Cunningham v. Diesslin ( 1996 )

PUBLISH
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 8/13/96
TENTH CIRCUIT
ANTHONY LEE CUNNINGHAM,
Petitioner-Appellant,
No. 95-1166
v.
WARREN T. DIESSLIN, Warden,
Buena Vista Correctional Facility,
Colorado Department of Corrections,
Respondent-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Colorado
(D.C. No. 93-Z-894)
Kathleen A. Lord, Deputy State Public Defender (David F. Vela, Colorado State
Public Defender, with her on the brief), Denver, Colorado, for Petitioner-
Appellant.
Robert M. Petrusak, Senior Assistant Attorney General (Gale A. Norton, Attorney
General, with him on the brief), Denver, Colorado, for Respondent-Appellee.
Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, KELLY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
MURPHY, Circuit Judge.
Anthony Lee Cunningham appeals from the district court’s denial of his
petition for a writ of habeas corpus. In 1982, Cunningham pleaded guilty in
Colorado state court to first-degree sexual assault. He now argues that his plea
was neither knowingly nor intelligently entered because he did not understand the
length of incarceration to which he could be subjected. Cunningham mistakenly
believed that he would serve only half of his sentence. He seeks specific
performance of the plea bargain as understood by the parties or, in the alternative,
to withdraw his plea. For the reasons given below, this court affirms the
judgment of the district court.
I. BACKGROUND
Cunningham was originally charged in the District Court, City and County
of Denver, Colorado, with first-degree sexual assault and three other counts. He
pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charge, a class-2 felony, on September 13,
1982. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-402(3). The State subsequently dismissed the
remaining counts. At the time of his guilty plea, first-degree sexual assault
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carried a possible sentence of twelve to twenty four years incarceration. Id. § 18-
1-105(1)(a)(I), (9)(e). The trial court 1 sentenced Cunningham to seventeen years.
Consistent with the plea agreement, however, the trial court stayed
Cunningham’s sentence. Instead of incarceration under the Department of
Corrections, the plea agreement provided that Cunningham, who was eighteen at
the time of his plea, would enter a treatment program at the Closed Adolescent
Treatment Center under the supervision of the Department of Youth Services. If
Cunningham violated any of the rules of the treatment center, however, the trial
court would lift the stay of his sentence and he would serve the balance of his
sentence under the supervision of the Department of Corrections.
As a result of Cunningham’s subsequent violation of the rules of the Closed
Adolescent Treatment Center, the trial court terminated his treatment on July 6,
1984. In accordance with the terms of the plea agreement, the trial court
permanently lifted the stay of Cunningham’s seventeen-year prison sentence and
ordered him transferred to the Department of Corrections.
At the time Cunningham committed his offense, Colorado generally
sentenced persons under a determinate sentencing scheme. See Thiret v. Kautzky,
1
The Colorado state court heard both Cunningham’s plea in 1982 and his
subsequent habeas petition in 1989. For ease of reference, we will refer to the
state court as the “trial court” in connection with Cunningham’s plea and
sentencing. We will refer to the state court as the “habeas court” in relation to
Cunningham’s habeas proceedings.
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792 P.2d 801, 804 (Colo. 1990) (en banc). This scheme removed substantially all
discretion from the sentencing courts and the Colorado State Parole Board (the
“Parole Board”). Id. at 803-04. Persons sentenced under the determinate scheme
received mandatory parole after reaching the parole date, determined by deducting
vested good time and earned time credits from the sentence. 2 Id. at 805. Thus,
under the determinate scheme, the Parole Board could not extend the parole date
beyond that established by the formula. From the time of the legislature’s
enactment of determinate sentencing in 1979 until January 1989, the Parole Board
interpreted the requirement of mandatory parole to apply to all inmates serving
sentences for crimes committed between July 1, 1979, and July 1, 1985, with
limited exceptions. 3 Thiret, 792 P.2d at 806.
