State v. Pentecost

#27696-a-JMK
2016 S.D. 84IN THE SUPREME COURT
OF THE
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
****
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
JOHN T. PENTECOST, Defendant and Appellant.
****
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
PENNINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
****
THE HONORABLE CRAIG A. PFEIFLE
Judge
****
MARTY J. JACKLEY
Attorney General
ANN C. MEYER
Assistant Attorney General
Pierre, South Dakota Attorneys for plaintiff
and appellee.
JAMY PATTERSON
Rapid City, South Dakota Attorney for defendant
and appellant.
****
ARGUED ON
OCTOBER 3, 2016
OPINION FILED 11/30/16
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KERN, Justice
[¶1.] In April 2012, John Pentecost entered the home he previously shared
with his ex-wife. He had not lived in the home for more than a year and brought
with him items that could be used for restraint, a suicide note, and his Last Will
and Testament. The police arrested Pentecost inside the home even though he
contended that he had a legal right to be present. The State charged him with
several offenses, including second-degree burglary. He filed a pretrial motion to
dismiss the burglary charge, which was denied. Ultimately, Pentecost pleaded
guilty to second-degree burglary and was sentenced to prison. He later moved to
withdraw his plea, but the court denied his motion. Pentecost appeals. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
[¶2.] On April 19, 2012, Pentecost hired a locksmith to rekey the home that
he previously shared with his ex-wife, L.S., during their marriage. After gaining
entrance to the house, he sent L.S. a text message informing her that he had
changed the locks and moved some of his property inside because he wanted “to get
a piece of his life back.” L.S., who was at work, called the police and reported what
Pentecost had done. Upon their arrival, officers arrested Pentecost inside the home
and discovered a shotgun and ammunition in his car. The investigation revealed
that he brought the following items into the home: several bags, suitcases, clothing,
zip ties, duct tape, cable wraps, a sales slip for the recent purchase of a handgun, a
suicide note, and his Last Will and Testament.
[¶3.] The State indicted Pentecost for second-degree burglary, a Class 3
felony, and two alternative counts of stalking, both Class 1 misdemeanors. The
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State also filed a part II information alleging he had a prior conviction for stalking,
which, if proven, would enhance the penalty to a Class 6 felony. He entered not
guilty pleas to all counts.
[¶4.] At the time of his arrest, Pentecost was staying in Rapid City, South
Dakota, but living primarily with relatives in Florida. Although Pentecost and L.S.
divorced on April 8, 2011, he continued to send her hundreds of text messages and
hours of voicemails, hoping to win back her affections. L.S. had informed him that
she did not want further contact with him. Although he had visited the home,
Pentecost had not stayed overnight since March 2011. He retained several items of
personal property in the home, including a living room set and TV because he was
unable to move them. Sometime prior to the incident, L.S. moved the items into a
storage room and changed the locks on the home.
[¶5.] During their divorce proceedings, Pentecost and L.S. entered into a
stipulation and property settlement agreement, providing that the home would be
immediately placed on the market for sale. The proceeds from the sale would be
used to satisfy certain debts with any remaining sums divided equally between the
parties. The agreement also provided that the divorce decree “shall operate as
affective [sic] transfer” of Pentecost’s interest in the property. The decree, which
incorporated the stipulation, required Pentecost to execute any and all documents
necessary for listing and selling the property, including a deed to divest himself of
his interest. If he failed to provide the documents, the decree provided authority for
L.S. to “actualize said sale and transfer the parties’ interest[.]” When Pentecost
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entered the home in April 2012, the house had not yet sold, and his name still
appeared on the deed and on the home insurance contract.
[¶6.] Pentecost filed a motion to dismiss the second-degree burglary charge
on August 23, 2012, arguing it was legally impossible for him to burglarize the
home as he retained an ownership interest in it. On August 29, 2012, the circuit
court held a hearing and denied the motion to dismiss. The court found that the
question whether Pentecost was licensed or privileged to enter the home was for the
jury to resolve.
[¶7.] On November 5, 2012, the circuit court held a change of plea hearing.
Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, Pentecost pleaded guilty to second-
degree burglary. 1 In exchange for his plea, the State dismissed the stalking charge
and part II information and capped its sentencing recommendation at six years.
