State v. Tichota, 84-217

• Decision Date: 05 October 1984
• Docket Number: No. 84-217,84-217
• Citation: 218 Neb. 444,356 N.W.2d 85
• Parties: STATE of Nebraska, Appellee, v. George J. TICHOTA, Appellant.
• Court: Nebraska Supreme Court

Page 85

356 N.W.2d 85

218 Neb. 444

STATE of Nebraska, Appellee, v. George J. TICHOTA, Appellant.

No. 84-217.

Supreme Court of Nebraska.

Oct. 5, 1984.

Syllabus by the Court

Prior Convictions: Proof: Waiver. Although proof of prior convictions to establish a charge of driving while intoxicated, third offense, may be waived by the voluntary and intelligent admission of the defendant, nevertheless, there must be proof in the record in some form that the prior convictions were obtained at a time when the defendant was represented by counsel or had knowingly waived such right.

Tim B. Streff and Jon S. Okun, Higgins & Okun, Omaha, for appellant.

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

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

HASTINGS, Justice.

This appeal involves primarily a defendant's rights in connection with a proceeding for enhancement of a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The defendant was charged in three separate complaints: (1) Driving while intoxicated, third offense, November 1, 1983; (2) Third degree assault, October 29, 1983; and (3) Driving while intoxicated, third offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test, November 25, 1983. He was found guilty in the county court for Colfax County after pleas of no contest. He was sentenced on the first complaint to 6 months in jail and was ordered not to operate any motor vehicle during his lifetime, and on the second complaint, for assault, to 2 years of probation and 30 days in the county jail consecutive to complaint No. 1. On the third complaint, he was placed on 5 years' probation, concurrent with complaint No. 2, and was ordered to perform 500 hours of community service for the city of Clarkson, Nebraska, such penalty apparently to cover both counts collectively. On appeal to the district court all sentences were affirmed, except the community service ordered was reduced to 200 hours.

On appeal to this court the defendant attacks the findings of the court as to prior DWI convictions, the failure of the trial court to advise the defendant as to the penalties for first, second, and third offense refusal to submit to a chemical test, and the failure of the court to find the defendant's plea to the assault charge was not voluntary and intelligent and to allow withdrawal of such plea.

State v. Smyth, 217 Neb. 153, 347 N.W.2d 859 (1984), provides that although proof of prior convictions for DWI, third offense, may be waived by the voluntary and intelligent admission of the defendant, nevertheless there must be proof in the record in some form that the prior convictions were obtained at a time when the defendant was represented by counsel or had knowingly waived such right. See, also, State v. Baxter, 218 Neb. 414, 355 N.W.2d 514 (1984).

In each case involving DWI, third offense, the defendant stated that he did not deny the prior convictions. However, there is absolutely no proof in the record, by admission or otherwise, that the defendant had been represented or had waived counsel on those previous occasions. An equivocal admission by the defendant that one or more of the convictions might have been the result of a jury...