State v. Tucci, Unpublished Decision (12-11-2002)
State v. Tucci, Unpublished Decision (12-11-2002)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
[¶ 1] Defendant-appellant Daniel Tucci appeals from the judgment of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court which was entered after he pled guilty to attempted burglary and was sentenced to a five-year maximum sentence. The issues raised on appeal concern whether the court engaged in a proper Crim.R. 11 colloquy at the plea hearing, whether the court failed to comply with the terms of the plea agreement, whether the plea was induced by an unkept promise and was thus involuntary, whether the court sufficiently discussed post-release control, and whether the court properly imposed the maximum sentence. For the following reasons, appellant's plea must be vacated due to the lack of proper disclosure of various pieces of information in accepting the plea. As such, this case is reversed and remanded for further proceedings.[¶ 3] On September 19, 2001, appellant entered into a plea agreement with the state whereby he pled guilty to a reduced charge of attempted burglary, a third degree felony. The state agreed to adopt the presentence investigation recommendation if favorable to appellant or to alternatively stand silent at sentencing. The plea was journalized the next day.
[¶ 4] A sentencing hearing was held on November 29, 2001. The court sentenced appellant to the maximum term of five years in prison. The sentence was journalized on December 6, 2001, and timely notice of appeal followed.
[¶ 7] Pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c), the court shall not accept a plea of guilty in a felony case without first addressing the defendant personally and informing him and determining that he understands that by pleading, he is waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to require the state to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which he cannot be compelled to testify against himself.[¶ 6] "DEFENDANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHEN THE COURT DID NOT INFORM DEFENDANT AS TO ALL HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HE WAS WAIVING BY ENTERING A PLEA OF GUILTY."
[¶ 8] Appellant admits that he was adequately informed about his right to a jury trial. However, he alleges that the court did not inform him of his right against self-incrimination, his right to confront his accusers, and his right to compulsory process. The state responds that the trial court substantially complied when it said the following at the plea hearing:
[¶ 10] The state interprets this colloquy as sufficiently explaining the constitutional rights being waived by the plea entry. The state asks us to consider the totality of the circumstances to determine if he understood the rights he was waiving, noting that he went through some college and signed a written plea agreement which stated each constitutional right being waived. (Tr. 6, 14). The state also argues that appellant has failed to show prejudice because there is no indication that he would not have pled guilty had he been informed about the rights being waived.[¶ 9] "The evidence presented would be brought before the court by the State of Ohio through the Prosecutor's Office which would include any police officers or any eyewitnesses to testify * * * The owner of the house would come in, say that you didn't have permission to be there, the police officers would come in, identify you as well as any other eyewitnesses. Once that evidence is presented, your attorney would present evidence on your behalf such as a defense it wasn't you, it wasn't in Mahoning County, or the house was not occupied. After the presentation of all the evidence, the jurors would consider the evidence, apply the law, and if all 12 of them agreed that you did burglarize this house or attempt to burglarize this house, all 12 of them would vote to find you guilty." (Tr. 5-6).
[¶ 11] However, Crim.R. 11(C) has various elements, some constitutional and some non-constitutional. The United States Supreme Court first outlined three rights that must be revealed to the pleading defendant: the privilege against self-incrimination, the right to a jury trial, and the right to confront one's accusers. Boykin v. Alabama
(1969),
[¶ 12] The Supreme Court has applied a liberal substantial compliance test to the overall colloquy when non-constitutional rights are being reviewed. State v. Nero (1990),
[¶ 13] In Sturm, the Court reversed where the trial court failed to advise the defendant in any manner of the right to confront his accusers. In State v. Payne (Dec. 19, 2000), 7th Dist. No. 00521CA, this court reversed a plea where the record was devoid of any mention that the defendant was waiving the right to confront her accusers, the right to subpoena witnesses, or the right to claim her privilege against self-incrimination, noting that the failure to inform the defendant of a constitutional right requires reversal of the conviction and remand of the case. In accordance with the above case law, appellant's plea must be reversed and remanded.