2
Under § 17-22.5-301(1) of the Colorado Revised Statutes, a person serving
a sentence for a crime committed between July 1, 1979, and July 1, 1985, could
earn a good time deduction equal to one day of credit against a sentence for each
day served. Price v. Mills, 728 P.2d 715, 718 (Colo. 1986) (en banc). The same
inmate could receive additional earned time deductions under § 17-22.5-302(1).
The Colorado Supreme Court has construed the interplay between § 17-22.5-
301(1) and § 17-22.5-302(1) to provide for a deduction of approximately one-half
of the sentence received, assuming the inmate earned the maximum allowances.
People v. Alexander, 797 P.2d 1250, 1254 & n.6 (Colo. 1990) (en banc) (giving
the example that an inmate sentenced to 50 years who received the maximum
deductions would be released after serving approximately 23 years). Cunningham
based his understanding that he would serve only one-half of his sentence on this
calculation.
3
In 1988, the Colorado legislature amended the parole provisions of its
criminal code to authorize increased discretion to the Parole Board to grant or
deny parole. See Thiret v. Kautzky, 792 P.2d 801, 805 (Colo. 1990).
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One exception to mandatory parole, in the Parole Board’s pre-1989 view,
was for persons sentenced pursuant to the indeterminate scheme of the Sex
Offenders Act, §§ 16-13-201 to -216 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Thiret,
792 P.2d at 803; Aue v. Diesslin, 798 P.2d 436, 438 n.2 (Colo. 1990) (en banc).
Persons sentenced under this indeterminate scheme were not subject to mandatory
parole but were reviewed yearly by the Parole Board. Id. Cunningham was not
sentenced for first-degree sexual assault under the Sex Offenders Act, but was
given a determinate sentence under § 18-3-105(1)(a)(I), (9)(e) of the Colorado
Revised Statutes.
The Parole Board changed its interpretation of the exception to the
mandatory parole provision in January 1989. Under this new interpretation, all
individuals sentenced for any sex offense, as the Sex Offenders Act defines “sex
offense,” 4 but not limited to those who were sentenced pursuant to that Act, were
not subject to mandatory parole. Thiret, 792 P.2d at 803. The Parole Board thus
4
The Sex Offenders Act reads:
“Sex offense” means sexual assault, except misdemeanor
sexual assault in the third degree, as set forth in part 4
of article 3 of title 18, C.R.S.; sexual assault on a child,
as defined in section 18-3-405, C.R.S.; aggravated
incest, as defined in section 18-6-302, C.R.S.; and an
attempt to commit any of the offenses mentioned in this
subsection (5).
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 16-13-202(5).
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had discretion to grant or deny parole to all persons convicted of a defined sex
offense even if they had received a determinate sentence. Id. The Colorado
Supreme Court has since upheld the Parole Board’s new interpretation of the
extent of its discretion and the consequent retroactive increase in incarceration
time. Id. at 806-07; see also Aue, 798 P.2d at 441 (upholding the Thiret decision
against a due process challenge on the ground that the new interpretation was
foreseeable).
Soon after the Parole Board changed its interpretation of its authority under
§ 17-2-201(5)(a), Cunningham learned that mandatory parole would not apply to
him. On August 2, 1989, he filed a motion in Colorado state court to vacate his
plea. Cunningham argued he did not voluntarily and knowingly enter his guilty
plea because he did not understand the consequences. In particular, Cunningham
alleged he was advised by counsel that if he were sentenced to prison, his
sentence would be subject to mandatory parole. Cunningham claimed to
understand this to mean that he would be released from prison after serving only
one-half of his sentence. He alleged that he was not advised that he would fall
into an exception to mandatory parole because his conviction was for a sex
offense.
The habeas court subsequently held a hearing and denied Cunningham’s
motion to vacate his plea. At this hearing, the parties stipulated to certain
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pertinent facts: (1) Cunningham’s initial counsel advised his clients that they
would only have to serve one-half of their sentences less earned time; (2) the
district attorney who negotiated the plea also believed that the maximum time of
incarceration would be one-half the sentence imposed; and (3) this half-time
provision was not part of the plea offer. In addition, Cunningham’s attorney at
the time of his guilty plea stated on the record and without objection that he
understood mandatory parole to apply and that he advised Cunningham he would
serve half his sentence if the stay were lifted.
