People v. Beasley

• Decision Date: 10 December 1969
• Citation: 255 N.E.2d 239,25 N.Y.2d 483,307 N.Y.S.2d 39
• Parties: , 255 N.E.2d 239 The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Ronald BEASLEY, Appellant.
• Court: New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals

Page 39

307 N.Y.S.2d 39

25 N.Y.2d 483, 255 N.E.2d 239

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Ronald BEASLEY, Appellant.

Court of Appeals of New York.

Dec. 10, 1969.

Morris Zuckman, Albany, for appellant.

Arnold W. Proskin, Dist. Atty. (Michael A. Feit, Albany, of counsel), for respondent.

JASEN, Judge.

In 1965, the defendant, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree in satisfaction of an indictment charging him with (felony) murder in the first degree. Following his plea, he was sentenced to a term of from 10 to 20 years in prison.

Defendant brought this petition for a writ of error Coram nobis alleging that it was error for the court to accept a plea of guilty after being notified that there was 'some misunderstanding' with respect to the plea. Moreover, he states that certain statements made during sentencing imposed a duty on the trial court to make further inquiries as to the voluntariness of the plea. The writ was denied without a hearing and the Appellate Division unanimously affirmed.

Specifically, defendant argues that at plea-taking the trial court was advised of defense counsel's uncertainty as to the defendant's understanding of the proceedings before the court. Counsel there stated that 'the defendant has had the plea explained to him and after some misunderstanding at first I think he sees now or understands what the Law is, insofar as this plea is concerned.' (Emphasis added.)

In reply to this statement, the following colloquy took place:

'THE COURT: Well now, the Court is going to question the defendant himself so that we can be sure that there are no misunderstandings. Lavigne, here, assigned by this Court, and you have talked this case over with him, is that correct?

'THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

'THE COURT: Now, do you understand that if you plea guilty to this indictment as reduced to manslaughter in the First Degree you can he sentenced without any further procedure in this Court, there will be no trial, the Court is going to proceed to sentence here, do you understand that?

'THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

'THE COURT: Do you also understand that you are entitled to a trial and if you want to stand trial here it is your prerogative, and if you desire, after conferring and receiving the advice of counsel, if you desire to plead, that is also your prerogative. But if you do plead, you will be sentenced. Now, that is clear to you, is that correct?

'THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

'THE COURT: I understand your mother has been present here this morning and you have conferred with her as well, is that correct?

'THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

'THE COURT: All right, under all of these circumstances, the motion of the District Attorney is granted, the indictment here is reduced to the felony of manslaughter in the First Degree in violation of Section 1050 of the Penal Law.

'I ask you, Beasley, in the light of what I have stated here this morning and in the presence of your counsel how you plead to the reduced felony of manslaughter in the First Degree, guilty or not guilty?

'THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.

'THE COURT: The previous plea of not guilty to this indictment is withdrawn and a plea of guilty is entered to the felony of manslaughter in the First Degree in violation of 1050 of the Penal Law.

The Clerk may take his statement.'

Six days later, the defendant was brought before the court for sentencing, and the following colloquy occurred:

'MR. MEYL: If Your Honor please, at this time I move the sentencing of the defendant, Ronald T. Beasley.

'THE COURT: Note the appearance of Mr. Lavigne as court assigned counsel.

'On January 26th this defendant plea guilty to the felony of Manslaughter in the First Degree following a motion by the District Attorney to reduce the indictment herein to Manslaughter in the First Degree. At that time the sentence was deferred until today. The Court has now received the probation report and is prepared to pass sentence.

'I will ask the Defendant and his Counsel at this time if he or his Counsel has any legal cause to show why judgment should not now be pronounced?

'MR. LAVIGNE: We have no cause Your Honor but the Defendant has authorized me to read the following statement before sentence is imposed:

"I Ronald T. Beasley have authorized my attorney to make the following statement on my behalf:

"I want the Court to know that at no time did I assault and rob Mr. Taber; at no previous time to said assault and robbery was I consulted regarding this assault and robbery. As far as I am able to learn such act was spontaneous by the individuals actually committing the assault and robbery of which I have no knowledge.

"I want to say further that I hold no one responsible for the situation that I find myself in today. I say that is my mistake. My mother and grandmother have done everything possible to show and demonstrate to me the proper way to live in society and those things I have done contrary to law and order have been of my own making and of my own free will. I ask the Court to take those words into consideration in passing judgment.'

'THE COURT: Well, of course, Beasley, the fact that your participation here is somewhat different from the participation by the other two defendants is the reason that you have been given the break of having the indictment reduced to Manslaughter in the First Degree. You are therefore going to receive a substantially lesser sentence than the other two defendants.

'Nevertheless this crime was committed. Your participation to the extent that you did not participate is borne out by your plea of guilty, and it is incumbent upon this Court to pass sentence.'

In denying the writ of error Coram nobis without a hearing, the County Court (Albany County) stated that while that statement prepared by defendant and read to the court by his attorney prior to sentencing could be construed as a denial of the commission of the crime, no attempt was made to withdraw the plea. Taken in context with all the proceedings, defendant's statement was construed to be a plea for leniency. When defendant stated that he did not 'assault and rob Mr. Taber', he was presumably referring to the fact that his involvement...