarantee to you, that if you do violate the terms of probation, there won't be any question but you will get some prison time.”

4 It appears from the record that the defendant, who is charged with having arguments with his parents, is a married man with children of his own.

5 See In re Bobowski (1946), 313 Mich 521, 523; People v. Wood (1966), 2 Mich App 342, 348.

6 See People v. Sutton (1948), 322 Mich 104, 111; People v. Davenport (1967), 7 Mich App 613; cf. People v. Wood, supra, p 348.

7 No additional information regarding the nature of the charges against the defendant or his history on probation was furnished the judge in the intervening minutes between the judge’s statement that prison was a pssibility, not a probability, and his statement revolting probation upon defendant’s plea of guilty.

8 See People v. George (1947), 318 Mich 329, 332; People v. Pippin (1946), 316 Mich 191, 196; People v. Sutton, supra, p 109.

9 The court may, indeed, revoke a probationary order if it becomes satisfied that “the probationer is likely again to engage in an offensive or criminal course of conduct, or that the publie good requires revocation or termination of probation;” furthermore, a probation order may be revoked for any “type of antisocial eonduet or action on the part of the probationer which shall satisfy such court that revocation is proper in the publie interest.” MCLA § 771.4 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1134). But, if that is the basis upon which a probationary order is to be revoked, the probationer must be notified that it is so charged and a hearing on that charge must be held. See People v. Sutton, supra, p 111; People v. Davenport, supra.