Cunningham also testified at the hearing in the habeas court. He stated he
was advised by counsel and understood that the maximum amount of time he
could be incarcerated under the plea agreement was one-half the maximum
penalty of twenty four years. He explained that this understanding was the only
reason he pleaded guilty. Cunningham also testified that if he had known he
would have to serve his entire sentence, he would not have pleaded guilty.
The habeas court denied Cunningham’s requested relief and ruled that his
plea was voluntarily and intelligently made. The habeas court pointed to the
many advisements by the trial court on the record to Cunningham that he could
receive a twenty four-year sentence. Prior to taking his plea, the trial court
specifically told Cunningham of the possible twenty four-year sentence at least
five times. The trial court also warned Cunningham, prior to taking his plea, that
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it was considering a sentence of about sixteen years and that if he violated the
rules of the treatment center, “[Y]ou are going to do 16 years at the penitentiary.”
In addition, the trial court asked Cunningham whether he understood the possible
sentence that could be imposed as a result of his plea; Cunningham responded,
“Yes.”
Prior to taking Cunningham’s plea, the following colloquy took place:
THE COURT: . . . Now, have there been any other
promises made to you other than what I have just talked
about here to get you to enter this plea?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
THE COURT: Has anybody at all told you that I would
give you a certain sentence or treat you in a certain way
other than what’s been said here?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
Despite this colloquy, the habeas court found that Cunningham was told by his
attorneys that he would only have to serve one-half of his sentence plus one year
of parole. Moreover, the habeas court acknowledged that it shared the
understanding of the parties at the time of the plea as to the application of
mandatory parole to Cunningham’s sentence.
Nevertheless, the habeas court also found that Cunningham did not rely on
the advice that he would be released after serving half his sentence. It further
found that he made his plea solely with the consideration that he would enter the
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treatment program and avoid supervision by the Department of Corrections. The
habeas court based this finding on statements made during the plea colloquy.
Prior to the plea, the trial court asked Cunningham the reason for the plea hearing
and Cunningham responded, “I don’t know, so that I can go to the [Closed
Adolescent Treatment Center].” Then the trial court explained to Cunningham the
nature and elements of the crime to which he was pleading guilty and the right to
trial he was foregoing in order to ensure that Cunningham understood the effect
of his guilty plea. Cunningham responded that he understood the explanations
given to him by the trial court. On these bases, the habeas court held that
Cunningham’s guilty plea was voluntarily and knowingly made.
The Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s ruling in an
unpublished order. Relying on the reasoning of Aue, 798 P.2d at 441, which held
that the change from mandatory to discretionary parole was foreseeable, the Court
of Appeals held that this change did not itself eviscerate the guilty plea. People
v. Cunningham, No. 90CA2065, slip op. at 3-4 (Colo. Ct. App. July 2, 1992). The
court held that even if Cunningham were improperly advised by counsel or the
trial court, this had no effect on the voluntariness of his plea. Id. at 4. The
Colorado Supreme Court denied Cunningham’s petition for certiorari in an
unpublished order.
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After having exhausted his state remedies, Cunningham filed a petition for
a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in the United States District Court
for the District of Colorado. The magistrate judge held a hearing and heard
argument but appears not to have heard additional testimony from witnesses. The
magistrate reviewed the records created in the trial and habeas courts and issued a
Recommendation to deny the petition. Cunningham then timely filed objections
to the magistrate judge’s Recommendation. The district court reviewed the record
before it but apparently did not receive additional evidence. It then adopted the
magistrate judge’s findings in the Recommendation and dismissed the petition.
Cunningham timely appealed the district court’s Order of Dismissal. We exercise
jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253.
In this appeal, Cunningham argues that the plea bargain was not fair
because he was induced to plead guilty by his false understanding of the
application of mandatory parole. Because he has served longer than what he
understood to be the twelve-year maximum period of incarceration, he contends
that fundamental fairness dictates specific performance of the sentencing term of
the plea bargain, as understood by all the parties. As a result, he claims he should
be released from the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections. In the
alternative, Cunningham argues that his guilty plea and conviction should be
vacated. We address these claims seriatim.