Prior to the entry of the plea, counsel advised the court that Pentecost “was not
aware that he was breaking the law by entering into what he understood to be his
own home. Nevertheless, we believe the [S]tate would have met the elements at
trial.” With Pentecost’s consent, the court took judicial notice of the grand jury
transcripts, the police reports, and the pleadings from the divorce. There was some
discussion at the plea hearing as to whether his plea was one of guilt or intended as
1. Second-degree burglary is defined in SDCL 22-32-3, which provides:
Any person who enters or remains in an occupied structure with
intent to commit any crime, unless the premises are, at the time,
open to the public or the person is licensed or privileged to enter
or remain, under circumstances not amounting to first[-]degree
burglary, is guilty of second-degree burglary. Second-degree
burglary is a Class 3 felony.
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an Alford plea. 2 On December 3, 2012, the circuit court sentenced Pentecost to six
years in prison.
[¶8.] Pentecost’s attorney filed an appeal, but it was untimely and dismissed
by this Court. On January 24, 2014, Pentecost filed a petition seeking a writ of
habeas corpus in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, alleging ineffective assistance of
counsel and a denial of due process. Upon receipt of the habeas petition, the
presiding judge, rather than proceed on the habeas action, ordered the judge
originally assigned to the case to resentence Pentecost. On July 30, 2014, the day
before his resentencing hearing, Pentecost filed a motion to set aside his judgment
of conviction and to allow withdrawal of his plea. The circuit court held a
resentencing hearing on July 31, 2014, denied Pentecost’s motion, 3 and resentenced
him to the same sentence imposed in 2012. An amended judgment was issued on
August 15, 2014.
[¶9.] Pentecost appealed the court’s amended judgment of sentence and
challenged his original conviction, raising several issues regarding his plea. We
concluded that this Court lacked jurisdiction to consider Pentecost’s issues related
to his original conviction because Pentecost failed to timely appeal his original
judgment of conviction. However, we remanded the case to the circuit court for the
2. The circuit court stated at the November, 5, 2012 change of plea hearing that
the “plea from the [c]ourt’s perspective is in the nature of an Alford plea.”
3. “The court acknowledged that there was “significant discussion,” during the
change of plea hearing about “Mr. Pentecost’s plea being an Alford or
something else.” But the court denied the motion to withdraw, finding that
whether the plea was a “straight guilty plea or an Alford plea” it was made
after an extensive advisement of rights and was well supported by the record.
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court to apply SDCL 23A-27-51 and to make factual findings regarding whether
Pentecost “was denied the right to appeal from an original conviction in violation of
the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of South Dakota.” State v.
Pentecost (Pentecost I), 2015 S.D. 71, ¶ 10, 868 N.W.2d 590, 593 (quoting SDCL 23A-
27-51). Upon remand, the circuit court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law
identifying that resentencing would occur pursuant to SDCL 23A-27-51 for the
purpose of reinstating Pentecost’s right to appeal. On November 24, 2015, the court
again sentenced Pentecost to the same terms and conditions of the original sentence
imposed on December 3, 2012. Pentecost appeals, and we restate his issues as
follows:
1. Whether the circuit court erred by denying Pentecost’s
motion to dismiss on the grounds that he had a “license or
privilege to enter or remain” in the residence under SDCL
22-32-3.
2. Whether the circuit court abused its discretion in denying
Pentecost’s motion to set aside the judgment of conviction
and allow withdrawal of his guilty plea.
3. Whether the circuit court erred by accepting Pentecost’s
guilty plea without establishing a factual basis for the
offense of second-degree burglary.
DECISION
[¶10.] 1. Whether the circuit court erred by denying Pentecost’s motion to
dismiss on the grounds that he had a “license or privilege to
enter or remain” in the residence under SDCL 22-32-3.
[¶11.] Pentecost first argues the State lacked subject matter jurisdiction to
prosecute him for second-degree burglary because he was licensed or privileged to
be in the home as a joint owner. Pentecost cites State v. Wilson for the proposition
that the court lacked jurisdiction because the charging document was not
sufficiently clear on the point of ownership to show “that the property entered is not
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the property of the accused.” 36 S.D. 416, 155 N.W. 186, 186 (1915). In response,
the State submits that the circuit court had jurisdiction and properly denied the
motion to dismiss because the question of license or privilege was for the trier of
fact.
[¶12.] Whether Pentecost had a legal right to be present in the home does not
implicate the court’s subject matter jurisdiction. To properly hear a case, a circuit
court must have personal jurisdiction over the defendant appearing before them and
subject matter jurisdiction over the charges filed by the State. State v. Medicine
Eagle, 2013 S.D. 60, ¶ 40, 835 N.W.2d 886, 900. Pentecost does not dispute the
question of personal jurisdiction.
