State v. Smith , 2012 MT 94N ( 2012 )

April 24 2012
DA 11-0682
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2012 MT 94N
STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
ROY LEE SMITH,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the First Judicial District,
In and For the County of Lewis and Clark, Cause No. CDC 03-141
Honorable Kathy Seeley, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Roy Lee Smith, self-represented, Deer Lodge, Montana
For Appellee:
Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General; Matthew T. Cochenour, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Leo Gallagher, Lewis and Clark County Attorney; Lisa Leckie, Deputy
County Attorney, Helena, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: March 28, 2012
Decided: April 24, 2012
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Michael E Wheat delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating
Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not serve
as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this Court’s
quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana Reports.
¶2 Roy Lee Smith (Smith) appeals from an order of the First Judicial District Court,
Lewis and Clark County, denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. We affirm.
¶3 On May 19, 2003, Smith was charged with operating an unlawful clandestine
laboratory (a methamphetamine lab), a felony. The charge stemmed from the events of
January 22 and 23, 2003. Smith was at his grandmother’s home when there was an
explosion in the basement. Smith and his uncle, Tom, took several items from the basement,
including a blue cooler and a black duffel bag, placed them in Tom’s truck, and left in the
truck. Smith was located by police in Bend, Oregon, on February 2, 2003, in Tom’s truck.
In the truck, law enforcement found a fire extinguisher containing anhydrous ammonia and a
black duffel bag containing coffee filters, rock salt, and suspected methamphetamine. Smith
was returned to Montana and charged.
¶4 On June 12, 2003, pursuant to a plea agreement, Smith pled guilty to the reduced
charge of criminal endangerment, a felony. Smith signed a plea agreement and waiver of
rights, indicating the “plea is being made voluntarily and is not the result of force or threats
or of promises made.” Smith also acknowledged that “I am satisfied with the services of my
attorney and that there has been ample time to prepare a defense[,]” and “I am satisfied that
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my lawyer has been fair to me, has advised me fully of my rights, and has represented me
properly.” Finally, Smith acknowledged no lesser included offense applied to his case.
¶5 At Smith’s change of plea hearing, the District Court advised Smith of his rights and
asked “You’re doing this voluntarily after having discussed it with your attorney, is that
correct?” Smith replied “That’s correct, Your Honor.” Smith also indicated he had ample
time to discuss his case with his attorney and was satisfied with his attorney’s advice.
¶6 After pleading guilty, the District Court sentenced Smith, in accordance with the
terms of the plea agreement, to 8 years with the Department of Corrections (“DOC”), all
suspended but time served. Smith’s suspended sentence was subject to certain conditions,
and Smith was informed that if he violated any of the conditions his suspended sentence
could be revoked and he could be sent to prison. Smith did not appeal his sentence or file a
petition for postconviction relief.
¶7 In 2006, the State filed a petition to revoke Smith’s suspended sentence. That petition
was withdrawn. In 2007, the State again filed a petition to revoke Smith’s suspended
sentence. Smith admitted to the violations and was sentenced to 8 years with the DOC, with
three years suspended.
¶8 On August 26, 2010, Smith filed his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, asserting his
plea was not voluntary because of an inadequate plea colloquy and ineffective assistance of
counsel. The District Court denied his motion, finding Smith did not establish good cause to
withdraw his guilty plea. Smith timely appealed.
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¶9 We review the denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea de novo. State v. Brinson,
2009 MT 200, ¶ 3, 351 Mont. 136, 210 P.3d 164; State v. Robinson, 2009 MT 170, ¶ 10, 350
Mont. 493, 208 P.3d 851; State v. Lone Elk, 2005 MT 56, ¶ 10, 326 Mont. 214, 108 P.3d 500(overruled on other grounds). We determine whether a district court’s underlying findings of
fact are clearly erroneous, and we review conclusions of law for correctness. Robinson, ¶ 10;
State v. Warclub, 2005 MT 149, ¶ 24, 327 Mont. 352, 114 P.3d 254.
