Commonwealth v. Hughes

Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth v. Hughes, 390 A.2d 811 (1978)
257 Pa. Super. 258; 1978 Pa. Super. LEXIS 3145
Watkins, Jacobs, Hoffman, Cercone, Price, Van Voort Spaeth, Spaeth

Commonwealth v. Hughes

Opinion of the Court

OPINION

PER CURIAM:

Appellant pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and a firearm’s violation on May 17, 1976. Appellant now questions the voluntariness of his plea on direct appeal. He did not file a petition to withdraw his plea in the lower court.

Appellant’s guilty plea occurred after this court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Roberts, 237 Pa.Super. 336, 352 A.2d 140 (1975). Roberts requires that in order to attack a guilty plea on direct appeal, appellant must first file a petition to withdraw that plea in the court below since it is in the best position to initially correct any error which may have been committed. Appellant offers no reason for his failure to follow the proper procedure, and therefore, the issue of the validity of his guilty plea must be considered waived.

*260For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of sentence of the lower court is affirmed.

SPAETH, J., files a dissenting opinion in which HOFFMAN, J., joins. WATKINS, former President Judge, did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.

Dissenting Opinion

SPAETH, Judge,

dissenting:

I dissent. The judgment of sentence should be vacated and the case remanded to allow appellant an opportunity to file post-guilty plea motions. See Commonwealth v. McCusker (No. 2850 Allocatur Docket, filed Sept. 21, 1977); Commonwealth v. Matzik, 255 Pa.Super. 500, 388 A.2d 340. Upon remand the lower court must advise appellant as provided in Rule 1405(c), Pa.R.Crim.P. 1405(c). Appellant should comply with the procedure set forth in Rule 321, Pa.R.Crim.P. 321. See Commonwealth v. Marzik, 255 Pa.Super. 500, 388 A.2d 340 (concurring opinion by SPAETH, J., 255 Pa.Super. at 501, 388 A.2d 340).

HOFFMAN, J., joins in this opinion.

Reference

Full Case Name
COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. George Allen HUGHES, Appellant
Cited By
9 cases
Status
Published