[¶13.] Subject matter jurisdiction is “a court’s competence to hear and
determine cases of the general class to which proceedings in question belong” and
“the power to deal with the general subject involved in the action.” March v.
Thursby, 2011 S.D. 73, ¶ 15, 806 N.W.2d 239, 243. We have defined the concept of
jurisdiction broadly to include “whether there was power to enter upon the inquiry
and not whether the determination by the court of a question of law or fact involved
is correct.” Medicine Eagle, 2013 S.D. 60, ¶ 40, 835 N.W.2d at 900. Here, the
State’s charging documents show that the court had jurisdiction over the subject
matter (second-degree burglary). The circuit court, as a court of general
jurisdiction, had the power to hear Pentecost’s criminal case. 4
4. S.D. Const. art. V, § 1.
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[¶14.] Pentecost’s argument that he was licensed or privileged to enter is a
substantive question relating to the elements of the offense. SDCL 22-32-3 defines
second-degree burglary as entering an occupied structure with the intent to commit
any crime “unless the premises are, at the time, open to the public or the person is
licensed or privileged to enter or remain.” (Emphasis added.) Pentecost arguably
retained joint legal title to the home, 5 but had not resided there for more than a
year. Meanwhile, L.S., who lived in the home, did not want him there.
[¶15.] Although we have not yet addressed this issue, many courts have done
so in the context of burglary offenses involving estranged spouses or significant
others. The majority of jurisdictions hold that legal ownership, while certainly a
factor, is not dispositive of the right to be in a home. 6 Instead, most jurisdictions
5. Pentecost acknowledges that the language of the divorce stipulation provides
that the divorce decree shall constitute an “affective [sic] transfer” of his
interest in the property. But he argues that this language conflicts with the
language of the decree, which grants him joint ownership until the home is
sold. It is, however, unnecessary to decide this issue to resolve this case.
6. See, e.g., People v. Davenport, 268 Cal. Rptr. 501, 505 (Cal. Ct. App.1990)
(affirming defendant’s burglary conviction based on his unauthorized entry
into marital home from which he had moved, even though he still had
personal property in the home and no restraining order had been issued);
People v. Johnson, 906 P.2d 122, 125 (Colo. 1995) (noting that the majority of
jurisdictions that have addressed this issue “have found that the uninvited
entry of an estranged spouse into the residence of the other spouse
constitutes an ‘unlawful entry’”); Parham v. State, 556 A.2d 280, 285 (Md.
1989) (affirming burglary and assault conviction where defendant entered
marital home after wife had thrown him out two months prior to the crime,
defendant was living with his sister even though he retained personal
belongings in the house, and wife was in the process of purchasing property
in her own name); State v. Singley, 709 S.E.2d 603 (S.C. 2011) (holding that
the “license or privilege” question in a burglary statute is answered by
examining the totality of the circumstances); State v. Schneider, 673 P.2d 200(continued . . .)
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answer the “license or privilege” question by asking whether a defendant had
possession of or an occupancy interest in the home. This issue is decided upon
consideration of the totality of the circumstances.
[¶16.] The reasoning of the New Hampshire Supreme Court in State v.
McMillian is instructive. 973 A.2d 287, 292 (N.H. 2009). 7 In McMillian, defendant
and victim co-signed a lease for an apartment in March 2007. Sometime before
August 2007, victim asked defendant to move out. Defendant removed all his
belongings from the apartment and returned his key. Defendant continued to visit
on a regular basis and retained a property interest in the apartment. In August
2007, defendant entered the apartment through a bathroom window, left after an
argument, and then kicked in the front door and assaulted an occupant. After
defendant was charged with burglary, he alleged he had a legal right to enter the
home.
__________________
(. . . continued)
(Wash. 1983) (affirming a wife’s conviction for burglarizing property, which
she jointly owned with her estranged husband).
7. The New Hampshire burglary statute provides:
A person is guilty of burglary if he or she enters or remains
unlawfully in a building or occupied structure, or separately
secured or occupied section thereof, with purpose to commit a
crime therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the
public or the actor is licensed or privileged to enter. It is an
affirmative defense to prosecution for burglary that the building
or structure was abandoned.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 635:1, I.
