State v. Neeley

297 S.E.2d 389, 307 N.C. 247, 1982 N.C. LEXIS 1674

Opinion

COPELAND, Justice.

Defendant’s petition for discretionary review presents two questions for review by this Court. The first question to be considered concerns the resolution of a conflict between the Court of Appeals’ opinion in this case and its opinion in State v. Black, 51 N.C. App. 687, 277 S.E. 2d 584 (1981), cert. denied, 303 N.C. 546 (1981). That conflict concerns a determination of the proper procedure for raising a constitutional claim of right to counsel at a trial where the defendant received a suspended prison sentence in a case where the defendant does not challenge the sentence until the suspension is revoked and an active sentence imposed. We believe the sounder position is to follow the Black decision which allows the defendant to raise his right to counsel claim after the prison sentence has become active. The second question to be considered is whether the defendant is entitled to appointed counsel in a case where he receives a prison sentence which is suspended and later becomes active. In such a circumstance we feel an indigent defendant must have been afforded appointed counsel to represent him during the original trial.

In State v. Black, 51 N.C. App. 687, 277 S.E. 2d 584 (1981), cert. denied, 303 N.C. 546 (1981), the Court of Appeals correctly determined that the defendant properly appealed from the activation of his prison term and the denial of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel during his original trial.

In that case, as in the one sub judice, the defendant’s suspended prison sentence was ordered activated. We therefore emphasize that this opinion only addresses those circumstances in which a defendant seeks to challenge the validity of an original uncounseled prison sentence at a later time when the prison sentence is activated. Thus, when a court activates a suspended prison sentence, defendant may, upon appeal of such activation, raise the claim that he was unconstitutionally denied counsel at his original trial. As a result, the appeal in this case was properly before the Court of Appeals on the issue of the right to appointed counsel under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States.

The Supreme Court of the United States has held that it is unconstitutional to impose an active prison sentence on an indigent defendant who has not been afforded appointed counsel. “[N]o person may be imprisoned for any offense, whether classified as petty, misdemeanor, or felony, unless he was represented by counsel at his trial.” Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 37, 92 S.Ct. 2006, 2012, 32 L.Ed. 2d 530, 538 (1972). Seven years later in Scott v. Illinois, 440 U.S. 367, 99 S.Ct. 1158, 59 L.Ed. 2d 383 (1979), the Supreme Court reiterated its position in Argersinger by stating that the central premise of Argersinger was, “that actual imprisonment is a penalty different in kind from fines or the mere threat of imprisonment . . .” Scott v. Illinois, 440 U.S. at 373, 99 S.Ct. at 1162, 59 L.Ed. 2d at 389. (Emphasis added.) In Scott the Court expressly rejected the contention that a state must provide counsel whenever imprisonment is an authorized penalty and stated that the central premise of Ar-gersinger, “is eminently sound and warrants adoption of actual imprisonment as the line defining the constitutional right to appointment of counsel.” Scott, supra, 440 at 373, 99 S.Ct. at 1162, 59 L.Ed. 2d at 389.

In a recent decision, we pointed out, “[T]hat due process presumptively requires the appointment of legal counsel to represent an indigent defendant if his actual imprisonment, or comparable confinement, is a likely result in the present proceeding concerned.” Carrington v. Townes, 306 N.C. 333, 335, 293 S.E. 2d 95, 97 (1982). (Original emphasis.) It is clear from our decision in Carrington v. Townes and the decisions of the United States Supreme Court in Argersinger and Scott v. Illinois, that the evil which must be avoided is the imprisonment of an indigent defendant who has not been afforded appointed counsel.

We now address the second issue raised by this appellant as to whether he was entitled to court appointed counsel at the time he pled guilty to failure to support his minor child. There is no doubt that whenever a party receives an active prison sentence, no matter how short, he must be afforded the opportunity to have counsel represent him. “[A]bsent a knowing and intelligent waiver, no person may be imprisoned for any offense, whether classified as petty, misdemeanor, or felony, unless he was represented by counsel at his trial.” Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 37, 92 S.Ct. 2006, 2012, 32 L.Ed. 2d 530, 538 (1972). (Emphasis added.)

