State v. Singleton

13 S.W.3d 584, 340 Ark. 710, 2000 Ark. LEXIS 157
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedMarch 30, 2000
DocketCR 99-1172
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 13 S.W.3d 584 (State v. Singleton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Singleton, 13 S.W.3d 584, 340 Ark. 710, 2000 Ark. LEXIS 157 (Ark. 2000).

Opinion

LAVENSKI R. SMITH, Justice.

The State appeals the trial court’s acceptance of a guilty plea by Appellee Antonio Covell Singleton entered over the State’s objection. The State objected to entrance of the guilty plea, citing Ark. R. Crim. P. 31.1. The State contends that the trial court could not accept Singleton’s guilty plea because the State did not consent. The State asserts that Rule 31.1 requires the State’s consent before a defendant can waive a jury trial. The State reads the rule consistent with our recent cases and we must, therefore, reverse.

Facts

On March 9, 1999, the State charged Singleton with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one felony count of simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm. In an August 27, 1999, hearing, Singleton tendered a guilty plea to the trial court. The trial court stated its intention to accept Singleton’s guilty plea over the objection of the State. The State argued that under Ark. R. Crim. P. 31.1, the trial court could not accept the guilty plea without the prosecution’s consent. The trial court entered the guilty plea and passed sentence. The State timely filed its notice of appeal.

Jurisdiction

The State’s ability to appeal criminal cases is limited. The State may file an interlocutory appeal based upon evidentiary rulings that suppress state’s evidence or permit evidence of a victim’s prior sexual conduct. Also, the State may bring a non-interlocutory appeal where two conditions exist: 1) the Attorney General believes that prejudicial error has occurred, and 2) the uniform administration of the criminal law requires this court’s review. Ark. R. App. P. — Grim. 3(b). State v. Murphy, 315 Ark. 68, 864 S.W.2d 842 (1993). We have previously held that issues similar to those in the instant case satisfy those criteria. State v. Vasquez-Aerreola, 327 Ark. 617, 940 S.W.2d 451 (1997). Hence, jurisdiction of this case is proper.

Guilty Plea Without Consent of the State

On appeal, the State argues that Rule 31.1, as interpreted by this court’s prior opinions, requires that the prosecutor consent to a defendant’s waiver of a trial by jury. The State is correct. Rule 31.1 provides, “No defendant in any criminal cause may waive a jury trial unless the waiver is assented to by the prosecuting attorney and approved by the court.” In Fretwell v. State, 289 Ark. 91, 708 S.W.2d 630 (1986), the defendant sought to plead guilty to capital-murder charges on the eve of trial, ostensibly to avoid imposition of the death penalty by the jury. The prosecutor objected and insisted on putting on the State’s proof of the defendant’s guilt. The court sustained the objection and proceeded to trial. In his appeal, Fretwell contended that the trial court should have had discretion to accept his guilty plea even without the prosecutor’s assent. The court stated, “[I]n Arkansas a felony defendant is not entitled to a trial to the court without the assent of the prosecutor.” Fretwell, 289 Ark. at 93-94. The Fretwell decision further stated, “The rule is clear. Criminal cases which require trial by jury must be so tried unless (1) waived by the defendant, (2) assented to by the prosecutor, and (3) approved by the court. The first two are mandatory before the court has any discretion in the matter. Here, the second requirement, assent by the state, was not had and the court was without discretion to hear the plea.” Id. The court went on to expressly decline to follow those jurisdictions that give a defendant an absolute right to waive a jury trial.

More recently, in Vasquez-Aerreola, we reversed a trial court’s decision to accept a defendant’s guilty plea, citing Fretwell. Vasquez-Aerreola reiterated the Fretwell holding that a trial court has no discretion to accept a felony defendant’s guilty plea over the prosecution’s objection. It is apparent from these cases that this court has interpreted Rule 31.1’s consent requirements to apply not only to a defendant’s election to be tried by the court as opposed to being tried by the jury, but also to the felony defendant’s decision to be tried at all. Our cases thus have viewed a guilty plea in the same manner as a request for waiver of a jury trial.

Failure to Cite the Applicable Rule in the Jurisdictional Statement

In response, Singleton makes five arguments opposing the State’s appeal. None of appellant’s arguments are availing. First, Singleton asserts the State is procedurally barred by its failure to cite the correct basis for appeal on its jurisdictional statement. The State admits the error in its reply brief, and counters that jurisdiction is proper under Ark. R. App. P. — Crim. 3(b) and (c).

Ark. Sup. Ct. R. l-2(c) and 4-2(a)(2) require an informational and jurisdictional statement. The proper form is set out in the accompanying notes, and is the one used by the State. The State marked ‘Interlocutory Appeal,’ when they should have marked ‘Criminal.’ Singleton cites no authority for the proposition that this type of defect requires dismissal of an appeal. We decline to do so now. When an appellant cites no authority or convincing argument in support of his theory, we will not reverse. McGehee v. State, 338 Ark. 152, 992 S.W.3d 110 (1999); Morgan v. State, 333 Ark. 294, 971 S.W.2d 219 (1998); Ayers v. State, 334 Ark. 258, 975 S.W.2d 88 (1998); Bailey v. State, 334 Ark. 43, 972 S.W.2d 239 (1998).

Double Jeopardy

Second, Singleton argues that regardless of the court’s authority to accept the plea, double jeopardy would attach because the trial court actually did accept his plea. He relies on Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-112(2), which provides:

A former prosecution is an affirmative defense to a subsequent prosecution for the same offense under any of the following circumstances:
(2) The former prosecution resulted in a conviction. There is a conviction if the prosecution resulted in a judgment of conviction which has not been reversed or vacated, a verdict of guilty which has not been set aside and which is capable of supporting a judgment, or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted by the court. (Emphasis added.)

We hold Singleton has not been subjected to double jeopardy. The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects a defendant from: (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal; (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction; and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense. Tipton v. State, 331 Ark. 28, 959 S.W.2d 39 (1998). However, once set aside, a defendants plea of guilty, just as a verdict of guilty, does not constitute a conviction.

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

Related

Charles Alan Rickman v. State of Arkansas
2020 Ark. 138 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2020)
Houghton v. State
2015 Ark. 252 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2015)
Helton v. MBNA America Bank, N.A.
285 S.W.3d 676 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2008)
Jefferson v. State
276 S.W.3d 214 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2008)
Thomas v. State
257 S.W.3d 92 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2007)
Whitlow v. State
166 S.W.3d 45 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2004)
Echols v. State
125 S.W.3d 153 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2003)
Buckley v. State
76 S.W.3d 825 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2002)
B.C. v. State
40 S.W.3d 315 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2001)
In re: One 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
37 S.W.3d 613 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2001)
State v. Smittie
20 S.W.3d 352 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2000)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
13 S.W.3d 584, 340 Ark. 710, 2000 Ark. LEXIS 157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-singleton-ark-2000.