State v. Kharb

2019 WI App 21, 927 N.W.2d 928, 386 Wis. 2d 630
CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedMarch 12, 2019
DocketAppeal No. 2018AP584-CR
StatusPublished

This text of 2019 WI App 21 (State v. Kharb) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Kharb, 2019 WI App 21, 927 N.W.2d 928, 386 Wis. 2d 630 (Wis. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

¶1 Praveen Kharb appeals a judgment convicting him of one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under age thirteen and seven counts of possession of child pornography. He also appeals an order denying his motion for postconviction relief. Kharb argues he is entitled to withdraw his no contest pleas because a provision of his plea agreement concerning the waiver of his right to appeal was ambiguous; because the circuit court did not conduct an adequate colloquy regarding the appellate waiver provision; and because his trial attorneys were ineffective by failing to adequately explain the appellate waiver provision. In the alternative, Kharb argues either sentence modification or resentencing is warranted based on errors in the presentence investigation report (PSI). We reject Kharb's arguments and affirm.

BACKGROUND

¶2 In January 2014, thirty-seven-year-old Kharb began communicating online with Mary,1 a twelve-year-old girl residing in Marathon County, Wisconsin. They communicated online for approximately two months, during which time Kharb sent Mary various gifts, including a sex toy. Kharb persuaded Mary to exchange nude pictures with him, including one in which she was using the sex toy. In March 2014, Kharb traveled to Mary's home from Washington State and had sexual intercourse with her.

¶3 Kharb was initially charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under age thirteen and one count of using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. The State later filed an amended Information that included fourteen additional charges-seven counts of possession of child pornography, and seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

¶4 The parties ultimately reached a plea agreement, by which Kharb agreed to plead no contest to the first-degree sexual assault of a child charge and to the seven child pornography counts. Kharb also agreed to withdraw any pending motions, to recommend sentences providing for at least three years of initial confinement, and not to contest future deportation proceedings. In addition, the plea agreement included a provision regarding the waiver of Kharb's appellate rights. According to a document attached to the Plea Questionnaire/Waiver of Rights form that Kharb completed, Kharb agreed "to waive his right to appeal the conviction." When reciting the terms of the parties' agreement during the plea hearing, the prosecutor stated Kharb "will waive his right to appeal."

¶5 In exchange for Kharb's no contest pleas and the other concessions discussed above, the State agreed to recommend that the remaining eight charges against him be dismissed and read in for purposes of sentencing. The State also agreed to cap its sentencing recommendation for all eight convictions at seven years of initial confinement and twenty years of extended supervision. Furthermore, the State agreed not to file any additional charges related to Kharb's conduct with Mary, and it obtained an agreement from authorities in Washington State that Kharb would not face any charges there.

¶6 At the plea hearing, the circuit court conducted a colloquy, during which it confirmed that Kharb understood the terms of the plea agreement and understood that the court was not bound by that agreement. The court also confirmed that Kharb had reviewed the information on the Plea Questionnaire/Waiver of Rights form "carefully" with his attorneys, had discussed his questions regarding the form with them, and had signed the form because he understood the information it contained. Kharb further confirmed that he had enough time to discuss the plea agreement with his attorneys and was satisfied with their representation. Attorney Joshua Martin-one of the lawyers representing Kharb2 -similarly told the court that he had sufficient time to discuss the plea agreement with Kharb and believed Kharb's pleas were free, voluntary, and intelligent.

¶7 The circuit court accepted Kharb's pleas and found him guilty. The court did not specifically discuss the appellate waiver provision during its plea colloquy with Kharb. However, after accepting Kharb's pleas, the court addressed the attorneys for both sides, stating, "You did put the other aspects of your agreement on the record. They did include the representation that he would be waiving appeal ..., so the Court does note that's part of the record." Kharb did not raise any questions or concerns regarding the appellate waiver provision during the plea hearing.

¶8 After considering PSIs submitted by both parties, the circuit court ultimately imposed sentences totaling fifteen years' initial confinement and fifteen years' extended supervision-far less than Kharb's maximum prison exposure of 235 years. Kharb then moved for postconviction relief, seeking plea withdrawal, resentencing, or sentence modification.

¶9 Kharb argued he was entitled to withdraw his pleas on three grounds: (1) that the plea agreement's appellate waiver provision was ambiguous; (2) that the circuit court's plea colloquy was deficient because the court was required-and failed-to conduct a colloquy ensuring that Kharb's waiver of his appellate rights was free, voluntary, and intelligent (hereinafter, the "Bangert claim")3 ; and (3) that Kharb's trial attorneys were ineffective by failing to adequately explain the appellate waiver provision to him (hereinafter, the "Nelson/Bentley claim").4 In support of his claim for resentencing, Kharb argued his sentences were based on inaccurate information in the State's PSI. Kharb further asserted that the existence of that inaccurate information was a new factor warranting sentence modification, and that his sentences were unduly harsh.

¶10 With respect to Kharb's Bangert claim, the circuit court concluded he had made a prima facie showing that the plea colloquy was defective because "there may have not been an adequate record made as to [Kharb's] knowing waiver of the separate and distinct right to appeal." The court therefore held that the burden had shifted to the State to establish that Kharb's plea was "knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered despite the inadequacy of the record at the time of the plea's acceptance." The court then held an evidentiary hearing on Kharb's Bangert and Nelson/Bentley claims, at which Martin, Zich, Bhatt, and Kharb each testified.

¶11 The circuit court subsequently denied Kharb's postconviction motion in its entirety.

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Bluebook (online)
2019 WI App 21, 927 N.W.2d 928, 386 Wis. 2d 630, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-kharb-wisctapp-2019.