People v. Corteway ( 1995 )

Hood, P.J.

(dissenting). I respectfully must dissent from that portion of the majority opinion that concludes that the trial court erred in finding that defendant was deprived of effective assistance of counsel. Defendant’s plea of first-degree murder was taken in exchange for the prosecutor’s dismissal of charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2), and of being an habitual offender, second offense, MCL 769.10; MSA 28.1082, hardly a real bargain. After a hearing, the trial court permitted defendant to withdraw his guilty plea. I would affirm.

This case involves the shooting death of Brad Farrer, defendant’s brother-in-law. Defendant’s brother, Robert Lee Corteway, testified at the preliminary examination that defendant had confessed to him that he shot Farrer. The trial court granted defendant’s petition for a referral to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry, and defendant filed a notice of his intent to claim a defense of insanity. An independent psychological examination was granted. The psychological evaluation indicated, among other things, that defendant had a history, since early childhood, of drug and alcohol use, which included experimentation with a plethora of drugs, with an emphasis on marijuana. Although his substance abuse began with apparent encouragement from his parents, defendant and his brother were eventually requested to stop using drugs and alcohol, as had his parents, or to leave their home. Defendant and Robert left their parents’ home in Oklahoma and went to live with their sister and her husband, Brad Farrer.

At defendant’s plea hearing, defendant testified that early in the day of December 24, 1991, he and his brother discussed killing Farrer. The Corteway brothers took drugs and drank a large quantity of alcohol throughout the day. Defendant and his brother were living with Farrer, from whom their sister was estranged. According to defendant at this hearing, his brother located the gun and loaded it and gave it to him. Robert then allegedly told defendant that if defendant did not kill Farrer, Robert, would kill defendant. Robert left the house. Defendant drank more alcohol and smoked three or four more marijuana cigarettes. Defendant testified that he decided not to kill Farrer, but when Farrer came home he shot him without thinking. In handling the gun, defendant wore gloves, and he disposed of the gun and spent ammunition as he went from Farrer’s home in search of his brother.

Defendant testified that his sister previously had offered to pay him to kill Farrer. According to defendant, Farrer had repeatedly made sexual advances toward him, which defendant consistently refused, and Farrer had threatened to use force sometime in the future in order to have sex with defendant.

I agree with the majority’s resolution of defendant’s issues on appeal. I disagree, however, with the resolution of the prosecution’s appeal. I find no abuse of discretion, and emphasize that abuse of discretion is the standard of review that we must apply. The trial court concluded that defendant’s tried counsel was ineffective and stressed that it’s decision was entirely dependent upon the circumstances of this case. The court noted that while the trial counsel discussed with defendant the defenses that could be presented, there was no discussion concerning trial strategies or the advantages and disadvantages of entering a plea of guilty of first-degree murder. The court emphasized that defense counsel failed to advise defendant sufficiently regarding whether defendant should enter a plea. I agree.

There are two prongs to the test to determine whether a defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel. The defendant must first "show that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and [then demonstrate] that the representation so prejudiced the defendant as to deprive him of a fair trial.” People v Pickens, 446 Mich 298, 303; 521 NW2d 797 (1994), adopting the standard set forth in Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668; 104 S Ct 2052; 80 L Ed 2d 674 (1984). The defendant must also overcome the presumption that the trial counsel’s actions might be considered sound trial strategy. People v Tommolino, 187 Mich App 14, 17; 466 NW2d 315 (1991).

When the claim stems from a plea of guilty, it must be determined whether the defendant tendered the plea voluntarily and understandingly. People v Mayes (After Rem), 202 Mich App 181, 183; 508 NW2d 161 (1993). The question is not whether a court would consider a defense counsel’s advice to be right or wrong, but whether the advice was within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. People v Thew, 201 Mich App 78, 89-90; 506 NW2d 547 (1993). Where a defense counsel has failed to explain to a client the nature of the charges or to discuss possible defenses, guilty pleas have been found to.be involuntary or unknowing on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. at 91. A defendant should also be informed by counsel of the consequences of entering a guilty plea. Id. at 91-93. A defense counsel must explain the range and consequences of available choices in sufficient detail to enable a defendant to make an intelligent and informed choice, although a counsel cannot possibly ensure that a defendant comprehends everything. People v Jackson, 203 Mich App 607, 614; 513 NW2d 206 (1994).

The trial court’s decision with regard to a defendant’s motion to withdraw a guilty plea will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion resulting in a miscarriage of justice. People v Montrose (After Remand), 201 Mich App 378, 380; 506 NW2d 565 (1993). An abuse of discretion will be found only if an unprejudiced person, considering the facts upon which a trial court relied in making its decision, would conclude that there was no justification for the ruling made. People v Miller, 198 Mich App 494, 495; 499 NW2d 373 (1993).

