U.S. v. McFarland

Decision Date10 February 1988
Docket NumberNo. 86-2569,86-2569
Citation839 F.2d 1239
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Mark A. McFARLAND, Defendant-Appellant.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

Patrick O'Hara, Petersburg, Ill., for defendant-appellant.

Gregory K. Harris, Asst. U.S. Atty., Springfield, Ill., for Gerald D. Fines, U.S. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before EASTERBROOK, MANION and KANNE, Circuit Judges.

KANNE, Circuit Judge.

Four days after entering a plea of guilty, the defendant-appellant, Mark A. McFarland, sought to withdraw that plea. Following a hearing, the district judge denied McFarland's request and imposed a sentence of twenty-five years. McFarland appeals the denial of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the decision of the district court.

On February 5, 1986, McFarland was indicted on thirty-five counts of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1341. Attorney Steven Nardulli was appointed on February 7, 1986, to represent him in the district court. On February 13, 1986, McFarland entered a not guilty plea to all counts. After several continuances, prompted in part by the possibility of an insanity defense initiated by McFarland's counsel, the case was set for jury trial on July 7, 1986.

Prior to the trial date, McFarland wrote to the district judge and requested that new counsel be appointed to represent him because he was dissatisfied with Attorney Nardulli. This dissatisfaction apparently related to communication problems between Nardulli and McFarland as well as disagreement over trial strategy. On July 1, 1986, Attorney Nardulli filed a motion to withdraw as McFarland's counsel.

A pretrial hearing commenced on July 2, 1986. The court denied Attorney Nardulli's motion to withdraw. McFarland again expressed dissatisfaction with his court-appointed counsel and requested that a new attorney be appointed. The request for new counsel was denied and McFarland orally moved to proceed pro se. District Judge Richard Mills took great effort in advising McFarland of the seriousness of a decision to proceed pro se. Nevertheless, McFarland persisted and the court permitted him to proceed pro se with Attorney Nardulli remaining as standby counsel. Later that day, McFarland met with a federal prosecutor involved in his case in the presence of Attorney Nardulli and discussed a negotiated plea. McFarland advised the prosecutor that he was probably going to plead guilty to five counts of the indictment the following day, but wanted to think about it overnight.

The next day, July 3, 1986, McFarland requested a continuance of the trial date and asked to be released on bail. Both motions were denied. McFarland had a copy of a plea agreement in his possession and after the motion for continuance was denied he advised the court that he was contemplating pleading guilty to the indictment. The court advised him of the conditions under which a guilty plea would be accepted. Thereafter, the court continued the hearing and told McFarland to take time over the lunch hour and carefully consider whether he wanted to plead guilty. McFarland conferred with another attorney, Theodis Lewis, for about one hour concerning Attorney Lewis' representation of McFarland and the prospects of pleading guilty. Also, prior to the resumption of the afternoon session, the same federal prosecutor met again with McFarland and explained that the court would only accept a guilty plea that was completely voluntary and only if he was in fact guilty of the charges. McFarland indicated that he understood that his guilty plea would have to be voluntary.

When the hearing resumed in the afternoon, McFarland asked the court to appoint Attorney Lewis to represent him and to grant him a continuance. McFarland was again advised that he could not select the particular counsel he wished to have represent him and the motion for continuance was denied. McFarland then indicated that he wished to change his plea. Judge Mills completely and thoroughly examined McFarland in accordance with the requirements of Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(c). McFarland stated under oath that he was in fact guilty and that his plea was made voluntarily and that no threats had been made, nor promises given. The court then accepted McFarland's guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing.

On July 7, 1986, McFarland signed a pro se motion directed to the district judge, requesting to withdraw the guilty plea entered on July 3, 1986. In his motion, defendant claimed that he pled guilty because he was pressured and placed under great fear by Attorney Nardulli and the federal prosecutor. 1 On August 6, 1986, a new attorney, Bradford C. Bucklin, was appointed to represent McFarland on his motion to withdraw the guilty plea. Attorney Bucklin filed an additional motion to withdraw McFarland's guilty plea pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(d).

On September 12, 1986, the court conducted a hearing and denied McFarland's motion to withdraw his guilty plea. 2 Thereafter, McFarland was sentenced to five years on each of the five counts to which he pled guilty, with the sentences to run consecutively.

The sole issue on appeal is whether the district court abused its discretion in denying defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty plea. The legal provision for withdrawing a guilty plea is set out in Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(d). The rule states in pertinent part:

If a motion for withdrawal of a plea of guilty ... is made before sentence is imposed, ... the court may permit withdrawal of the plea upon a showing by the defendant of any fair and just reason. (Emphasis added.)

A defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw his guilty plea, and the decision whether to allow him to do so is within the sound discretion of the trial court. United States v. Fountain, 777 F.2d 351, 358 (7th Cir.1985), cert. denied, sub nom. Granger v. United States, 475 U.S. 1029, 106 S.Ct. 1232, 89 L.Ed.2d 341 (1986). The decision of the district court will be reversed only on a showing of abuse of discretion. United States v. Ellison, 798 F.2d 1102, 1104 (7th Cir.1986), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 107 S.Ct. 893, 93 L.Ed.2d 845 (1987). The district court's findings concerning whether the defendant has demonstrated a fair and just reason will be accorded great weight and will be upheld unless "clearly erroneous." United States v. Suter, 755 F.2d 523, 525 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1103, 105 S.Ct. 2331, 85 L.Ed.2d 848 (1985).

To establish whether McFarland knowingly and voluntarily entered a plea of guilty to the offenses charged, the district judge engaged him in colloquy pursuant to Rule 11(c).

McFarland acknowledges that the Rule 11 procedures were clearly followed. However, he now claims that he pled guilty out of frustration with his situation rather than as a result of a clear...

To continue reading

Request your trial
41 cases
  • U.S. v. LeDonne
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • 25 Julio 1994
    ...responses made under oath in open court carry a strong presumption of veracity. Seybold, 979 F.2d at 587-89 (citing United States v. McFarland, 839 F.2d 1239, 1242 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1014, 108 S.Ct. 1750, 100 L.Ed.2d 212 (1988), and United States v. Darling, 766 F.2d 1095, 1......
  • U.S. v. Coonce
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • 14 Abril 1992
    ...could, he would not have pled guilty. We review the court's denial of Coonce's motion for an abuse of discretion. United States v. McFarland, 839 F.2d 1239, 1240 (7th Cir.1988). Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(d) allows a defendant to withdraw a plea before sentencing for "any fair an......
  • U.S. v. Schilling
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • 15 Abril 1998
    ...by the defendant of "any fair and just reason." See United States v. Abdul, 75 F.3d 327, 329 (7th Cir.1996), citing United States v. McFarland, 839 F.2d 1239, 1241 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1014, 108 S.Ct. 1750, 100 L.Ed.2d 212 (1988). However, a defendant has no absolute right to ......
  • Lewis v. U.S.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of Illinois
    • 11 Junio 2011
    ...States, 164 F.3d 378, 381 (7th Cir. 1999) (citing Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 748 (1970)). See also United States v. McFarland, 839 F.2d 1239, 1242 (7th Cir. 1988) (stating that "disingenuous conduct by a defendant should not be allowed to thwart the process of determining guilt o......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT