People v. Watroba

The people appeal by leave granted an order of the circuit court granting defendant’s motion for postappeal relief. We reverse.

On June 29, 1979, defendant pleaded nolo contendere to charges of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, MCL 750.84; MSA 28.279, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). In exchange for defendant’s plea, the prosecutor withdrew a charge of assault with intent to commit murder, MCL 750.83; MSA 28.278, and the court agreed to sentence defendant to probation for the assault conviction and to grant an appeal bond while defendant challenged on appeal the constitutionality of the felony-fire *126 arm statute. However, unbeknownst to defendant, the Michigan Supreme Court had four days earlier upheld the constitutionality of the statute. After sentencing and while defendant was released on bond and his appeal was pending before this Court, defendant fled the state and did not return until May 1990. His appeal before this Court was dismissed on October 9, 1980, for lack of progress.

Upon defendant’s return to Michigan, he retained counsel and filed the claim for postappeal relief. Defendant sought to withdraw his plea on the ground that it was illusory. Defendant’s position is that he would not have entered into the plea agreement or would have sought to withdraw his plea before sentencing if he had known that the Supreme Court had decided that the felony-firearm statute was constitutional. The circuit court agreed that defendant’s plea was not given voluntarily and intelligently, and it granted defendant’s motion for relief from judgment. The circuit court also remanded the case for a new preliminary examination. On appeal, the prosecution asks this Court to determine whether the trial court properly allowed defendant to withdraw his ten-year-old nolo contendere plea.

Subchapter 6.500 of the Michigan Court Rules establishes the procedures for pursuing postappeal relief from a criminal conviction. The subchapter is the exclusive means to challenge a conviction in Michigan once a defendant has exhausted the normal appellate process. Relief, however, may not be granted unless the defendant demonstrates (a) good cause for failure to have raised the grounds for relief on appeal or in a prior motion under the subchapter and (b) actual prejudice from the alleged irregularities that support the claim for relief. MCR 6.508(D)(3)(a) and (b). In this case, *127 defendant has failed to demonstrate good cause for his failure to raise the illusory plea argument in his appeal as of right or in a previous motion under this subchapter. The court may waive the good-cause requirement if it concludes that there is a significant possibility that the defendant is innocent of the crime. MCR 6.508(D)(3). No such possibility has been proffered or demonstrated in this case. Accordingly, we find that the circuit court erred in granting defendant’s motion for postappeal relief. We therefore reverse the decision of the circuit court and order reinstatement of defendant’s convictions.

Reversed.