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II. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF THE PLEA AGREEMENT
Whether government conduct has violated a plea agreement presents a
question of law which we review de novo. United States v. Robertson, 45 F.3d
1423, 1442 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 116 S. Ct. 133 (1995), and cert.
denied sub nom. Graves v. United States, — U.S. —, 115 S. Ct. 2258 (1995) and
Torres v. United States, — U.S. —, 115 S. Ct. 2259 (1995).
“Where the government obtains a guilty plea predicated in any significant
degree on a promise or agreement with the prosecuting attorney, such promise
must be fulfilled to maintain the integrity of the plea.” United States v. Hand,
913 F.2d 854, 856 (10th Cir. 1990). Interpreting the terms of a plea bargain
involves a two-step process. The court must first examine the nature of the
prosecutor’s promise. United States v. Pogue, 865 F.2d 226, 227 (10th Cir.
1989). Next, the court examines this promise based upon the defendant’s
reasonable understanding upon entry of the guilty plea. See Robertson, 45 F.3d at
1442. Cunningham has the burden of proving the underlying facts establishing
the breach by a preponderance of the evidence. Allen v. Hadden, 57 F.3d 1529,
1534 (10th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 116 S. Ct. 544 (1996).
Cunningham maintains that he is entitled to specific performance of the
terms of the plea bargain as understood by the parties. Cunningham refers, of
course, to the application of mandatory parole to his sentence. In Lustgarden v.
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Gunter, 996 F.2d 552 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1008 (1992), which also
involved the issue of the Colorado State Parole Board’s discretion to deny parole
to sex offenders, we dealt with a related argument. The plea agreement itself did
not state that mandatory parole would apply. This court then rejected the claim
that promissory estoppel required the Parole Board to grant the petitioner parole
because neither the statutory language nor the sentencing court promised
mandatory parole. Lustgarden, 966 F.2d at 555; see also Mahn v. Gunter, 978
F.2d 599, 602 (10th Cir. 1992) (rejecting petitioner’s reliance argument because
there was no evidence of a promise of mandatory parole by the sentencing court).
The court reasoned that even if the petitioner’s attorney had promised him
mandatory parole, this promise did not bind the court. Lustgarden, 966 F.2d at
554.
Cunningham nevertheless argues that the understanding of the parties at the
time of the plea should control the construction of the terms of the plea bargain.
His claim fails because the application of mandatory parole to Cunningham’s
sentence is neither an explicit nor an implicit part of the plea agreement. The
undisputed fact is that mandatory parole was not a part of the plea offer;
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Cunningham does not now allege to the contrary. 5 Thus his argument does not
concern the construction of the plea agreement.
Because there was no promise that was impliedly part of the understanding
of the plea agreement and the plea agreement does not specify that mandatory
parole would apply, the cases cited by Cunningham are inapposite. See, e.g.,
Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 258-59, 262 (1971) (undisputed promise
by the first prosecutor not to make a recommendation regarding sentence was
violated by the second prosecutor); Allen, 57 F.3d at 1531-32 (understanding of
the plea agreement expressed on the record by counsel and the court that
dismissed counts would not be used to calculate the defendant’s eligibility for
parole was violated when used by the parole board); Lucero v. Kerby, 7 F.3d
1520, 1521-22 (10th Cir. 1993) (concerning the understanding of the term of
incarceration contained in the plea agreement); United States v. Shorteeth, 887
F.2d 253, 254-55 (10th Cir. 1989) (involving the understanding of the term of the
plea agreement that the Government would institute no prosecutions against the
5
Although the parties do not dispute that both the prosecutor and the trial
court understood mandatory parole to apply to Cunningham’s sentence at the time
of his plea, Cunningham never alleges that either told him it would apply. In fact,
one of the undisputed facts is the testimony of the prosecutor that mandatory
parole was not part of the plea offer. The trial court never indicated on the record
that Cunningham would only have to serve one-half of the sentence imposed.
