People v. Little

321 N.W.2d 763, 115 Mich. App. 662

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 23, 1982
• Docket: Docket 56546
• Status: Published

Opinions

Per Curiam.

The defendant was charged with larceny in a building, MCL 750.360; MSA 28.592. He tendered a plea of guilty pursuant to a plea bargain which was accepted by the trial court. At the plea hearing, the defendant testified under oath to having committed the larceny offense with which he was charged. Prior to his sentencing, the defendant moved to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming his innocence and admitting that he lied to the judge when he pled guilty. The judge took the defendant’s motion for withdrawal under advisement and issued an order for the defendant to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court.

At the show cause hearing, the defendant’s former trial attorney testified that the defendant had denied committing the crime he had pled guilty to but that the guilty plea was entered because he, the attorney, felt that the case was unwinnable and impossible and that the plea bargain would achieve the best possible result for the defendant. The attorney stated that he coached the defendant on what he would have to say to the court to satisfy the elements of the crime and have the court accept the plea.

The judge found the defendant in contempt of court for lying during the guilty-plea proceedings. The defendant was sentenced to, and served, 30 days in the Wayne County jail. The defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea was granted and, subsequently, a jury found the defendant not guilty of larceny in a building. The defendant now appeals his conviction for contempt.

Technically, it could be construed that almost every defendant who wishes to withdraw his plea prior to sentencing has lied to the court in the plea-taking proceedings. However, "the power to punish for contempt is awesome and carries with it the equally great responsibility to apply it judiciously and only when the contempt is clearly and unequivocally shown”. People v Matish, 384 Mich 568, 572; 184 NW2d 915 (1971). Otherwise, the contempt powers of the court would have an unacceptable chilling effect on a defendant’s decision to withdraw his plea.

This case involves criminal contempt; however, that fact was never explicitly stated by the court. See People v Johns, 384 Mich 325; 183 NW2d 216 (1971). In a criminal contempt case, it is necessary to find a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People v Randazzo, 21 Mich App 215, 216; 175 NW2d 333 (1970).

The defendant stated that he had lied to the court by misstating the facts to have his plea accepted. The issue becomes whether or not this action was contemptuous beyond a reasonable doubt. We conclude that it was not. An essential element of criminal contempt is that a defendant act culpably. People v Kurz, 35 Mich App 643, 652; 192 NW2d 594 (1971). We cannot conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s statements at the plea-taking proceeding were motivated by bad faith rather than the assortment of personal reasons that the defendant suggests.

Reversed.