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[¶17.] The court held the question whether defendant was licensed or
privileged to enter the apartment was one of fact for the jury. Id. “[W]hile the
defendant had some proprietary interest in the apartment as a co-lessee, this fact
did not automatically give him license to enter under [the New Hampshire burglary
statute].” Id. The court stated that “the entry here interfered with the security and
safety of the occupant, thus implicating the very interests the burglary statute was
designed to protect.” Id. Further, it held that the trial court acted appropriately by
instructing the jury on “a list of relevant, although not exclusive, factors, such as
defendant’s method of entry, his past entries, and the length of [defendant and
victim’s] separation” to consider when deciding if defendant was licensed or
privileged to enter the apartment. Id.
[¶18.] The Supreme Court of Iowa applied a similar test in State v. Hagedorn,
holding there was sufficient evidence to convict a defendant of burglary 8 of his
former marital home. 679 N.W.2d 666, 672 (Iowa 2004). Defendant was married to
victim, and they lived in a duplex, which was leased by victim. In July 2002, the
couple separated and both moved out of the duplex. Defendant left his possessions
in the duplex, but victim removed most of her belongings. Toward the end of July,
8. Iowa defines burglary as:
Any person, having intent to commit a felony, assault, or theft,
therein, who, having no right, license or privilege to do so, enters
an occupied structure, such occupied structure not being open to
the public, or who remains therein after it is closed to the public
or after the person’s right, license or privilege to be there has
expired, or any person having such intent who breaks an
occupied structure, commits burglary.
I.C.A. § 713.1.
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however, victim moved back into the duplex. She packed up defendant’s things and
placed them on the porch for his family to retrieve. Victim instructed defendant to
stay away from the duplex. In the early morning on August 2, 2002, defendant
entered the duplex through a side window and assaulted a person inside. A jury
convicted defendant of several crimes, including burglary.
[¶19.] Defendant in Hagedorn argued, as does Pentecost, that “he [could not]
be convicted of burglary for entering his own house.” Id. at 669. The Iowa Supreme
Court rejected this argument, noting first that “[a]t common law, ‘[t]he crime [of
burglary] was considered to be an offense against the security of habitation or
occupancy . . . . It was not designed to protect property or ownership, rather the
notion that people should be able to feel secure in their homes.’” Id. In affirming
the conviction, the court held that “whether one has a right or privilege to enter
property is not determined solely by his or her ownership interest in the property or
by whether the structure can be characterized as the ‘marital home.’ Rather the
focus . . . is on whether the defendant had any possessory or occupancy interest in
the premises at the time of entry.” Id. at 670. The court concluded that “neither
the fact that the defendant had previously resided in the duplex with his family nor
the fact his children were still in the home gave him an irrevocable license to enter
against the wishes of his wife, the current occupant.” Id.
[¶20.] We find the reasoning in McMillian and Hagedorn persuasive. To
determine whether a defendant is “licensed or privileged” to be in a home we
examine whether the defendant was in possession of or had an occupancy interest
in the home. The primary purpose of our burglary law is to criminalize home
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invasions, which may create significant dangers. See State v. Chipps, 2016 S.D. 8,
¶ 39, 874 N.W.2d 475, 489 (“‘The main risk of burglary arises not from the simple
physical act of wrongfully entering onto another’s property, but rather from the
possibility of a face-to-face confrontation between the burglar and a third party—
whether an occupant, a police officer, or a bystander—who comes to investigate.’”)
(citation omitted). This paramount right to safety in the home cannot be thwarted
by a claimed legal interest when all other factors show that the defendant was not
in possession of or an occupant of the home.
[¶21.] Here, Pentecost alleges that he had an ownership interest in the home.
But it is undisputed that Pentecost no longer lived there and that the home’s
occupant, L.S., did not want him in the home. Pentecost hired a locksmith to rekey
the home in order to gain access without L.S.’s knowledge or consent. He brought
several items into the home, suggesting an intention to harm L.S. The burglary
statute exists to protect L.S. in her home, and Pentecost’s position would render
that protection illusory.
[¶22.] At the end of the hearing on Pentecost’s motion to dismiss the second-
degree burglary charge, the circuit court stated:
At this point in time, I cannot dismiss the burglary charge. It
certainly appears to me that the issues that arose during the
post-divorce suggest, at a minimum, that there is an issue that
can be presented to the jury on the question under the statute
whether the defendant was licensed or privileged to enter the
property, which is the language of the relevant charging statute.
We agree. A claim of legal ownership is not the only dispositive criteria to
determine whether an individual has a “license or privilege to enter or remain”
under SDCL 22-32-3. Rather, the relevant inquiry under SDCL 22-32-3 is whether
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the defendant had a possessory or occupancy interest in the premises. This
question is answered upon an examination of the totality of the circumstances,
which may include such non-exclusive factors as the defendant’s method of entry,
history of past entries, the length of the parties’ separation, and other relevant
information. The court did not err in denying Pentecost’s motion to dismiss.