[¶ 14] The state argues that the trial court meaningfully mentioned the right to confront one's accusers when it explained that the state and the defense will present evidence. Even if we were persuaded by the state's argument as to appellant's confrontation right, which we are not, the trial court's failure to disclose not one but two of the other four rights requires reversal. Moreover, the court's language cannot be construed to explain the right to subpoena witnesses by compulsory process. Hence, appellant's plea is vacated, and this case is reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
[¶ 18] Although we are reversing on the first assignment of error, we must address these assignments because appellant alternatively urges specific performance of the plea agreement. Additionally, the issues are likely to recur on remand. Appellant argues that the plea agreement called for him to receive four years in prison so that he would be eligible for judicial release after eighteen months. He argues that by sentencing him to the five-year maximum sentence, the court breached the plea agreement. He states that his plea was involuntary as it was induced by a promise which was not kept.[¶ 16] "DEFENDANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHEN THE COURT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE PLEA AGREEMENT."
[¶ 17] "DEFENDANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHEN HE WAS GIVEN A MAXIMUM SENTENCE CONTRARY TO THE PLEA BARGAIN AGREEMENT."
[¶ 19] This argument focuses on the court's initial statement at the opening of the hearing, which noted that the defendant was pleading guilty and that "[i]n exchange for that, I understand that the potential sentence — the minimal sentence will be four years with judicial release after 18 months." (Tr. 2). The state responded that it "will adopt the recommendation in the PSI if it's favorable or be standing silent in the alternative." (Tr. 3). Defense counsel agreed that this was his understanding of the plea agreement.
[¶ 20] Thereafter, the court informed appellant that he "could be sentenced to up to five years incarceration." (Tr. 6). The court asked, "Did anybody promise you you would get anything less than five years?" Appellant responded in the negative. (Tr. 9). Later, the court again stated, "no one promised you you'd get probation or less than five years" at which time appellant acknowledged signing the plea agreement. (Tr. 14). This written plea agreement informs appellant of the maximum sentence and binds the state to its promise to either support any favorable recommendations in the presentence investigation report or to stand silent at sentencing. It mentions nothing about a four-year sentence.
[¶ 21] At the sentencing hearing, defense counsel asked the court "to impose a minimum sentence or at least a term of four years or less so as not to preclude my client from potential [judicial release]." (Tr. 11). The fact that this argument was presented further supports the holding that appellant knew that neither the prosecutor nor the court promised him a four year sentence.
[¶ 22] In reviewing the written plea agreement, the plea transcript, and the sentencing hearing, it is clear that appellant knew that the court could impose a maximum sentence of five years and that no one promised him anything less than five years. As such, there was no breach of the plea agreement or inducement to plead by a promise of a certain sentence. Appellant's second and third assignments of error are without merit.
[¶ 25] Besides the Crim.R. 11 deficiencies discussed supra, appellant argues that certain other aspects of the court's disclosures were insufficient. He thus argues that his plea was not voluntary, knowing, or intelligent because he did not know, for instance, that he could be returned to prison after being released. Specifically, he contends that the trial court should have advised him according to R.C.[¶ 24] "DEFENDANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHEN HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF POST-RELEASE CONTROL."
[¶ 26] Prior to analyzing the disclosures concerning post-release control, we shall deal with appellant's assertion that the court failed to personally advise him of information set forth in R.C.
[¶ 27] Just after striking the "bad time" legislation as an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers doctrine, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that the post-release control legislation does not violate the separation of powers doctrine. Woods v. Telb (2000),
[¶ 28] R.C.
[¶ 29] The Supreme Court has interpreted R.C.
[¶ 30] According to R.C.
[¶ 31] Pursuant to R.C.
[¶ 32] Under the plain language of R.C.
[¶ 33] Here, at the plea hearing, defendant answered affirmatively when the court asked, "You understand in addition to any penitentiary time, I can still supervise you in the community for three to five years?" (Tr. 9). This generically advises appellant that he may be subject to some kind of post-release control; although, it implies court-supervision rather than parole board supervision. Additionally, for appellant's type of third degree felony (non-sex offense and no allegation of caused or threatened physical harm), he could not be supervised for up to five years but could only be supervised for up to three years. R.C.
[¶ 34] Under the first assignment of error, appellant's plea has been vacated and the case has been ordered remanded. To avoid replication of the issues in this assignment on remand and on any subsequent appeal, the trial court should more specifically advise the defendant at any new plea hearing in accordance with R.C
[¶ 37] Pursuant to R.C.[¶ 36] "DEFENDANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHEN HE WAS SENTENCED TO A MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT."
[¶ 38] For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is hereby reversed, Tucci's plea is vacated, and this case is remanded for further proceedings according to law and consistent with this court's opinion.
Donofrio and DeGenaro, J J., concur.
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