United States v. Sanchez

709 F. Supp. 302, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2720, 1989 WL 26653
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedMarch 16, 1989
DocketCr. No. 87-251 (PG)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 709 F. Supp. 302 (United States v. Sanchez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Sanchez, 709 F. Supp. 302, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2720, 1989 WL 26653 (prd 1989).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PEREZ-GIMENEZ, Chief Judge.

On April 28, 1988, defendant, Ricardo López Sánchez, pled guilty to count eight1 of the indictment, which charged him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine during 1985, in violation to 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2.

Ricardo López Sánchez was sentenced on July 8, 1988, to three years imprisonment and fined the sum of $5,000.00

One month after being sentenced López Sánchez filed a motion under Fed.R.Cr.P. 11, 32(d), to withdraw plea of guilty and to set aside judgment of conviction.

Fed.R.Cr.P. 32(d), as amended in 1983, no longer authorizes a motion to withdraw a plea if the motion is made after imposition of sentence. At that point a plea may be set aside only on direct appeal or by motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

The rule as amended in 1983 reads as follows:

(d) Plea Withdrawal. If a motion for withdrawal of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere is made before sentence, the court may permit withdrawal of the plea upon showing by the defendant of any [303]*303fair and just reason. At any later time, a plea may be set aside only on direct appeal or by motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

On August 19, 1988, at the hearing on defendant’s petition to withdraw his guilty plea, the Court sustained the government’s objection to defendant’s motion in view that it failed to comply with Fed.R.Cr.P. 32(d), supra. Defendant was then instructed to modify its motion in order to comply with 28 U.S.C. § 2255.2 The hearing was continued for August 26, 1988, at 10:00 A.M.

On August 25, 1988, defendant filed his petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255,3 thus conforming his request to the rule. He basically adduces therein that the conviction obtained by a plea of guilty was unlawfully induced and not made voluntarily with the understanding of the nature and consequences of the plea. In essence, defendant’s assertions boil down to the allegation that he is innocent of the charges.

The amendment clarifies the standard applicable to plea withdrawal. The rule codifies the principle that withdrawal of guilty plea filed before sentencing may be granted upon a showing of “fair and just reason”. Kercheval v. United States, 274 U.S. 220, 47 S.Ct. 582, 71 L.Ed. 1009 (1927). However, since defendant Ricardo López Sánchez has moved to withdraw his plea post sentence, he has proceeded “too late to come under the more generous ‘fair and just reason’ standard.” See 97 F.R.D. 309. In turn he must seek relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 82 S.Ct. 468, 7 L.Ed.2d 417 (1962), whose applicable standard requires “a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice or an omission inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair procedure.” Ibid.

It is well established that permission to withdraw a guilty plea under Fed.R.Cr.P. 32(d) is within the discretion of the Court. There is no absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea. United States v. Ramos, 810 F.2d 308, 311 (1st Cir.1987). A defendant should be allowed to withdraw a guilty plea only in “extraordinary cases.” Doherty v. American Motors Corp., 728 F.2d 334, 338 (6th Cir.1984). The defendant who has pled guilty no longer enjoys a presumption of innocence. Furthermore, on a motion to withdraw his plea, he bears the burden of production and persuasion. To unsettle a valid guilty plea, the defendant must offer more than protestations of innocence that he is not guilty. Government of Virgin Islands v. Berry, 631 F.2d 214, 220 (3rd Cir.1980). Moreover, even credible assertions of innocence may not warrant withdrawal of a guilty plea. United States v. Jerry, 487 F.2d 600, 610-611 (3rd Cir.1973); United States v. Barker, 514 F.2d 208, 221 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 1013, 95 S.Ct. 2420, 44 L.Ed.2d 682 (1975).

In support of his contention defendant alleges that the conviction by the jury of all co-defendants tried in the first trial4 caused fear of the supposedly impending high sentence which was to be imposed by the Court. Defendant states that he was left totally unable to voluntarily enter a plea of guilty.

Defendant and his brother Wilfredo were indicted in this case. Both were represented by counsel Teodoro Méndez Lebrón. Defendant maintains that his brother misled their joint counsel in concealing his guilt, and that in the aftermath he was prejudiced. He states that if his brother’s [304]*304guilt would have been disclosed, their joint counsel would have seen a conflict of interest and would have withdrawn the joint representation.5

In sum, defendant argues that he was left with no other choice but to plead guilty in spite of his innocence and notwithstanding the constant manifestations to his counsel, the pretrial services officer, and the probation officer that he was not guilty.6

Petitioner finally stated that if he plead not guilty, went to trial and was not believed he would face long years in jail, whereas if he plead guilty, the plea agreement would limit the jail time and he would get probation since he had no previous record. But if he told the version of innocence, the jury would not believe him as they did not in the first group of co-defendants that went to trial and all were convicted, some with slighter evidence than the government had against him.

After the request was filed conforming it formally to Fed.R.Cr.P. § 32(d), the hearing to withdraw the guilty plea was resumed on September 8, 1988. During said hearing several testimonies were secured.

The Plea Withdrawal Hearing

Attorney Aníbal Lugo was called to testify at the hearing. He stated that during a meeting on or about February 1988 with defendant’s counsel he felt that defendant was well represented by counsel Teodoro Méndez Lebrón and that defendant had received a comprehensive explanation as to the alternatives in the case. He also stated that he felt that defendant was sure and straightforward in understanding the alternative. Mr. Lugo was not present every time defendant met with counsel Méndez Lebrón. He related that defendant alleged his innocence before and after the first trial and further expressed that this first trial had a great impact on defendant, who is not familiar with the legal process.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
709 F. Supp. 302, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2720, 1989 WL 26653, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-sanchez-prd-1989.