[¶23.] 2. Whether the circuit court abused its discretion in denying
Pentecost’s motion to set aside the judgment of conviction and
allow withdrawal of his guilty plea.
[¶24.] Whether to allow withdrawal of a guilty plea is a decision “solely
within the discretion of the trial court and is reviewed under an abuse of discretion
standard.” State v. Goodwin, 2004 S.D. 75, ¶ 4, 681 N.W.2d 847, 849. An abuse of
discretion is a “fundamental error of judgment, a choice outside the range of
permissible choices, a decision, which, on full consideration, is arbitrary or
unreasonable.” State v. Lemler, 2009 S.D. 86, ¶ 40, 774 N.W.2d 272, 286. A
defendant may, pursuant to SDCL 23A-27-11 (Rule 32(d)), move to withdraw a
guilty plea only before a sentence is imposed.
[¶25.] Pentecost argues that he should have been allowed to withdraw his
plea after his sentencing because he maintained his innocence, misapprehended the
facts, and the case involved a legal issue of first impression. The State, on the other
hand, argues that the circuit court carefully considered Pentecost’s request in light
of all the relevant facts and did not abuse its discretion.
[¶26.] A court may set aside a judgment of conviction and permit a defendant
to withdraw a guilty plea after sentencing only “to correct manifest injustice.”
SDCL 23A-27-11 (Rule 32(d)). This strict standard is “to prevent a defendant from
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testing the weight of potential punishment, and then withdrawing the plea if he
finds the sentence unexpectedly severe.” Goodwin, 2004 S.D. 75, ¶ 4, 681 N.W.2d at
849 (quoting State v. Lohnes, 344 N.W.2d 686, 688 (S.D. 1984)). But “if a defendant
enters a plea ‘without full knowledge of the consequences and involuntarily’ the
trial court’s discretion should favor withdrawal of the guilty plea.” Id. (quoting
State v. Wahle, 521 N.W.2d 134, 137 (S.D. 1994)).
[¶27.] Pentecost’s argument is unavailing. Pentecost was originally
sentenced on December 3, 2012 and moved to withdraw his plea the day before the
first resentencing on July 31, 2014. In denying his motion, the court found
Pentecost’s request was made at the “11th hour” and untimely. The court noted
that “we are on the cusp of two years” following the change of plea and original
sentencing and that Pentecost was now “out on parole” at the time of resentencing.
Additionally, the court found the delay “has resulted in the potential for significant
prejudice to the State.” We have recognized that prejudice to the State is a valid
reason to deny a defendant’s request to withdraw a plea after sentencing. See State
v. Kvasnicka, 2016 S.D. 2, ¶¶ 17-18, 873 N.W.2d 705, 712-13 (holding that prejudice
to state prosecution is a factor weighing against withdrawal of a guilty plea).
[¶28.] Our review of the record reveals that the court carefully advised
Pentecost of his statutory and constitutional rights on multiple occasions during the
case. Although Pentecost maintained his innocence, he admitted to the underlying
facts, which support a burglary conviction. Pentecost lost his motion to strike the
second-degree burglary charge and then made a tactical decision to plead guilty.
Further, the alleged novelty of the underlying issue does not change our view of the
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circuit court’s decision. Pentecost’s claim lacks the sheen and substance of manifest
injustice. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion by denying his motion.
[¶29.] 3. Whether the circuit court erred by accepting Pentecost’s guilty
plea without establishing a factual basis for the offense of
second-degree burglary.
[¶30.] Under SDCL 23A-7-2 (Rule 11(a)) and SDCL 23A-7-14 (Rule 11(f)), a
circuit court must not accept a guilty plea, except a plea of nolo contendere, unless it
is satisfied there is an adequate factual basis for the plea and offense charged. “The
factual basis may come from ‘anything that appears on the record.’” State v.
Nachtigall, 2007 S.D. 109, ¶ 5, 741 N.W.2d 216, 219 (quoting State v. Schulz, 409
N.W.2d 655, 658 (S.D. 1987). “In cases where defendants proclaim their innocence
while at the same time pleading guilty, the factual basis to support such pleas must
be ‘strong.’” Id. (quoting Gregory v. State, 325 N.W.2d 297, 299 (S.D. 1982).
