State v. Kidd, 2007-Ca-47 (7-18-2008)
State v. Kidd, 2007-Ca-47 (7-18-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Kidd was originally indicted, on January 24, 2003, for one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, R.C.
{¶ 3} Kidd appealed his conviction, and this court affirmed the conviction and sentence. State v. Kidd, Clark App. No. 2003 CA 0043, 2004-Ohio-6784. On March 2, 2005, Kidd moved to withdraw his plea, which the trial court overruled without a hearing. Kidd appealed that judgment, and this court reversed the judgment and remanded the matter for an evidentiary hearing. State v. Kidd,
{¶ 4} Assignment of Error *Page 3
{¶ 5} The trial court erred in denying the Appellant's motion towithdraw guilty plea since this plea was not knowingly, intelligently orvoluntarily given.
{¶ 6} A motion to withdraw a guilty plea is governed by Crim.R. 32.1, which provides:
{¶ 7} "A motion to withdraw a plea of guilty . . . may be made only before sentence is imposed; but to correct manifest injustice the court after sentence may set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant to withdraw his or her plea."
{¶ 8} A defendant who files a post-sentence motion to withdraw his guilty plea bears the burden of establishing manifest injustice. Crim.R. 32.1; State v. Harris, Montgomery App. No. 19013, 2002-Ohio-2278, citingState v. Smith (1977),
{¶ 9} For the following reasons we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Kidd's motion.
{¶ 10} Kidd argues that there was no evidence to support his conviction of trafficking in crack cocaine in an amount greater than five grams. The lab reports on the crack involved in the two counts to which he pled indicated that the actual amounts were 3.10 grams and 4.55 grams, less than the five grams charged. He admits that he was given the discovery packet containing the lab reports a week before his plea; however, he claims that the packet was voluminous, and that his attorney neglected to discuss the discrepancy with him prior to his plea. He testified that he did not become aware of the discrepancy until after he was incarcerated.
{¶ 11} The testimony of Kidd's court-appointed counsel, however, differs dramatically from Kidd's testimony. Attorney Griffin testified that he received the discovery packet, including the lab reports, approximately at the time of his appointment, and that subsequently he had at least three face to face meetings with Kidd. He further testified that he copied the discovery packet and provided it to Kidd at their first meeting. And, he testified that there was a discussion with Judge Lorig in chambers prior to the plea reflecting the discrepancy in the reported amounts of crack cocaine, and that subsequently Griffin discussed the issue with Kidd prior to his entry of the plea. He also indicated that there were discussions with Kidd to the effect that the state's position was that he "offered" to sell more than five grams, regardless of the *Page 5 amount actually available for sale. Attorney Griffin testified that Kidd was willing to enter the guilty plea notwithstanding the fact that the lab reports showed less than five grams for each of the two sales.
{¶ 12} The trial court found the testimony of Griffin to be credible and based its decision on that evidence. Based upon that evidence, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that Kidd entered his plea knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily.
{¶ 13} The appellant's assignment of error is overruled, and the judgment of the Clark County Common Pleas Court is hereby affirmed.
BROGAN, J. and FAIN, J., concur.
(Hon. Sumner E. Walters, retired from the Third District Court of Appeals sitting by assignment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio).
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*Page 1Hon. Douglas M. Rastatter
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