People v. Moore, Docket No. 27980

• Citation: 253 N.W.2d 708,74 Mich.App. 195
• Decision Date: 03 March 1977
• Docket Number: Docket No. 27980
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. James Vernon MOORE, Defendant-Appellant. 74 Mich.App. 195, 253 N.W.2d 708
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 708

253 N.W.2d 708

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. James Vernon MOORE, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 27980.

74 Mich.App. 195, 253 N.W.2d 708

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

March 3, 1977.

Released for Publication June 2, 1977.

[74 MICHAPP 196] Keller & Avadenka by Frances R. Avadenka, Bloomfield Hills, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., L. Brooks Patterson, Pros. Atty., Robert C. Williams, Chief Appellate Counsel, James L. McCarthy, Asst. Appellate Counsel, Pontiac, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before WALSH, P. J., and ALLEN and LEO W. CORKIN, ^* JJ.

PER CURIAM.

The defendant was initially charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second or subsequent offense, MCLA 750.520b; MSA 28.788(2), MCLA 750.520f; MSA 28.788(6). On December 11, 1975, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, he pled guilty to an added reduced charge of attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct, MCLA 750.520c; MSA 28.788(3), MCLA 750.92; MSA 28.287. Defendant was subsequently sentenced to a prison term of 40 months to 5 years with credit for time served.

On appeal, defendant does not allege that the plea procedure was defective in any way. He argues instead that the trial judge erred by refusing to allow him to withdraw his plea at the sentencing hearing. Prior to sentencing, the trial judge offered the defendant an opportunity to address the court as required by GCR 1963, 785.8(2). The following exchange ensued:

"THE COURT: Anything you care to say?

[74 MICHAPP 197] "DEFENDANT MOORE: Yes, sir, I am going to take my cop out back, I want a new lawyer and everything.

"THE COURT: Anything you care to say?

"DEFENDANT MOORE: That's it.

"THE COURT: All right. Mr. Moore, it is the sentence of this court that you serve 40 months to 5 years in the State Prison * * *."

The defendant clearly asked to withdraw his plea. Such matters are controlled by GCR 1963, 785.7(6)(b)(i) which states:

"After the court accepts the plea * * * the court may set it aside on defendant's motion;"

Cases interpreting nearly identical language in earlier versions of the same court rule have held that motions to withdraw guilty pleas are left to the discretion of the trial court but that discretion should be exercised with "great liberality". People v. Bencheck, 360 Mich. 430, 104 N.W.2d 191 (1960), People v. Lewandowski, 394 Mich. 529, 232 N.W.2d 173 (1975). The more recent opinion in Guilty Plea Cases, 395 Mich. 96, 235 N.W.2d 132 (1975) is silent on this point.

A review of the record in the trial court and on appeal shows that the defendant has never asserted his innocence. Nor has he alleged that any of the statements he made at the plea hearing were false or that he was coerced or misled into pleading guilty. The record contains only the belated demand that he be allowed to withdraw his plea. All of those factors weigh in favor of the prosecutor's argument that the convictions should be affirmed.

However, the defendant argues with considerable justification that the trial judge never exercised the discretion at all. The judge never directly [74 MICHAPP 198] responded to the request; rather, he simply asked if the defendant had anything more to say and, when he received a negative response, he proceeded to sentence defendant without further comment.

We are not aware of any cases holding that the defendant has an absolute right to withdrawal of a guilty plea. Cases allowing withdrawal have done so because the defendant has belatedly asserted innocence or alleged some defect in the plea-taking process. The problem in the present case is that we are unable to determine whether, if given a fair opportunity, defendant would have claimed innocence or asserted some error in the plea-taking procedure. The "great liberality" test of Lewandowski is diluted if, upon a defendant's asserting he wishes to withdraw his plea and is dissatisfied with his counsel, a trial court does not inquire in some detail why the defendant wishes to do so.

...