In a 1979 decision, previously cited, the United States Supreme Court applied the Argersinger rule to indigent defendants and stated, “[T]he Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution require only that no indigent criminal defendant be sentenced to a term of imprisonment unless the State has afforded him the right to assistance of appointed counsel in his defense.” Scott v. Illinois, 440 U.S. 367, 373, 99 S.Ct. 1158, 1162, 59 L.Ed. 2d 383, 389 (1979). (Emphasis added.) In recognition of the United States Supreme Court’s decisions in Argersinger and Scott, this Court held in a recent decision, “[T]hat due process presumptively requires the appointment of legal counsel to represent an indigent defendant if his actual imprisonment, or comparable confinement, is a likely result in the present proceeding concerned.” Carrington v. Townes, 306 N.C. 333, 335, 293 S.E. 2d 95, 97 (1982). (Original emphasis.)

The mandate of this Court and the United States Supreme Court in Argersinger could not be clearer. In Argersinger the United States Supreme Court, with no dissenting opinion, said, “Under the rule we announce today, every judge will know when the trial of a misdemeanor starts that no imprisonment may be imposed, even though local law permits it, unless the accused is represented by counsel.” Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. at 40, 92 S.Ct. at 2014, 32 L.Ed. 2d at 540. 1 Therefore, if the crime for which the defendant is charged carries a possible prison sentence of any length, the judge may not impose an active prison sentence on the defendant unless defendant has been afforded the opportunity to have counsel represent him.

In the case sub judice the record is completely silent as to whether the defendant was indigent, whether he knew he had a right to counsel or whether he made a knowing waiver of his right to counsel. In fact the record does not even indicate whether defendant was asked any questions whatsoever. As a result we cannot determine that defendant waived his right to counsel at the time he pled guilty to failure to support his minor child. “Waiver of counsel may not be presumed from a silent record.” State v. Morris, 275 N.C. 50, 59, 165 S.E. 2d 245, 251 (1969); See also, Carnley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 82 S.Ct. 884, 8 L.Ed. 2d 70 (1962).

The defendant, if he is to be imprisoned, is entitled to counsel even though he pleads guilty regardless of the fact that he was not convicted after a full trial. We find guidance for this very proposition in Argersinger, where the Court stated:

Beyond the problem of trials and appeals is that of the guilty plea, a problem which looms large in misdemeanor as well as felony cases. Counsel is needed so that the accused may know precisely what he is doing, so that he is fully aware of the prospect of going to jail or prison, and so that he is treated fairly by the prosecution.

Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. at 34, 92 S.Ct. at 2011, 32 L.Ed. 2d at 536. (Emphasis added.) In this case had defendant been afforded legal counsel he may very well have decided not to plead guilty.

Whether assistance of counsel would have made a difference is speculative and non-determinative on the issue of defendant’s constitutional right to assistance of counsel. The rule of law on this issue has been expressly addressed by the United States Supreme Court, by this Court, and by our legislature through G.S. 7A-451(a)(l). If a trial judge is prepared to impose an active prison sentence on an indigent defendant he must be sure that defendant is afforded appointed counsel. If an indigent defendant is not afforded appointed counsel he may not be given an active prison sentence. In this case where the record is silent on whether defendant was afforded counsel, the trial judge should not have imposed an active prison sentence upon the defendant.

We therefore vacate defendant’s guilty plea and six months prison sentence. We also deny defendant’s motion for appropriate relief because it is moot. The decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded to that court with instructions to remand to the Superior Court, Wilkes County, for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded.

1 . The rule of Argersinger has been codified by our legislature in G.S. 7A-451 (a)(1) which provides: An indigent person is entitled to services of counsel in . . . any case in which imprisonment, or a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00), or more, is likely to be adjudged.