Indeed, in explaining the possibility of a sixteen-year sentence, the trial court told
him he was “going to do 16 years at the penitentiary,” not half of that. The court
repeatedly told Cunningham of the possibility of a twenty four-year sentence.
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defendant based on cooperation testimony); accord Pogue, 865 F.2d at 227;
United States v. Thomas, 580 F.2d 1036, 1037-38 (10th Cir. 1978) (promise made
on the record by the court to the first codefendant, and acquiesced in by the
prosecutor, not to sentence until all charges had been brought was understood by
the second codefendant to apply to her as well), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1130(1979); People v. Fisher, 657 P.2d 922, 924-25 (Colo. 1983) (en banc) (promise
by the detective that videotaped testimony of the defendant would not be used by
the prosecutor in any criminal proceeding against him).
The understanding Cunningham argues should control concerns the length
of the sentence he received, which is not part of the plea agreement. That all of
the parties may have understood mandatory parole to apply at the time of the plea
does not make this a part of the plea agreement. Cunningham can point to no
promise of mandatory parole that existed outside of the formal, written
agreement; nor can he show that the parties intended mandatory parole to be a
part of the plea agreement. As this court held in Lustgarden, any statement by the
petitioner’s attorney about the application of mandatory parole does not bind the
court unless it is a part of the plea agreement. 966 F.2d at 555. Moreover,
Lustgarden held the Parole Board’s prior misapplication of the Colorado statute
defining its discretion does not constitute a promise which binds the court. Id.
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III. CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE GUILTY PLEA
Cunningham also argues that he did not knowingly and voluntarily enter his
guilty plea because he was led to believe that mandatory parole would be a part of
the agreement. He asserts that the reason he accepted the plea was to take
advantage of mandatory parole, which his counsel informed him would apply.
Cunningham argues that because the agreement did not actually conform to his
understanding and contain this term, he should be able to withdraw his plea.
Whether a defendant entered a knowing and voluntary guilty plea presents a
question of law which this court reviews de novo. Marshall v. Lonberger, 459
U.S. 422, 431 (1983); Martin v. Kaiser, 907 F.2d 931, 933 (10th Cir. 1990);
Laycock v. New Mexico, 880 F.2d 1184, 1186 (10th Cir. 1988). To the extent that
the question of whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily made the plea
depends on findings of fact made by the state court on habeas review, these
findings, with specified exceptions, carry a presumption of correctness. 28
U.S.C. § 2254(d); Marshall, 459 U.S. at 431-32; Jones v. Cowley, 28 F.3d 1067,
1069 (10th Cir. 1994).
On review, a federal court may set aside a state court guilty plea only for
failure to satisfy due process. Miles v. Dorsey, 61 F.3d 1459, 1465 (10th Cir.
1995), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 116 S. Ct. 743 (1996). In order to comport with
due process guarantees, a defendant must have voluntarily and intelligently
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entered a guilty plea. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242 (1969). The plea
must be knowing and the product of a deliberate, intelligent choice. Parke v.
Raley, 506 U.S. 20, 28 (1992); United States v. Wright, 43 F.3d 491, 495 (10th
Cir. 1994). Furthermore, the defendant must have “a full understanding of what
the plea connotes and of its consequences.” Boykin, 395 U.S. at 244; see also
Miles, 61 F.3d at 1466. We will uphold a state court guilty plea if the
circumstances demonstrate that the defendant understood the nature and
consequences of the charges and the defendant voluntarily chose to plead guilty.
Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 passim (1970); Boykin, 395 U.S. at 242-44;
Miles, 61 F.3d at 1466.
Cunningham’s argument centers on his understanding of the parole terms
resulting from his plea. He does not contend that his plea resulted from any form
of coercion, material misrepresentation by the prosecutor or the trial court, or an
unfulfilled promise. See, e.g., Laycock, 880 F.3d at 1186 (discussing factors
contributing to involuntary pleas). Instead, Cunningham argues his lawyers
advised him that he would serve only one-half of his sentence, that he relied on
and believed this misunderstanding, and that both the prosecutor and the trial
court shared this same misunderstanding. These contentions bear on whether
Cunningham knowingly entered his plea and this court will focus on the state of
his understanding at the time of his plea as reflected in the record.
