State v. Wood

793 So. 2d 441, 2001 WL 946451
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 22, 2001
Docket34,819-KA
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 793 So. 2d 441 (State v. Wood) 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. Wood, 793 So. 2d 441, 2001 WL 946451 (La. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

793 So.2d 441 (2001)

STATE of Louisiana, Appellee,
v.
Douglas J. WOOD, Appellant.

No. 34,819-KA.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

August 22, 2001.

*444 Douglas J. Wood, In Proper Person Appellant.

Richard Ieyoub, Attorney General, James M. Bullers, District Attorney, Michael A. Pittman, Carl Ekendahl, Assistant District Attorneys, Counsel for Appellee.

Before BROWN, STEWART and GASKINS, JJ.

*445 GASKINS, J.

In this out-of-time appeal the defendant, Douglas J. Wood, attacks his guilty pleas and sentences for three counts of obscenity, a violation of La. R.S. 14:106 A(1). The defendant entered a plea of guilty to the charges and was sentenced to serve three years at hard labor on each count, with the sentences to be served consecutively. In this pro se appeal, he contends that his guilty plea was constitutionally infirm, that the sentences imposed were illegal and excessive and that he was denied liberty without due process of law. For the reasons stated below, we affirm the conviction and sentences.

FACTS

On numerous occasions from 1995 to 1997, the defendant went to public places in Bossier Parish, exposed himself to adult women and masturbated. In October 1997, the defendant was arrested in Shreveport on similar charges. In November 1997, while in custody in Shreveport, he was arrested by Bossier authorities and a hold was placed against him. On January 22, 1998, after his release in Shreveport, the defendant was taken to Bossier. He was brought before the court on January 23, 1998.

On May 11, 1998, the defendant appeared before the court and entered a plea of guilty to three counts of obscenity. In exchange for the guilty pleas, two other counts were nol prossed. The defendant was properly Boykinized and advised of his right to trial by jury, his right of confrontation and his right against compulsory self-incrimination. The defendant stated that he was under no pressure and no threats or force were used to gain the pleas. He also claimed that the pleas were not the result of promises, guarantees, or inducements.

The defendant was informed that he faced a maximum sentence of three years at hard labor, and a fine of up to $2,500.00 for each count, and that the sentences could be ordered to be served consecutively. The court found that the defendant's decision to plead guilty to three counts of obscenity was freely and voluntarily made and ordered that a presentence investigation (PSI) be prepared.

The defendant appeared before the court for sentencing on November 30, 1998. The PSI showed that the defendant had a prior criminal history including convictions for possession of marijuana in 1975, indecency with a child in 1978, indecent exposure in 1987, harassment in 1996, and two counts of obscenity in 1997. The defendant's record also showed arrests in 1978 for fondling of a child and in 1986 for indecency with a child. There were no dispositions for these arrests. Based upon the arrests pertaining to juveniles, the court concluded that the defendant was a pedophile. The trial judge sentenced the defendant to the maximum possible sentence of incarceration, three years at hard labor, on each count, with the sentences to run consecutively, for a total of nine years at hard labor. The defendant was given credit for time served. The trial court also stated that upon the defendant's release from prison, the sex offender registration requirements of La. R.S. 15:540 et seq. would apply to him.

The defendant filed a motion to reconsider sentence on December 28, 1998. The motion was denied by the trial court. On July 10, 2000, the defendant was granted an out-of-time appeal and waived his right to counsel on appeal. On August 3, 2000, we granted the defendant's writ application and amended his sentence, finding that the present offenses are not sex offenses. Therefore, the provision for registration of sexual offenders was not *446 applicable to the defendant. Accordingly, the registration requirement was removed from the defendant's sentence.

On appeal, the defendant claims that his guilty pleas are constitutionally infirm, that the sentences are illegal and excessive, and that he was denied liberty without due process.

VALIDITY OF GUILTY PLEA

The defendant alleges that his plea of guilty to three counts of obscenity was constitutionally infirm because it was not intelligently and voluntarily entered. He claims that the trial judge inappropriately participated in the plea bargain process. The defendant also claims that the trial court did not comply with La. C.Cr.P. art. 556.1 because it failed to inform him of the maximum sentence exposure and the enhanced penalties that might be imposed for subsequent convictions. These arguments are without merit.

A defendant's decision to plead guilty must be his free and voluntary choice. State v. Cassels, 27,227 (La.App.2d Cir.2/28/96), 669 So.2d 715. When the record establishes that an accused was informed of and waived his right to trial by jury, to confront his accusers and against self-incrimination, the burden shifts to the accused to prove that despite this record, his guilty plea was involuntary. State v. Hoover, 34,953 (La.App.2d Cir.4/5/01), 785 So.2d 184. Factors impacting the voluntary and intelligent nature of a plea include breach of a plea bargain, inducement, misleading advice of counsel, and strength of the evidence of actual guilt. Without fraud, intimidation or incompetence of counsel, a guilty plea is not made less voluntary or informed by the considered advice of counsel. Also, misunderstandings between the defendant and his counsel do not render a guilty plea involuntary. State v. Hoover, supra.

The defendant contends that during the plea bargaining process, it was represented to him that the trial judge would only accept a plea of guilty to at least three of the five counts of obscenity, with two remaining counts to be nol prossed. According to the defendant, the prosecutor also stated that if the defendant did not accept the terms of the plea agreement, he would be charged as a multiple offender and would receive an enhanced sentence if convicted. The defendant argues that this was an improper threat by the prosecution, which was given credence by the judge's participation in the plea negotiation process.

The district attorney has the entire charge and control of every criminal prosecution instituted in his district and determines whom, when and how he shall prosecute. La.C.Cr.P. art. 61. The district attorney's office has the power to dismiss charges without the consent of the court. La.C.Cr.P. art. 691. Nothing in the record indicates that the judge had any participation in the plea agreement that two counts would be dismissed if the defendant pled guilty to three counts. When discussing the plea agreement on the record, the defendant's attorney refers to an agreement with the district attorney's office. The defense attorney goes on to state that he had explained to the defendant that the sentence would be entirely up to the judge. This statement indicates that while the attorneys may have consulted with the judge about the plea, the judge made no agreement about any part of the plea. The record does not support the defendant's contention that the judge improperly participated in the plea agreement.

It is quite common that, as part of a plea agreement, the prosecution waives any right to bill the defendant as a habitual *447 offender.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
793 So. 2d 441, 2001 WL 946451, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-wood-lactapp-2001.