Goff v. State

Decision Date20 June 1966
Docket NumberNo. 9725,9725
Citation91 Idaho 36,415 P.2d 679
PartiesHenry W. GOFF, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. STATE of Idaho, Defendant-Respondent.
CourtIdaho Supreme Court

Marion J. Callister, Boise, for appellant.

Allan G. Shepard, Atty. Gen., and William D. Collins, Asst. Atty. Gen., Boise, for respondent.

TAYLOR, Justice.

Plaintiff (appellant), an inmate of the state penitentiary, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, prepared by himself without the aid of counsel. In his petition he alleges that he was detained in the county jail in Shoshone county from seven to eight months before being committed to the state penitentiary for a term of not more than twenty years upon a conviction of robbery. He specifically alleges that his rights were violated during the course of his imprisonment in the county jail in two particulars: first, that he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and second, that he was incarcerated with prisoners who had been convicted and sentenced, without being separated from such other prisoners, as required by I.C. § 20-603. The cruelty alleged, consisted of being tormented by other prisoners and by the jailer and deputy sheriff. The trial court correctly held that these complaints concerned past events, and raised issues now moot. The conditions or legality of plaintiff's detention in the county jail, did not deprive the district court of jurisdiction to enter judgment upon conviction, nor affect the validity of that judgment. Hence such complaints cannot now be urged as a ground for discharge in this proceeding. Franklin v. State, 87 Idaho 291, 392 P.2d 552 (1964); Cobas v. Clapp, 79 Idaho 419, 319 P.2d 475 (1957); Victoria v. Young, 80 Nev. 279, 392 P.2d 509, 511 (1964); Wears v. Hudspeth, 167 Kan. 191, 205 P.2d 1188, 1189 (1949).

It does not appear from the petition whether plaintiff entered a plea of guilty, or whether he was convicted by a jury. He indicated in his petition that he had an attorney who was appointed by the district judge, and that he had been given a preliminary hearing. However, the petition contains allegations which tend to raise an issue as to whether the plaintiff entered a plea of guilty by reason of coercion arising out of the treatment complained of while he was in the county jail. He alleges that he was near a nervous breakdown because of the treatment by other prisoners, the jailer and the deputy sheriff; that the deputy sheriff used vile epithets and names in addressing him; told him that he should plead guilty and 'get it over with' and 'save the county extra expense'; and that was his only chance to get off easy, and the only way he would get out of the county jail.

In Johnson v. State, 85 Idaho 123, 376 P.2d 704 (1962), it was held that a petition for writ of habeas corpus should be liberally construced and that such construction is particularly applicable in a case where the petition was prepared by a...

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7 cases
  • Walker v. State
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • November 7, 1968
    ...261 (1967); Carey v. State, 91 Idaho 706, 429 P.2d 836 (1967); Abercrombie v. State, 91 Idaho 586, 428 P.2d 505 (1967); Goff v. State, 91 Idaho 36, 415 P.2d 679 (1966); Johnson v. State, 85 Idaho 123, 376 P.2d 704 (1962). Cf. In re Application of Carpenter, 88 Idaho 567, 401 P.2d 800 (1965)......
  • King v. State, 9952
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • June 19, 1969
    ...States, 274 U.S. 220, 224, 47 S.Ct. 582, 71 L.Ed. 1009 (1927).4 Austin v. State, 91 Idaho 404, 422 P.2d 71 (1966); Goff v. State, 91 Idaho 36, 415 P.2d 679 (1966); Machribroda v. United States, 368 U.S. 487, 82 S.Ct. 510, 7 L.Ed.2d 473 (1962); Shelton v. United States, 356 U.S. 26, 78 S.Ct.......
  • Calkins v. May
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • February 2, 1976
    ...it must be construed liberally, especially where prepared by the prison inmate without the assistance of counsel. Goff v. State, 91 Idaho 36, 415 P.2d 679 (1966). Therefore, we find that the possibility that petitioner's parol eligibility would be adversely affected by the disciplinary pena......
  • Russell v. Fortney
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • July 14, 1986
    ...be construed liberally when prepared by an inmate without counsel. Calkins v. May, 97 Idaho 402, 545 P.2d 1008 (1976), Goff v. State, 91 Idaho 36, 415 P.2d 679 (1966). The petition alleges Russell once had to wait three months to see a doctor because none was available; inmates had to share......
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