Tygart v. State

752 S.W.2d 362, 1988 Mo. App. LEXIS 580, 1988 WL 39026
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 25, 1988
Docket15241, 15282
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 752 S.W.2d 362 (Tygart v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tygart v. State, 752 S.W.2d 362, 1988 Mo. App. LEXIS 580, 1988 WL 39026 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

MAUS, Judge.

By his motion under Rule 27.26, the mov-ant, David Tygart, seeks to set aside his sentence and withdraw his plea of guilty to a charge of first degree murder. § 565.020. His motion alleged four grounds why that relief should be granted. Following an evidentiary hearing, the motion court found against movant on two allegations. But, under the third and fourth allegations, it set aside the sentence and directed the trial court to hold a hearing on the movant’s request to withdraw his plea of guilty with leave to the movant to present evidence. The state appeals from that judgment. The movant appeals from the adverse determination upon two of the four allegations.

Procedurally and factually this case is unusual. In particular it presents questions of procedure that have not been answered by the appellate courts. Counsel presented the case in the motion court in such a manner as to totally obfuscate those issues. The suggestions filed by movant’s counsel included a misconception of the law as well as a misleading statement of the facts. The motion court was not aided by the failure of the state to file counter-suggestions. This made it virtually impossible for the motion court to define and resolve those issues.

The following is the general background of the case. The movant was charged with having committed first degree (capital) murder in violation of § 565.020.1 by shooting Don Tracy on September 7,1985. Mov-ant was represented by experienced, able and aggressive defense counsel. On March 26, 1986, movant signed a petition to withdraw his prior plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty pursuant to a plea bargain. The plea bargain was that the state would not seek the death penalty.

On March 31, 1986, the petition was presented to the Circuit Court of Jasper County. The movant appeared in person and by his retained counsel. The state appeared by the prosecuting attorney. The trial court conducted a lengthy hearing upon that petition. At the conclusion of the hearing the trial court made detailed findings and accepted the plea of guilty. Even though the only alternative punishment was imprisonment for life without eligibility for probation or parole or release, except by act of the governor, § 565.020.2, the trial court acceded to the movant’s request for a presentence investigation. It set sentencing for May 27,1986.

For a reason and in a manner not disclosed by the record, the trial court advanced sentencing to April 14, 1986. A presentence report had been filed. The defendant and his retained counsel appeared without objection. The state appeared by the prosecuting attorney. Mov-ant and his counsel acknowledged the receipt of a copy of the report a few days prior to the hearing. The movant said the statement in the report that “David Tygart does maintain that he only shot Tracy twice” was a misquotation. He said he stated he “was responsible for the shooting” but that he only shot him once.

When asked if there was anything else, movant said he did not agree there was deliberation and premeditation. In a colloquy with the court, the movant said he was not asking for a jury trial. He added, “I’m asking that if the Court could hear the matter of deliberation and premeditation alone, on those points, the Court could hear, not a jury trial, but a Court trial, if it’s possible, as I don’t know, on those points alone.” The court replied that such a hearing would be impossible, but that the court would treat his request as a motion to withdraw the plea of guilty. There was an extended hearing in which the movant, his counsel and the prosecuting attorney participated. The hearing was recessed for counsel to read the transcript of the acceptance of the plea. The court also read portions of that transcript. Following a recess of approximately two hours, the hearing *365 was resumed. Relevant portions of the hearing will be hereafter noted. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court denied the motion to withdraw and sentenced mov-ant in accordance with the plea bargain. No appeal was taken.

At the outset this court must take cognizance of the state’s contention that a motion under Rule 27.26 may not be used to review the denial of a motion to withdraw a plea of guilty. That contention is based upon the proposition that such a motion may not be used as a substitute for a direct appeal. It cites cases such as State v. O’Neal, 626 S.W.2d 693 (Mo.App.1981); King v. State, 615 S.W.2d 69 (Mo.App.1980).

In general, the contention of the state has merit. A defendant may appeal from the sentence and judgment entered upon a guilty plea. State v. LaDriere, 299 S.W.2d 512 (Mo. banc 1957). However, the scope of review on such an appeal is “restricted to the question of the jurisdiction of the subject matter and the sufficiency of the criminal charge.” State v. LePage, 536 S.W.2d 834, 835 (Mo.App.1976). Also see State v. O’Neal, supra. Other errors cognizable under Rule 27.26 are not subject to review on such an appeal. They may be reviewed in a collateral attack under that rule.

But, when a defendant has timely filed a motion to withdraw a guilty plea, the action of the trial court in denying that motion is subject to review upon appeal. King v. State, supra. The scope of review on such an appeal is, as hereafter stated, broader and includes the issue of whether or not the trial court abused its discretion in denying such withdrawal. If such an appeal is taken and determined adversely to a defendant, it is clear a motion under Rule 27.26 could not be used to gain further review of issues cognizable on appeal. Hulsey v. State, 631 S.W.2d 368 (Mo.App.1982). Basically, the same rule is applicable when no appeal is taken and the decision of the trial court has become final.

However, it has been held that an error that could have been raised on appeal, in rare and exceptional circumstances, when the same is required by fundamental fairness, may be presented by a motion under Rule 27.26. Brown v. State, 729 S.W.2d 54 (Mo.App.1987); Covington v. State, 600 S.W.2d 186 (Mo.App.1980); McCrary v. State, 529 S.W.2d 467 (Mo.App.1975). Because of the circumstances of this case, including the allegations of the motion and findings of the motion court, this court will review the appeals upon their merits.

The appeal by the state will be considered first. An underlying argument of the state is that the relief of setting aside the plea and sentence to permit mov-ant to introduce additional evidence is unauthorized. It contends this is true even if the propriety of the trial court’s action in denying the withdrawal is to be reviewed in this proceeding under Rule 27.26. The state is correct.

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Bluebook (online)
752 S.W.2d 362, 1988 Mo. App. LEXIS 580, 1988 WL 39026, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tygart-v-state-moctapp-1988.