People v. Goldfarb

148 N.W.2d 241, 6 Mich. App. 7, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 633
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 14, 1967
DocketDocket 1,238
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 148 N.W.2d 241 (People v. Goldfarb) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Goldfarb, 148 N.W.2d 241, 6 Mich. App. 7, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 633 (Mich. Ct. App. 1967).

Opinions

Holbrook, J.

Defendant was charged in an information on two counts of breaking and entering a dwelling in the nighttime with intent to commit a larceny therein,1 and possession of burglary tools.2 Defendant pleaded guilty in the recorder’s court for the city of Detroit, October 15, 1963, to the charge of possession of burglary tools and such plea was accepted. On October 29, 1963, defendant was sentenced to prison to a term of 7 to 10 years. Upon petition of defendant, the court appointed present counsel for appellate review. A delayed motion was presented to the trial court to set aside the plea and for a new trial which was denied May 21, 1965. Application for leave to file a delayed appeal from the denial of the said motion in the trial court was granted by this Court, December 16, 1965.

Pursuant to said order, defendant has appealed and raises the several claims of error for review, one of which was that the trial judge did not meet the statutory and court rule requirements in accepting the defendant’s plea of guilty.

More specifically, the error asserted by defendant involves the sufficiency of the arraignment prior to acceptance of his plea of guilty in order to comply with the applicable court rule G-CR 1963, 785.3(2) which is as follows:

“If the accused pleads guilty, after such plea and before sentence the court shall inform the accused of the nature of the accusation and the consequence [11]*11of his plea; and regardless of whether'he is represented by counsel, the court shall examine the accused, not necessarily under oath, and as a condition of accepting the plea of guilty and imposing sentence shall ascertain that the plea was freely, understanding^, and voluntarily made, without undue influence, compulsion, or duress, and without promise of leniency. Unless the court determines ■that the plea of guilty was so made, it shall not be accepted.”

The defendant and another were charged with -the crime contained in the information; both pleaded guilty as to count 2, the possession of burglary tools. The record received from the trial court discloses the following proceedings on arraignment:

“The Court. Irving Charles Goldfarb?
“Defendant.' Yes, sir.
“The Court. Your counsel Mr. Parzen advises the court that you wish to plead guilty to possession of burglary tools, is that correct?
“Defendant. Yes.
“The Court. You plead guilty freely and voluntarily?
“Defendant. Yes.
“The Court. No one forced you to plead guilty?
“Defendant. No.
“The Court. No one threatened you in any way or made you any promises?
“Defendant. No, sir.
“The Court. You plead guilty after having talked .the matter over with Mr. Parzen and after receiving his advice, is that right?
“Defendant. Yes, sir.
“The Court. He’s told you the maximum penalty .for the crime is 10 years?
“Defendant. Yes, sir.
“The Court. He’s also told you that you have a ■constitutional right to trial by jury, you wish to [12]*12waive tbe right and plead guilty before me, is that correct ?
“Defendant. Yes, sir.
“The Court. You plead guilty because you are guilty?
“Defendant. Yes, sir.
“The Court. Very well. * * * The court will accept both pleas, refer you to the psychiatric — ■ wait, to the probation department only, 2 weeks from today for sentence and remanded to the custody of the sheriff as to each.”

The foregoing clearly shows that the court adequately ascertained that the plea was freely and voluntarily made without any undue influence, compulsion, duress, or promise of leniency. He was advised that the maximum penalty was 10 years and also advised of his right to a jury trial. At the time, his attorney was present and representing him.

It now clearly appears that the only issue of substance is whether the trial court substantially complied with the requirement that “the court shall inform the accused of the nature of the accusation.”

The only references to the nature of the accusation contained in the record are the following two questions by the court: “Your counsel, Mr. Parzen, advises the court that you wish to plead guilty to possession of burglary tools, is that correct?” and “You plead guilty after having talked the matter over with Mr. Parzen after receiving .his advice, is that right ?”

The offense to which defendant offered a plea of guilty is CL 1948, § 750.116 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.311) which is as follows:

“Any person who shall knowingly have in his possession any nitroglycerine, or other explosive, thermite, engine, machine, tool or implement, device, chemical or substance, adapted and designed for [13]*13cutting or burning through, forcing or breaking open any building, room, vault, safe or other depository, in order to steal therefrom any money or other property, knowing the same to be adapted and designed for the purpose aforesaid, with intent to use or employ the same for the purpose aforesaid, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the State prison not more than 10 years.”

The charge is a complicated one. Its elements involve both knowledge of possession and potential utility of certain tools and items and intent to use such for a specific purpose as defined by the statute. It is true that the defendant was represented by capable counsel and that defendant had considerable previous experience in the criminal courts- of our State. However, the court rule is mandatory as we have previously ruled in People v. Winegar (1966), 4 Mich App 547, wherein Judge McGregor stated on pp 552, 553:

“If the arraignment proceedings which culminate in a plea of guilty fail to comply with the appropriate rule, there is no standard by which they could be- said to be valid. The standard to be followed for validity of a plea of guilty is clearly the court rule. Perhaps the requirements of the court rule go beyond the minimum Federal constitutional requirements, but it is beyond the authority of the Court of Appeals to emasculate the statute or the court rule. Once the procedure is set forth by statute or court rule, it would be a denial of equal protection of the laws not to apply said rule in a consistent manner to all defendants. The rule is more than a matter of mere procedure. It sets up a means of providing and guaranteeing fair treatment to defendants who are pleading guilty.”

The people cite People v. Bumpus (1959), 355 Mich 374, as authority for holding the present arraignment sufficient. In Bumpus, supra, the Su[14]*14preme Court affirmed the conviction but noted that the defendant had twice stated he understood the nature of the charge made against him.

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Related

People v. Minson
180 N.W.2d 805 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1970)
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161 N.W.2d 421 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1968)
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159 N.W.2d 371 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1968)
People v. Cherry
159 N.W.2d 356 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1968)
People v. Lang
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People v. Taylor
155 N.W.2d 723 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1968)
People v. Goldfarb
148 N.W.2d 241 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1967)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
148 N.W.2d 241, 6 Mich. App. 7, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 633, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-goldfarb-michctapp-1967.