State v. Soe, 84-507

Decision Date26 April 1985
Docket NumberNo. 84-507,84-507
Citation219 Neb. 797,366 N.W.2d 439
PartiesSTATE of Nebraska, Appellee, v. LaRue D. SOE, Appellant.
CourtNebraska Supreme Court

Syllabus by the Court

Prior Convictions: Right to Counsel: Waiver. For enhancement purposes the burden on the State to prove valid prior convictions is only to show that the defendant had, or waived, counsel at the time of such prior convictions.

George A. Sutera, Papillion, for appellant.

Paul L. Douglas, Atty. Gen., and Henry M. Grether III, Lincoln, for appellee.

Before KRIVOSHA, C.J., and BOSLAUGH, WHITE, HASTINGS, CAPORALE, SHANAHAN, and GRANT, JJ.

GRANT, Justice.

This is an appeal from the district court for Sarpy County where defendant's appeal from the county court from two convictions of second offense driving while intoxicated was affirmed. We affirm the decision of the district court.

The record shows that the defendant, LaRue D. Soe, was charged in a complaint filed September 16, 1983, with driving while intoxicated on September 8, 1983, in violation of Neb. Rev.Stat. § 39-669.07 (Reissue 1984), a Class W misdemeanor. The complaint further alleged that defendant had been convicted at least twice of driving while intoxicated on previous occasions. Defendant pled not guilty and the case was set for trial on January 17, 1984. The trial was continued at defendant's request. A second complaint charging the defendant with driving while intoxicated on November 26, 1983, was filed on December 9, 1983. The signed complaint also alleged that defendant had been convicted at least twice previously of driving while intoxicated.

Both matters came on for hearing on March 19, 1984, and the defendant, with his counsel present, pled no contest to both driving charges after the trial court fully explained the defendant's constitutional rights in each case, as required by State v. Tweedy, 209 Neb. 649, 309 N.W.2d 94 (1981). After the court found there was a factual basis for the pleas, the court accepted the pleas and found the defendant guilty of both offenses.

Defendant then requested that the court proceed immediately with the enhancement hearing. The State presented four exhibits, to which defendant objected. The trial court, finding exhibits 1, 2, and 3 were not proper for enhancement purposes, enhanced both convictions to second offense based on exhibit 4, which was a court record of a guilty plea and 1977 conviction of second offense driving while intoxicated. On April 27, 1984, the trial court sentenced the defendant to 30 days in prison, 1 year suspension of driving privileges, and a $500 fine, plus costs on each conviction; the jail sentences and suspensions to run consecutively. The defendant appealed to the Sarpy County District Court, claiming the convictions were improperly enhanced and that the sentences were excessive. The district court affirmed the convictions on May 31, 1984, and the defendant timely appealed to this court.

Defendant assigns two errors: (1) That the county and district courts improperly enhanced the convictions to driving while intoxicated second offense; and (2) That the sentences imposed were an abuse of discretion. We affirm.

The defendant contends that exhibit 4, described above, was improperly used to enhance the offense because it did not specifically show that the defendant was advised of his right to a jury trial, his right to confront witnesses against him, and the privilege against self-incrimination, although it showed the defendant had counsel present. Defense counsel argues that State v. Ziemba, 216 Neb. 612, 346 N.W.2d 208 (1984), requires the State to prove that the record of a prior conviction used for enhancement purposes must affirmatively show that all the defendant's constitutional rights were explained to him and that the record establishes a factual basis for a plea of guilty. Ziemba does not place such a burden upon the State. In Ziemba we...

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9 cases
  • State Louthan
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • 25 Junio 1999
    ...Cir.1992); State v. Hamblin, 223 Neb. 469, 390 N.W.2d 533 (1986); State v. Fraser, 222 Neb. 862, 387 N.W.2d 695 (1986); State v. Soe, 219 Neb. 797, 366 N.W.2d 439 (1985); State v. Baxter, 218 Neb. 414, 355 N.W.2d 514 (1984); State v. Ziemba, supra. Without citation of authority, we stated i......
  • State v. Oliver
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • 13 Enero 1989
    ...(1986); State v. Hamblin, 223 Neb. 469, 390 N.W.2d 533 (1986); State v. Benzel, 220 Neb. 466, 370 N.W.2d 501 (1985); State v. Soe, 219 Neb. 797, 366 N.W.2d 439 (1985); State v. Jones, 219 Neb. 184, 362 N.W.2d 58 (1985); State v. Baxter, 218 Neb. 414, 355 N.W.2d 514 (1984); State v. Ziemba, ......
  • LeGrand v. State, s. A-93-1086
    • United States
    • Nebraska Court of Appeals
    • 10 Enero 1995
    ...Cir.1992); State v. Hamblin, 223 Neb. 469, 390 N.W.2d 533 (1986); State v. Fraser, 222 Neb. 862, 387 N.W.2d 695 (1986); State v. Soe, 219 Neb. 797, 366 N.W.2d 439 (1985). (c) Genesis of "Separate A closer reading of Davis and Fraser unveils a slow erosion of the Smith rule. Each of those ca......
  • State v. Wiltshire, s. S-91-639
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • 30 Octubre 1992
    ...commenced for the express purpose of setting aside the judgment alleged to be invalid. (Citations omitted.) See, also, State v. Soe, 219 Neb. 797, 366 N.W.2d 439 (1985); State v. Smith, supra (holding that prior convictions cannot be collaterally attacked at the enhancement The limitations ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • Nebraska Plea-based Convictions Practice: a Primer and Commentary
    • United States
    • University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Law Review No. 79, 2021
    • Invalid date
    ...defendant's understanding, assuming the possibility of ensuring the defendant's understanding in just a few moments. 535. State v. Soe, 219 Neb. 797, 366 N.W.2d 439 (1985). 536. 216 Neb. 612, 346 N.W.2d 208 (1984). 537. As readers consider the lengths to which Nebraska prosecutors have been......

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