I respectfully dissent from the majority's conclusion that appellant's motion to withdraw her guilty plea was properly before the trial court at sentencing. Although Crim.R. 32.1 does not state that the motion must be in writing, the facts sub judice point out that no motion was filed. Pursuant to Crim.R. 47 all motions "other than one made during trial or hearing shall be in writing." Crim.R. 47. MOTIONS An application to the court for an order shall be by motion. A motion, other than one made during trial or hearing, shall be in writing unless the court permits it to be made orally. It shall state with particularity the grounds upon which it is made and shall set forth the relief or order sought. It shall be supported by a memorandum containing citations of authority, and may also be supported by an affidavit.

I would deny Assignments of Error I and II as no motion was properly before the trial court.

________________________ SHEILA G. FARMER, JUDGE

OPINION

I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO WITHDRAW HER GUILTY PLEA.

II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT GRANTING APPELLANT A FULL AND FAIR HEARING ON HER MOTION TO WITHDRAW HER GUILTY PLEA.

Motions to withdraw guilty pleas before sentencing are to be freely allowed and treated with liberality. State v. Peterseim (1980), 68 Ohio App.2d 211. However, a defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea prior to sentencing. State v. Xie (1992), 62 Ohio St.3d 521, syllabus 1. The decision to grant or deny a pre-sentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Id., syllabus 2. To find an abuse of discretion, we must find the trial court's ruling was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable and more than an error of judgment. State v. Adams (1980) 62 Ohio St.2d 151. In State v. Graham (Nov. 18, 1999), Cuyahoga App. No. 75219, unreported, the Eighth District Court of Appeals noted: A trial court does not abuse its discretion in overruling a motion to withdraw: (1) where the accused is represented by highly competent counsel, (2) where the accused was afforded a full hearing, pursuant to Crim. R 11 before he entered the plea, (3) when after the motion to withdraw is filed, the accused is given a complete and impartial hearing on the motion, and (4) where the record reveals that the court gave full and fair consideration to the plea withdrawal request.

In the instant action, appellant made an oral motion to withdraw her guilty pleas at the commencement of the sentencing hearing on June 14, 1999. Appellant addressed the trial court as follows:

THE COURT: Ms. Scott.

[APPELLANT]: Yes, Your Honor. When April Bible [appellant's trial counsel] talked to me on that date she knew my circumstances in jail. I wanted to represent myself and I wasn't on my medication which I take for seizures. And also I am bipolar. I wasn't on my medication. And she knew that that day in this courtroom.

I told her all I wanted was house arrest. I have a house cleaning business. She said that was the only way she could get me out. And I did that that day. She tell me not to say nothing. I wanted to tell you about my circumstances and everything. She told me don't speak to the judge. I didn't.

I feel I wasn't effectively represented by her. And I appreciate everything she did, but see, I learned a long time ago the ultimate measure of a man is where he stands in some type of challenge or controversy.

I have a motion, and I had asked her because due to the fact my tibia fracture in my cleaning, it's bothering me. But today, I have a motion to withdraw my guilty plea. I asked her about that.

I have kites from the county jail that denied me access to law books. I asked the jail because they got law books. I have all the kites. They denied me appropriate medical treatment. They denied me law books. They denied me everything. I am in administrative degradation. I was in a cell where there wasn't no bath or nothing.

I went to see her. I asked her and repeatedly she said you can get out if you plead guilty. I pled guilty. And I have a motion here I wrote.

THE COURT: Is there any motion filed?

[APPELLANT]: I have it right here.

THE COURT: Wait a minute. Just give to it Ms. Bible.

MS. BIBLE: (Handing.)

THE COURT: There is nothing filed.

[APPELLANT]: No, I am trying to retain an attorney.

THE COURT: All right. I just asked you a question.

Ms. Scott, stop talking. You have asked for it. Your oral motion to withdraw your guilty plea is denied. The Court is prepared for sentencing at this time. Anything you wish to say on behalf of your client, Ms. Bible?

T. of Sentencing of 3-6.

Almost immediately thereafter, the following exchange occurred:

[APPELLANT]: Sir, I am not guilty of possession and trafficking of cocaine . . . And I want to know why am I being sentenced and denied a trial by a jury.

* * *

THE COURT: Now, Ms. Scott, let me explain two things to you. If you think you have not been properly represented, then it's your responsibility to go out and retain the services of an attorney and let the attorney file the appropriate papers and the Court will make a decision based on that which is in front of it.

There is nothing there [sic] has been filed before the Court. The Court can't act on something that isn't before it.

[APPELLANT]: I have a motion right here.

THE COURT: But it's not filed * * *

T. of Sentencing at 7-8.

This Court has previously found the request for a hearing on a motion to withdraw a guilty plea after sentencing is similar to a request for a hearing on a petition for post-conviction relief. State v. Collins (May 24, 1999), Delaware App. No. 98-CAC-02011, unreported. "A hearing on a post-sentence motion to vacate a guilty plea is not required unless the facts as alleged by the defendant, if accepted as true, would require the guilty plea to be withdrawn." Id. (Citations omitted). Appellant herein made her oral motion prior to sentencing; therefore, she is not required to meet this heightened standard. The trial court overruled appellant's motion because it was neither written nor filed. We find such requirements are not mandated by Crim R. 32.1. Furthermore, we find the representations made by appellant to the trial court were sufficient to warrant a hearing. Because a motion to withdraw a presentence guilty plea should be freely granted, we find the trial court erred in summarily overruling it. We believe the trial court's permitting appellant to speak before it sentenced her was not the equivalent of granting appellant a hearing on her motion. Appellant's second assignment is sustained.

_____________________ Hoffman, P.J.

I concur with Judge Hoffman as to the disposition of this case but disagree with the analysis. Criminal Rule 32.1 may not mention whether a motion to withdraw a plea must be in writing or filed, but Crim.R. 47 requires this type of motion to be in writing unless the court permits it to be made orally. Under the circumstances, the trial court should have permitted the motion to be made orally.

JUDGE JULIE A. EDWARDS