People v. Eaton

• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan
• Writing for the Court: PER CURIAM
• Citation: People v. Eaton, 195 N.W.2d 797, 38 Mich.App. 113 (Mich. App. 1972)
• Decision Date: 24 January 1972
• Docket Number: Docket No. 9607,No. 3,3
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Charles E. EATON, Defendant-Appellant

Page 797

195 N.W.2d 797

38 Mich.App. 113

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Charles E. EATON, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 9607.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 3.

Jan. 24, 1972.

Released for Publication April 4, 1972.

Leave to Appeal Denied April 14, 1972.

Charles E. Eaton, in pro per.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Donald A. Burge, Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before McGREGOR, P.J., BRONSON and TARGONSKI, ^* JJ.

PER CURIAM.

The defendant was arrested and indicted on two counts of murder, the first count charging him with first-degree murder, M.C.L.A. § 750.316, M.S.A. § 28.548, and the second count charging him with second-degree murder, M.C.L.A. § 750.317, M.S.A. § 28.549. On November 29, 1965, the defendant entered a plea of guilty to the charge of second-degree murder and the charge of first-degree murder was dropped. The defendant was thereafter sentenced to a term of natural life in prison.

After sentencing, the defendant made several motions to withdraw his guilty plea and for a new trial. A three-day hearing was held, resulting in a denial of defendant's motions. Defendant now appeals, alleging that his guilty plea was a result of an unfulfilled promise of leniency, and that the plea was not voluntarily made but was the result of coercive police tactics.

It is established law, that when first made after sentencing, a motion to withdraw a guilty plea addresses itself to the sound discretion of the trial court, People v. Vasquez, 303 Mich. 340, 6 N.W.2d 538 (1942); People v. Walls, 3 Mich.App. 279, 142 N.W.2d 38 (1966), and the decision of the trial court will not be disturbed unless there is a clear abuse of discretion resulting in a miscarriage of justice. People v. Collins, 380 Mich. 131, 156 N.W.2d 566 (1968), People v. Winegar, 380 Mich. 719, 158 N.W.2d 395 (1968).

At the same time, the Supreme Court has held that, to be successful on a motion to withdraw a guilty plea because it was not voluntarily made, a defendant must convince the trial court by a preponderance of credible evidence 'that the plea was the product of fraud, duress or coercion or so devoid of understanding that the defendant could not be said to have been Sui juris.' People v. Taylor, 383 Mich. 338, 361, 175 N.W.2d 715, 725 (1970).

A careful review of the records in this case discloses that the trial judge went to great lengths to satisfy himself that the defendant's original plea was given voluntarily, intelligently, and without promise of leniency. At the same time, a careful review of the evidence introduced by the defendant at the hearing on his motion discloses no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in denying his motion. See People v. Walls, 3 Mich.App. 279, 142 N.W.2d 38 (1966); People v. Mayfield, 16 Mich.App. 680, 168 N.W.2d 655 (1969); People v. Williams, 20 Mich.App. 311, 174 N.W.2d 50 (196...