State v. Vu

846 So. 2d 67, 2003 WL 1823534
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 8, 2003
Docket02-KA-1243
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 846 So. 2d 67 (State v. Vu) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Vu, 846 So. 2d 67, 2003 WL 1823534 (La. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

846 So.2d 67 (2003)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Hung T. VU.

No. 02-KA-1243.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

April 8, 2003.

*68 Paul D. Connick, Jr., District Attorney, Terry M. Boudreaux, Andrea S. Long, Richard P. Pickens, II, Assistant District Attorneys, Gretna, LA, for the State.

Jane L. Beebe, Gretna, LA, for defendant-appellant.

Panel composed of Judges EDWARD A. DUFRESNE, JR., CLARENCE E. McMANUS and WALTER J. ROTHSCHILD.

CLARENCE E. McMANUS, Judge.

Defendant appeals his adjudication and sentence as a fourth felony offender. For the following reasons, we vacate the sentence and remand for further proceedings.

*69 STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On March 6, 2001, defendant, Hung T. Vu, was charged in a bill of information with the November 30, 2000 operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated in violation of La. R.S. 14:98(E). This was his fourth such offense. Defendant pled not guilty. Thereafter, he filed a motion to quash the bill of information. In the motion, defendant alleged that the predicate guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily made because he was not aware that the three offenses which were three "first offenses" could be used as a first, second and third offense for the enhancement of the current DWI charge. He also alleged that, in pleading to a third offense DWI, he was not advised of his right to a jury trial and the pleas were made on the same day and therefore should count as one offense for enhancement purposes.

The bill of information specifies three predicate offenses:

Predicate No. 1:

A guilty plea entered on February 16, 2000, under Docket Number S66878, in Division B, Second Parish Court for Jefferson Parish, for an offense that occurred on January 27, 1998.

Predicate No. 2:

A guilty plea entered on February 16, 2000, under Docket Number S665530, in Division B, Second Parish Court, for Jefferson Parish, for an offense that occurred on February 2, 1998.

Predicate No. 3:

A guilty plea entered on February 16, 2000, under Docket Number S724364, in Division B, Second Parish Court, for Jefferson Parish, for an offense that occurred August 1, 1999.

The State offered State's Exhibit No. 1, which contained the following. In support of the Predicate No. 1 (i.e., Doc. No. 668783), the State offered certified copies of the minute entry of the charges for DWI, first offense, and reckless operation; a copy of the citation; evidence of completion of community service work; a waiver of rights form and a minute entry of the guilty plea and sentence. In support of the Predicate No. 2 (i.e., Doc. No. 665530), the State offered certified copies of the minute entry of the charge for DWI, first offense, and failure to maintain control; a copy of the citation, evidence of completion of community service work and driver's education, a waiver of rights form and a minute entry of the guilty plea and sentence. In support of the Predicate No. 3 (i.e., Doc. No. 724364), the State offered certified copies of the minute entry of the charges for DWI, first offense, reckless operation, driving with a suspended license and failure to wear a seatbelt; a copy of the citation; evidence of completion of community service work; a waiver of rights form and a minute entry of the guilty plea and sentence. State's Exhibit No. 1, offered in support of the predicate convictions, also contained a copy of the transcript of the defendant's guilty plea proceedings taken on February 16, 2000, in Second Parish Court for the Parish of Jefferson.

A review of the colloquy contained in the transcript for the three predicate guilty pleas reveals that the trial judge advised the defendant that he was pleading guilty to "three first offense" DWIs. This fact was thereafter verified by the State. The judge read the charges for each of the three cases to the defendant. The defendant, upon being questioned by the court, indicated that his attorney had reviewed with him the penalties for "first offense" DWI and also the enhanced penalties for subsequent offenses. The trial *70 judge explained the elements of the offense of driving while intoxicated. He also informed the defendant of his relinquished rights pursuant to his pleading guilty, which included a "bench trial." The defendant was told the minimum (ten days and $300 fine) and maximum (six months and $1,000 fine) penalties. The judge further explained that the plea could be used against him "as a second, third or greater offense." Mr. Vu was also informed that the State could utilize offenses as far back as ten years for enhancement purposes and it would not matter if the other offenses occurred before or after any other offense. The trial judge also informed the defendant of the minimum and maximum sentencing exposure for a second offense, third offense and fourth offense. The judge advised the defendant that the State would reduce and dismiss all other charges. The judge questioned the defendant concerning the voluntary nature of the pleas and accepted the guilty pleas as knowing and voluntary. After defendant indicated he was ready for sentencing, the trial judge sentenced the defendant and imposed the following three consecutive sentences.

On Predicate No. 1, (Doc. No. 668785) defendant was sentenced to six months in parish prison, which sentence was suspended and he was placed on one year of active probation. He was also ordered to pay a $700 fine, court costs and to perform 50 hours of community service work. On Predicate No. 2, (Doc. No. 665530) defendant was also sentenced to six months in parish prison, which sentence was suspended and he was placed on one year of active probation. He was also ordered to pay a $400 fine and court costs. Additionally, he was ordered to perform 32 hours of community service work, attend a substance abuse program and driver's education program. On Predicate No. 3, (Doc. No. 724364) defendant was also sentenced to six months in parish prison, which sentence was suspended and he was placed on one year of active probation. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $700 fine, court costs, and to perform 50 hours of community service work.

In September, 2001, the defendant filed a "Motion to Invoke the New Sentencing Provisions Set forth in Act 1163." The State filed a "Memorandum in Support of Applying the Sentencing Law in effect at the Time of the Offense." Following a hearing and taking the matter under advisement, the trial judge denied the motion and advised him that he would be sentenced pursuant to La. R.S. 14:98, prior to its amendment by 2001 La. Acts No. 1163. Defendant objected to the ruling, sought supervisory writs and a stay of the proceedings. On November 2, 2001, this Court denied the writ application. On November 6, 2001, the date set for trial, the defendant entered a plea of guilty as charged to DWI, fourth offense, under State v. Crosby, 338 So.2d 584 (La.1976). His plea conformed with Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969). Defendant reserved the right to appeal the pre-trial rulings on the Motion to Quash and the application of 2001 La. Acts 1163 to his sentencing.

The defendant waived sentencing delays and was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment at hard labor with credit for time served. Five years of the sentence was suspended and the defendant was placed on five years of active probation.

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Bluebook (online)
846 So. 2d 67, 2003 WL 1823534, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-vu-lactapp-2003.