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An attorney’s erroneous sentence estimate or prediction of parole does not
render a plea unknowingly made. Laycock, 880 F.2d at 1186; Self v. Blackburn,
751 F.2d 789, 793 (5th Cir. 1985). A defendant’s subjective understanding that
he will serve less than one-half of his sentence, if it is not based upon any
promise made by the defense attorney, the prosecutor, or the court, will not
undermine the constitutionality of the plea or raise a question of whether the state
breached its end of a plea bargain. Laycock, 880 F.2d at 1186; Bonvillain v.
Blackburn, 780 F.2d 1248, 1252 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1143 (1986);
Hall v. Maggio, 697 F.2d 641, 643 (5th Cir. 1983) (holding the defendant’s
understanding that a life sentence was really only ten and one-half years, which
he based upon “common knowledge,” was not a promise that could render the
plea involuntarily entered).
Closer to the issue here, in Lustgarden, this court considered a due process
challenge to the Colorado Parole Board’s 1989 reinterpretation of the application
of mandatory parole to sex offenders. 966 F.2d at 553. The petitioner in
Lustgarden had pleaded guilty in Colorado state court to three counts of sexual
assault on a child. Lustgarden v. Gunter, 779 F. Supp. 500, 501 (D. Colo. 1991),
aff’d, 966 F.2d 552 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1008 (1992). When he
learned that mandatory parole would not apply to him, he filed a petition for a
writ of habeas corpus alleging he was entitled to mandatory parole. Id. at 501-02.
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Following the result reached by the Colorado Supreme Court in Aue, 798 P.2d at
441, this court held the 1989 reinterpretation of the parole statute by the Parole
Board was a foreseeable change which did not violate due process guarantees.
Lustgarden, 966 F.2d at 554. The issue raised by Cunningham, however, which
focuses on his knowledge of the length of confinement he faced, is not squarely
settled by either Laycock or Lustgarden.
Laycock establishes that a defendant’s understanding he will serve less than
his full sentence does not alone render his guilty plea constitutionally infirm. 880
F.2d at 1186. The defendant’s belief must be based upon some other additional
factor, such as coercion or material misrepresentation by the prosecutor.
Moreover, this understanding, from whatever its source, must have affected the
defendant’s decision with respect to the plea. That Cunningham’s attorneys
advised him mandatory parole would apply to his sentence is not in dispute. The
habeas court, however, found that Cunningham did not rely on that advice when
he accepted the plea.
Cunningham urges this court to hold that two findings by the habeas court
are not supported by the record: (1) he did not rely on his counsel’s statements
that he would serve only one-half of his sentence; and (2) that he entered his plea
solely to avoid incarceration under the Department of Corrections. Under
Laycock, Cunningham’s claim cannot stand unless his misunderstanding about the
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length of his possible incarceration resulted from some promise made by his
counsel, the prosecutor, or the trial court or some other impermissible action. See
Laycock, 880 F.2d at 1186. As a result, the first of the challenged findings is
crucial.
Federal review of a state court’s factual findings is of limited scope. Ball
v. Ricketts, 779 F.2d 578, 579-80 (10th Cir. 1985), cert. denied sub nom. Riveland
v. Ball, 479 U.S. 870 (1986). A federal court must accept as true the state court’s
determination of underlying questions of historical fact and the inferences drawn
therefrom based upon testimony taken in that court unless one of the exceptions
under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) applies. Sumner v. Mata, 449 U.S. 539, 547-50
(1981); Ball, 779 F.2d at 580; see also Thompson v. Keohane, No. 94-6615, slip
op at 10-12 (U.S. Nov. 29, 1995) (holding that § 2254(d) applies to basic,
primary, or historical facts but that the “in custody” determination is a legal
question outside the scope of § 2254(d)). At issue here is 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(8),
which provides that the state court’s findings are entitled to a presumption of
correctness unless they are not fairly supported by the record. 6
6
Cunningham more strenuously challenges the factual findings of the
federal district court and magistrate judge. It appears that these findings were
made on the basis of the state record and that neither the district court nor the
magistrate took additional testimony from witnesses. This court has held that
findings by a district court and magistrate based merely upon their review of the
state record are not fully entitled to the clearly erroneous standard of review.
