Beard v. State, 1-877

• Decision Date: 08 May 1978
• Docket Number: No. 1-877,1-877
• Citation: 375 N.E.2d 270,176 Ind.App. 348
• Parties: Glenn E. BEARD, Appellant (Defendant below), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff below). A 172.
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 270

375 N.E.2d 270

176 Ind.App. 348

Glenn E. BEARD, Appellant (Defendant below), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff below).

No. 1-877 A 172.

Court of Appeals of Indiana,First District.

May 8, 1978.

Harriette Bailey Conn, Public Defender, Jewell K. Smith, Deputy Public Defender, Indianapolis, for appellant.

Theodore L. Sendak, Atty. Gen., Kenneth R. Stamm, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.

ROBERTSON, Judge.

Defendant-appellant Glenn E. Beard (Beard) brings this appeal from the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, wherein he contended that his guilty plea was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered.

Beard raises four issues for review:

1. Did the trial court err in denying Beard permission to file a belated supplemental motion to correct errors?

2. Did the trial court err in denying Beard's petition for post-conviction relief without entering findings of fact and conclusions of law on all issues presented?

3. Was Beard's plea of guilty entered knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily?

4. Did the trial court err in accepting Beard's plea of guilty without making inquiry concerning the factual basis for the plea?

Beard contends that the trial court erred when it denied him permission to file a belated supplemental motion to correct errors.

The appellate tribunal acquires jurisdiction on the date the record of the proceedings is filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Ind.Rules of Appellate Procedure, Appellate Rule 3(A). When the appellate tribunal acquires jurisdiction, the trial court is deprived of any further jurisdiction over the action. Bright v. State (1972) 259 Ind. 495, 289 N.E.2d 128.

Beard filed his petition for permission to file a belated supplemental motion to correct errors on September 29, 1977. Earlier that same month (on September 12, 1977) Beard had filed the record of the proceedings with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Therefore, the trial court was without jurisdiction to entertain Beard's belated supplemental motion to correct errors.

Beard next contends that the trial court erred when it denied his petition for post-conviction relief without entering findings of fact and conclusions of law on all issues presented.

Ind.Rules of Procedure, Post-Conviction Remedy Rule 1, Section 6, provides, in part:

"The court shall make specific findings of fact, and conclusions of law on all issues presented, whether or not a hearing is held. . . ."

This rule imposes a mandatory duty; the trial court must make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law on all issues presented in the petition for post-conviction relief. Love v. State (1971), 257 Ind. 57, 272 N.E.2d 456; King v. State (1974), Ind.App., 314 N.E.2d 805. The trial court erred.

Thirdly, Beard contends that his plea of guilty was not entered knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.

The entry of a plea of guilty entails the waiver of three vital federal constitutional rights: the privilege against compulsory self-incrimination, the right to trial by jury, and the right to confront one's accusers. Williams v. State (1975), 263 Ind. 165, 325 N.E.2d 827.

Beard and co-defendant Kindred appeared before the trial court June 20, 1974, after the trial court determined that probable cause existed for their arrest. When Kindred took the stand, the trial court informed Kindred that (1) he had the right to remain silent, (2) he had the right to be represented by an attorney, (3) he had the right to trial by jury, (4) he had the right to compulsory attendance of witnesses, (5) he had the right to confront accusers in court, and (6) the State would have to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. When Beard took the stand, the court informed Beard that he possessed the same constitutional rights that Kindred possessed; Beard responded that he understood. On July 2, 1974, Beard entered a plea of not guilty for each count charged.

Before the trial court accepted Beard's plea of guilty on August 29, 1974, the following exchange took place:

COURT: And you have consulted with your attorney and he has advised you of your constitutional rights, is that not correct?

BEARD: That is correct.

COURT: And I also advised you of your constitutional rights when you were in Court on the 21st (sic) day of June, 1974?

BEARD: That's right.

COURT: Very well. You may step down, Mr. Beard.

In Lockhart v. State (1971), 257 Ind. 349, 274 N.E.2d 523, the Supreme Court affirmed a conviction in which the record revealed that the defendant responded affirmatively when asked whether he had been advised of his constitutional rights. The Supreme Court concluded its opinion, at 257 Ind. 358, 274 N.E.2d 529, with a warning, however:

" * * *con

Even though as in the case at bar a defendant is represented by competent counsel, it is highly recommended that the trial court make the best possible record which may serve at future times to demonstrate that the accused was afforded all pertinent constitutional rights. * * * "

Justice DeBruler filed a dissenting opinion, in which he stated, at 257 Ind. 360, 274 N.E.2d 529:

" * * *Bru

It is the duty of the trial court to make it appear on the record that a criminal defendant was properly advised of his rights and freely and understandingly waived them by pleading guilty, and he cannot assume the defendant has obtained this information from some other source."

After the Supreme Court decided Lockhart v. State, supra, and before Beard entered his plea of guilty, IC 1971, 35-4.1-1-3 (Burns Code Ed.) became effective:

"The court shall not accept a plea of guilty from the defendant without first addressing the defendant and

(a) determining that he understands the nature of the charge against him;

(b) informing him that by his plea of guilty he is admitting the truth of all facts alleged in the indictment or information or to an offense included thereunder and that upon entry of such plea the court shall proceed with judgment and sentence;

(c) informing him that by his plea of guilty he waives his rights to a public and speedy trial by jury, to face the 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 the defendant may not be compelled to testify against himself;

(d) informing him of the maximum possible sentence and minimum sentence for the offense charged and of any possible increased sentence by reason of the fact of a prior conviction or convictions, and of any possibility of the imposition of consecutive sentences;

(e) informing him that the court is not a party to any agreement which may have been made between the prosecutor and the defense and is not bound thereby. . . ."

In Norfrey v. State (1976), Ind.App., 358 N.E.2d 202, 204, this court considered the requirements imposed by IC 1971, 35-4.1-1-3, supra :

" * * *y v

While the statute does, in great measure, prescribe the 'pedantic ritual' eschewed by the court in Fraley v. State (1975), Ind.App., 323 N.E.2d 239 at 241, that result is not without grace....