Under the circumstances of this case, especially in light of the fact that defendant entered a plea of guilty of first-degree murder and the mandatory life sentence for that offense, I would find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing defendant to withdraw his plea on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel. Defendant was bound over on January 3, 1992, on a charge of first-degree murder for the offense that occurred on December 24, 1991. At a pretrial hearing on March 4, 1992, the court ordered that defendant undergo a psychiatric examination to determine criminal responsibility. The defendant’s notice of intent to claim insanity as a defense was filed on March 16, 1992. A jury trial scheduled to begin on April 21, 1992, was adjourned because of defendant’s request for an independent psychological examination, and the trial date was rescheduled for August 11, 1992. Defendant entered his plea on August 6,1992.

At defendant’s hearing pursuant to People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436, 443-444; 212 NW2d 922 (1973), his trial counsel, Richard Stroba, testified that it was not until August 1992 that he discussed with defendant the possibility of pleading guilty. According to Stroba, there were concerns about further delays in beginning the trial because of some problems with the jury pool. Stroba testified that defendant indicated three reasons for his plea. First, defendant was not comfortable with his situation in the county jail: he had spent approximately 229 of his 259 days in jail in isolation, and his life had been threatened by other inmates. Defendant indicated to Stroba that he wished to face whatever punishment he had coming to him. Second, testified Stroba, defendant had acknowledged his participation in the offense, but was concerned with the fact that there was no investigation concerning the role of his brother in the crime. In fact, according to defendant’s testimony at the Ginther hearing, defendant thought part of the plea arrangement included an investigation by law enforcement officials of his brother’s role. Last, defendant was concerned and sympathetic to the family of the victim and did not want to put them through the ordeal of trial.

According to Stroba, he informed defendant that he should not plead guilty because of the delays in trial. Stroba also explained to defendant that defendant would have an opportunity to make a statement explaining the circumstances of Farrer’s death both during the plea and at sentencing. Defendant was told that his only chance of getting out of prison was a commutation of his sentence by the governor and that this would be more likely without the details of the crime on the record. Stroba testified that he did not suggest to defendant that he thought there was any great chance of such an outcome in the near future.

Defendant and Stroba had discussed three defenses: insanity, diminished capacity, and intoxication. According to both Stroba and defendant, Stroba had indicated that these defenses were not strong and that the insanity defense was especially unlikely to be successful. Stroba testified that they discussed

how to handle the case and what we were going to do from the very beginning of my representation of [defendant] through the time of the plea, the sentence and post-sentence. So, we certainly talked about, at various steps, the advantages or disadvantages of any particular course of action including the plea itself.

Stroba testified that he probably told defendant his chances were not good and that the best possible outcome might be second-degree murder. Stroba never advised defendant concerning which course of action to take.

Defendant testified that it was his understanding from his discussions with Stroba that his defenses likely would not be successful and his "only chance” was to plead, however he was never told by his attorney to plead guilty. It was never defendant’s desire to go to prison for life.

In finding that defendant’s counsel was ineffective, the trial court stated:

[I]n the narrow factual setting of this particular case, and without commenting generally on what is effective or ineffective . . . but, on the unique factual setting of this case where you have someone that’s saying, Well, go to trial or plead guilty, whether [sic] the — a Defendant in — that state of mind, facing that kind of a decision, with the extremely long sentence facing him and . . . the most serious penalty the State of Michigan has . . . mandatory life, no parole unless the governor commutes the sentence . . . the essence of an attorney’s function in that setting is to give advice. I don’t care which way it is. . . .

Here, we have neutrality. You have a — a Defendant making a choice, in essence, unassisted by advice of Counsel. And again I emphasize, Mr. Stroba told him, he explained probably best he could the possible defenses. He explained the penalties. He explained what would happen if the plea was entered. But, the critical function is advice, and Counsel to a Defendant facing that choice. The Defendant saying, Mr. Attorney, what should I do in this situation? And that was left entirely up to Mr. Corteway. And, I think that in this particular case, [defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel].

The trial court concluded that defendant’s plea was not an understanding one because he was deprived of legal advice. I agree with the trial court’s finding that defendant was prejudiced by deficient counsel. Under the facts of this case, Stroba’s failure to advise defendant concerning the recommended course of action — to enter a plea or go to trial — is not within the range of competence we demand from attorneys representing criminal defendants. Even if the possible defenses were slim, as stated by the trial court, they are potential defenses, whereas a plea of guilty of first-degree múrder leaves defendant with nothing.

Defendant testified that he thought a plea of guilty was his only chance. In a situation such as that in this case, a plea is no chance. Defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing defendant to withdraw his plea.

I would affirm the trial court’s decision.