Archuleta v. Kerby, 864 F.2d 709, 711 n.2 (10th Cir. 1989); Castleberry v. Alford,
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Having closely reviewed the entire record, we conclude it supports the
habeas court’s finding that Cunningham did not rely on the advice of his counsel
concerning his length of confinement. Although the parties do not dispute that
Cunningham’s attorneys informed him mandatory parole would apply to his
sentence, Cunningham stated in open court during his plea colloquy that he was
not relying on any promises or predictions of a possible sentence made to him
prior to his plea. “Solemn declarations in open court carry a strong presumption
of verity.” Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 74 (1977). Given this evidence,
and the absence of any of the factors present in Blackledge which question the
truth of the petitioner’s declarations, the record supports the finding of the habeas
court.
Furthermore, the habeas court’s finding that Cunningham pleaded guilty
solely to enter the program at the treatment center in turn additionally supports
the conclusion that he pleaded without reliance on the promise of mandatory
parole. That finding corresponds precisely with Cunningham’s statement to the
666 F.2d 1338, 1342 n.2 (10th Cir. 1981). These findings are subject to this
court’s independent review of the record on these points. Archuleta, 864 F.2d at711 n.2. Although the district court and magistrate judge made additional
findings beyond those of the habeas court, their findings included the reiteration
of the two habeas court findings listed above. Cunningham’s claim will fail if
these two findings are fairly supported by the record and are not shown by
convincing evidence to be erroneous,. As a consequence, we focus on these
findings by the habeas court, which are entitled to the degree of deference
accorded 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
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trial court during the plea colloquy. Moreover, Cunningham’s argument that he
accepted the plea agreement because of the application of mandatory parole is
dubious. It does not really address the finding that he accepted the plea solely to
enter the treatment program. The application of mandatory parole would have
caused Cunningham’s plea to provide no benefit to him over going to trial. In
this context, the habeas court’s finding that the promise of the treatment program
motivated Cunningham to accept the plea explains his motivation because the
treatment program did represent a benefit of the plea bargain.
Because the record supports the habeas court’s findings, we cannot
conclude that Cunningham relied on his attorney’s statements at the time of the
plea that he would receive mandatory parole. Laycock indicates the defendant’s
guilty plea may be constitutionally suspect when the defendant’s attorney
promised he would serve less than his actual sentence. Laycock, 880 F.2d at
1186-87. The record here, however, supports the finding that Cunningham did
not act on the basis of that advice and did not rely on his counsel’s statements
when he made his plea. We therefore cannot conclude that Cunningham’s guilty
plea is constitutionally infirm. We hold that Cunningham entered his guilty plea
knowingly and intelligently and that it cannot now be vacated on those grounds.
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IV. CONCLUSION
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Because the undisputed facts demonstrate that mandatory parole was not a
part of the plea offer, Cunningham’s argument that the plea agreement should be
construed to contain that term is unavailing. Cunningham’s specific performance
argument thus fails. Moreover, the habeas court found that the trial court never
told Cunningham that he would serve only one-half of his sentence. It further
found that Cunningham did not rely on any statements made to him by his counsel
at the time of his plea that he would only serve one-half of his sentence. After a
careful review of the record, this court is left with the conviction that these
findings are supported by the record. As a result, we cannot conclude that
Cunningham’s attorneys misinformed him of any material consequences of his
plea which caused him to accept the plea. Accordingly, this court holds that
Cunningham entered his plea knowingly and intelligently. For these reasons, the
district court’s dismissal of Cunningham’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus is
AFFIRMED.
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