[¶31.] Pentecost asserts that there was an inadequate factual basis because
he maintained his innocence, his “admission was equivocal,” the charge “was
complicated,” and “the factual basis was not strong.” Additionally, Pentecost
submits that the court failed to establish a factual basis that he intended to commit
the crime of stalking inside the home. These assertions are not supported by the
record.
[¶32.] The evidence collected from the crime scene and sources used to
supplement the factual basis were more than sufficient to provide a factual basis for
the plea. The police report and grand jury transcripts reveal that officers arrested
Pentecost after he entered L.S.’s home. Pentecost had not lived in the home for
more than a year, even though he may have retained an ownership interest in the
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home. L.S. told Pentecost he was not welcome. Pentecost had a shotgun with
ammunition in his car and brought tools of restraint, a suicide note, and his Last
Will and Testament into the home. Additionally, Pentecost admitted at the change
of plea hearing that, “[w]hen I came home, I was not allowed back in. . . . And I was
trying to get back into my house.” A review of the plea colloquy shows a factual
basis for each of the elements of second-degree burglary. Pentecost was (a) a
person; (b) who entered or remained in an occupied structure; (c) with intent to
commit any crime; (d) and the structure was not open to the public nor was
Pentecost licensed or privileged to enter or remain. See SDCL 22-32-3.
[¶33.] Pentecost’s belief that he was licensed to enter the home does not cast
doubt on the adequacy of the factual basis. Pentecost’s attorney at the change of
plea hearing, Ellery Grey, succinctly explained why Pentecost’s claim is insufficient:
“So although Mr. Pentecost believed at that time subjectively that he could go into
the house because he had a mistake of law, a mistake of law would not have
provided us with a defense at the time of trial.” Indeed, Pentecost’s mistake of law
was not a defense to the second-degree burglary charge. See Gakin v. City of Rapid
City, 2005 S.D. 68, ¶ 13, 698 N.W.2d 493, 498 (“Mere ignorance of the law can never
be considered a mistake upon which relief from the operation or effect of the law
may be predicated.”). Likewise, Pentecost’s claim that he had a legal right to be
present in the home does not erode the adequacy of the factual basis for his plea.
See McDonough v. Weber, 2015 S.D. 1, ¶ 38, 859 N.W.2d 26, 42 (“A defendant who
admits all essential elements of a charge provides the necessary factual basis to
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accept a plea, even if his or her contemporaneous assertion of a justification or
excuse might actually result in a trial verdict of not guilty.”).
[¶34.] Further, while there was some confusion at the change of plea hearing
as to whether Pentecost was making an Alford plea this does not change our
decision. See State v. Engelmann, 541 N.W.2d 96, 101 (S.D. 1995) (“[A]n Alford plea
cannot be withdrawn as a matter of course.”); see also North Carolina v. Alford, 400
U.S. 25, 91 S. Ct. 160, 27 L. Ed. 2d 162 (1970) (allowing acceptance of a guilty plea
even though the defendant professes innocence if the defendant receives a benefit
for pleading guilty). In exchange for pleading guilty to second-degree burglary, the
State dismissed the stalking charges and the part II information and capped its
sentencing recommendation at six years. 9 Pentecost received a benefit in exchange
for his guilty plea. The record contains sufficient support for Pentecost’s plea.
9. The following exchange between the circuit court and Pentecost occurred at
his change of plea hearing:
The court: in the event that some[one] else determines that it
is [an Alford plea], you understand that in the event that you
enter this plea, even though your statements indicate that you
were doing so simply to gain access to your home, . . . the State
would have had certain evidence that they would intend to
present at the time of trial with which they can substantiate the
charge, and you understand that part of the agreement here
today would be that while you are suggesting to me that the
entry into the home was not done with an illegal purpose, very
clearly, the State would have had evidence to suggest and
convict – suggest that to the jury and convict at the time of trial.
Do you understand that, sir?
Pentecost: Yes, sir.
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CONCLUSION
[¶35.] We join the majority of jurisdictions that hold that the question
whether a defendant is “licensed or privileged to enter or remain” in an occupied
structure hinges on whether the defendant is in possession or control of the
premises at the time of entry. A claim of legal title or ownership is not solely
dispositive. Rather, the trier of fact must make this determination based upon an
examination of the totality of the circumstances. The circuit court did not abuse its
discretion by denying Pentecost’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Finally, there
was an adequate factual basis supporting Pentecost’s guilty plea to second-degree
burglary. We affirm.
[¶36.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and ZINTER, SEVERSON, and
WILBUR, Justices, concur.
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