State v. McConkey

247 N.W.2d 687, 1976 S.D. LEXIS 151
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 16, 1976
Docket11639
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 247 N.W.2d 687 (State v. McConkey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. McConkey, 247 N.W.2d 687, 1976 S.D. LEXIS 151 (S.D. 1976).

Opinions

DUNN, Chief Justice (on reassignment).

Defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of third degree burglary and was sentenced to ninety days’ imprisonment in the Pennington County jail. He appeals, contending, inter alia, that the trial court erred in not permitting him to withdraw his guilty plea after the trial court indicated that the state’s attorney’s recommendation as a result of plea bargaining would not be followed. We reverse.

Defendant was charged on December 3, 1974. Thereafter, counsel was appointed to represent him and on January 30, 1975, defendant signed under oath a “Petition To Enter Plea Of Guilty” in the presence of his attorney. Paragraph 8 of the petition states that:

“I understand that if I plead ‘GUILTY’, the sentencing is solely at the discretion of the Judge, and neither my defense counsel nor the States Attorney can control that sentencing. I further understand that any recommendation made by the States Attorney is not binding upon the Court, and the Court may impose the same punishment as if I had pled ‘NOT GUILTY’, stood trial, and been convicted.”
Paragraph 9 of the petition states that: “I declare that no officer or any agent of any branch of government, Federal, State or local, [has] made any promise or suggestion of any kind to me, or within my knowledge to anyone else, that I will receive a lighter sentence, or probation, or any other form of leniency if I plead ‘GUILTY’, except (state any plea negotiation agreements): that upon entering a [688]*688plea of guilty, the state will recommend for the Judge’s consideration suspending imposition of sentence.”

On January 31, 1975, defendant and his attorney appeared before the circuit court for arraignment, at which time the petition to enter a plea of guilty was received as an exhibit. After fully advising defendant of his statutory and constitutional rights, the trial court asked the deputy state’s attorney whether any plea discussions had occurred between his office and defendant’s counsel. The deputy state’s attorney replied that the state’s attorney’s office had advised defense counsel that if defendant would plead guilty to the third degree burglary charge against him the state would recommend for the court’s consideration that imposition of sentence be suspended and that defendant be placed on probation. The deputy state’s attorney then stated:

“ * * * And Mr. Hagg (a fellow deputy state’s attorney) insisted to me that the reason he was going to make such a recommendation for the Court to consider was the age of the defendant, his. unblemished past record and his work record. And at this time, I would notify the Court of that recommendation and just simply ask that the Court would consider such.”.

Immediately following this statement, defendant’s counsel stated that:

“Your Honor, for the record, I believe that’s an accurate description as I understand the plea negotiations. I have discussed with Mr. McConkey in regard to those plea negotiations that this was merely a recommendation. It is not binding on the Court and it is merely for the Judge’s consideration. And that the Judge, whoever he would be, at the time, could sentence Mr. McConkey up to and including the maximum penalty for this crime.”

The following colloquy then took place between the court and defendant:

“THE COURT:
“Young man, do you agree — especially, with what your defense counsel has said here in court today?
“THE DEFENDANT:
“Yes.
“THE COURT:
“That is, you were aware of a plea negotiation and that this recommendation of probation would be given to the Court?
“THE DEFENDANT:
“Yes.
“THE COURT:
“Do you understand that even though that recommendation has been made to the Court of Probation, that the Court is not bound by those plea discussions and is not bound by the State’s Attorney’s recommendation for probation?
“THE DEFENDANT:
“Yes.
“THE COURT:
“You are aware of that?
“THE DEFENDANT:
“Yes.
“THE COURT:
“Knowing — of those discussions knowing that the Court has told you that the Court is not bound by that recommendation, do you still persist in your plea of guilty?
“DEFENDANT:
“Yes.”

After determining that there was a factual basis for defendant’s plea, the trial court ordered, with defendant’s consent, that a presentence investigation be conducted and a report submitted.

The defendant appeared for sentencing on February 21,1975. Defense counsel was not permitted to see the presentence report on defendant, but was advised in chambers that the report was “bad” and that the court was not inclined to follow the recommendation of probation. Defense counsel then requested that the court follow ABA Standards and permit defendant to withdraw his plea where the plea negotiation recommendation was not being adopted by the court. This was refused. Then, prior to sentencing, the defendant formally moved to withdraw his plea. This motion was denied and a jail sentence was pronounced by the court.

[689]*689Defendant contends that the trial court erred in not permitting him to withdraw his guilty plea after it became apparent that the trial court was not going to follow the plea agreement. To support this contention, defendant cites Standard 3.3(b) of the American Bar Association’s Standards Relating To Pleas Of Guilty (Approved Draft, 1968), which reads in part as follows:

“3.3 Responsibilities of the trial judge.
* * * * * *
“(b) If a tentative plea agreement has been reached which contemplates entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in the expectation that other charges before that court will be dismissed or that sentence concessions will be granted, upon request of the parties the trial judge may permit the disclosure to him of the tentative agreement and the reasons therefor in advance of the time for tender of the plea. He may then indicate to the prosecuting attorney and defense counsel whether he will concur in the proposed disposition if the information in the pre-sentence report is consistent with the representations made to him. If the trial judge concurs, but later decides that the final disposition should not include the charge or sentence concessions contemplated by the plea agreement, he shall so advise the defendant and then call upon the defendant to either affirm or withdraw his plea of guilty or nolo conten-dere.”

Defendant also cites Standard 4.1 of the American Bar Association Standards Relating To The Function of the Trial Judge (Approved Draft 1972) which provides in part that:

“4.1 Role of the judge in plea discussions and plea agreements.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Lee Johnson
307 N.W.2d 385 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1981)
State v. Giuliano
270 N.W.2d 33 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1978)
State v. Doherty
261 N.W.2d 677 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1978)
State v. McConkey
247 N.W.2d 687 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1976)
State v. Steinmetz
247 N.W.2d 690 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1976)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
247 N.W.2d 687, 1976 S.D. LEXIS 151, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mcconkey-sd-1976.