State v. Neff, Unpublished Decision (12-8-2006)
State v. Neff, Unpublished Decision (12-8-2006)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Neff's first assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 3} "THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION BY DENYING APPELLANT'S PETITION TO VACATE THE GUILTY PLEAS."
{¶ 4} In his first assignment, Neff contends that the trial court erred by failing to sustain the motion to vacate the plea. He states that pre-sentence plea withdrawal requests should be "freely and liberally granted," State v. Xie (1992),
{¶ 5} Crim.R. 11(E) and Traf.R. 10(D) required the court to inform Neff of the effect of his guilty pleas before accepting them. The effects to which Crim.R. 11(E) and Traf.R. 10(D) refer are simply those which are identified in Traf.R. 10(B). State v. Watkins,
{¶ 6} Neff's first assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 7} Based upon the foregoing, Neff's conviction and sentence entered on his guilty pleas is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
WOLFF, J., concurs.
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 8} Per Crim.R. 11(E), before accepting Defendant's guilty plea the court was required to advise him of the "effect" of his plea, which is the information contained in Traf.R. 10(B)(1): that a "plea of guilty is a complete admission of the defendant's guilt." State v. Watkins,
{¶ 9} Substantial compliance with a rule of procedure governing a defendant's waiver of non-constitutional rights by entering a plea of guilty or no contest is shown when the record permits a conclusion that, under the totality of the circumstances, the defendant understands the implications of his plea and the rights he is waiving. Westlake v.Kilbane (2001),
{¶ 10} In a "cause and effect" context, there is no significant difference between the "effect" of a guilty plea set out in Traf.R.10(B)(1) and the automatic result of the plea of which the trial court advised Defendant and to which he acknowledged an understanding. In fact, the advice the court gave was probably more to the point: that the hammer would fall and Defendant would be convicted. I would find substantial compliance with Traf.R. 10(B)(1).
{¶ 11} Nevertheless, I agree that Defendant's conviction must be reversed, because the trial court failed to afford Defendant a hearing on his Crim.R. 32.1 motion to withdraw his guilty plea, which was made prior to sentencing, and in that circumstance "the trial court must conduct a hearing to determine whether there is a reasonable legitimate basis for the withdrawal of the plea." State v. Xie (1992),
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