¶10 Section 46-16-105(2), MCA (2001),1 allows for withdrawal of a guilty plea for good
cause. The ultimate test of whether good cause is shown is whether the plea was voluntary.
Robinson, ¶ 11. A plea is voluntary “only when the defendant is ‘fully aware of the direct
consequences, including the actual value of any commitments made to him by the court,
prosecutor, or his own counsel . . . .’ ” Lone Elk, ¶ 21 (quoting Brady v. United States, 397
U.S. 742, 755 (1970)).
¶11 However, other case specific considerations may bear on the voluntariness of the plea.
Robinson, ¶ 11. Other considerations include: the adequacy of the plea colloquy, which
tends to show the defendant made an informed decision, Lone Elk, ¶ 14; whether the plea
was the result of a plea bargain in exchange for dismissal of other charges, which tends to
show the defendant made an intelligent and calculated decision, Lone Elk, ¶ 16; whether the
defendant reaped the benefits of the plea bargain, State v. Muhammad, 2005 MT 234, ¶ 24,
328 Mont. 397, 121 P.3d 521; and whether the plea was induced by threats, improper
1
The 2001 MCA applies in Smith’s case. The statute was amended, effective July 1, 2003, to limit the time in which a
motion to withdraw a guilty plea could be filed. The amendment does not apply to Smith’s case because his plea was
entered in June of 2003. See Compiler’s Comments, § 46-16-105, MCA (2003); 2003 Mont. Laws 1157-58.
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promises, or misrepresentations, Brinson, ¶ 8. Also relevant, although not dispositive, is the
timeliness of the motion to withdraw the plea. State v. McFarlane, 2008 MT 18, ¶ 27, 341
Mont. 166, 176 P.3d 1057; Muhammad, ¶ 24.
¶12 When represented by counsel, the voluntariness of the plea depends upon whether
counsel’s advice was within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal
cases. McFarlane, ¶ 11. To withdraw a plea of guilty based upon ineffective assistance of
counsel, the defendant must show: (1) counsel’s advice fell outside the range of competence
demanded of a criminal attorney, and (2) that but for counsel’s deficient advice, the
defendant would not have pled guilty. McFarlane, ¶ 11. A claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel “will not succeed when predicated upon counsel’s failure to make motions or
objections which, under the circumstances, would have been frivolous, or would have,
arguably, lacked procedural or substantive merit, or would likely not have changed the
outcome of the proceeding.” Riggs v. State, 2011 MT 239, ¶ 11, 362 Mont. 140, 264 P.3d
693.
¶13 The District Court need not extract an admission from the defendant of every element
of the crime. Robinson, ¶ 15. A defendant need not be informed about the possibility of
lesser included offenses if that possibility does not exist. McFarlane, ¶ 30.
¶14 We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d) of our
Internal Operating Rules, which provides for noncitable memorandum opinions. The
District Court’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence and the legal issues are
controlled by settled Montana law, which the District Court correctly interpreted.
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¶15 Smith’s signed plea agreement and plea colloquy establish he was voluntarily
pleading guilty. Muhammad, ¶ 25. Smith also reaped the benefit of the plea bargain for
years – he pled guilty to a reduced charge; was released immediately after the plea on a
suspended sentence, thereby avoiding a felony charge that could have sent him to prison
from the outset; and avoided a potential persistent felony offender designation. There is no
evidence of any threats or coercion by counsel, the prosecutor, or the District Court.
Significantly, Smith waited over seven years to file his motion to withdraw his guilty plea,
once his freedom was taken. Muhammad, ¶ 24. Finally, Smith has not shown his counsel’s
advice fell outside the range of competence demanded of a criminal attorney. Smith’s
counsel negotiated a highly favorable plea agreement, which Smith voluntarily entered into
with the State. Smith indicated, both in writing and in open court, he was satisfied with his
attorney’s services.
¶16 Affirmed.
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
We Concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
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