Case ID: so2d_713/html/1226-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "JaGONZALES, Judge. | iGUIDRY, Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE of Louisiana v. Bryan C. AUTHEMENT.
    No. 97 KA 1470.
    Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.
    June 29, 1998.
    
      Robert J. Prejeant, Houma, for Defendant/Appellant Bryan C. Authement.
    Kent Fairchild and Ellen Daigle Doskey, Houma, for Plaintiff/Appellee State of Louisiana.
    Before GONZALES, PARRO and GUIDRY, JJ.
   JaGONZALES, Judge.

Defendant, Bryan C. Authement, was charged by bill of information with third offense driving while intoxicated (DWI), a violation of La. R.S. 14:98. Defendant filed a motion to quash the bill of information and/or the use of the predicate offenses set forth in the bill of information. Following a hearing, the trial court denied the motion. Thereafter, pursuant to a negotiated plea, defendant pled guilty as charged, reserving the right to appeal the adverse ruling on his motion to quash. See State v. Crosby, 338 So.2d 584 (La.1976). In accordance with the plea agreement, the trial court sentenced defendant to two years at hard labor, with six months of the sentence to be without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. Defendant now appeals his conviction and sentence.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR NUMBERS 1, 2 AND 3

The two predicate convictions relied upon by the state in charging defendant with third offense DWI were: (1) a July 3, 1991 plea of nolo contendere to a DWI charge in the City Court of Houma; and (2) a guilty plea to a DWI charge entered on April 19,1993, in the 32nd Judicial District Court, Parish of Terrebonne. In his assignments of error, defendant alleges the July 3, 1991 nolo contendere plea cannot be used to enhance the instant offense because it was entered without a valid waiver of his right to counsel. These assignments of error lack merit.

An uncounseled DWI conviction may not be used to enhance punishment of a subsequent offense, absent a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel. When an accused waives his right to counsel in pleading guilty to a misdemeanor, the trial court should expressly advise him of his right to counsel and to appointed counsel if he is indigent. The court should further determine on the record that the waiver is made knowingly and intelligently under the circumstances. Determining the defendant’s ^understanding of his waiver of counsel in a guilty plea to an uncomplicated misdemeanor requires less judicial inquiry than determining his understanding of his waiver of counsel for a felony trial. Generally, the court is not required to advise a defendant who is pleading guilty to a misdemeanor of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. See State v. Strain, 585 So.2d 540, 543-44 (La.1991); State v. Marcoux, 96-0453, pp. 2-3 (La.App. 1st Cir. 3/27/97), 691 So.2d 775, 777, writ denied, 97-1079 (La.6/13/97), 695 So.2d 984. The critical issue on review of a waiver of the right to counsel is whether the accused understood the waiver. What the accused understood is determined in terms of the entire record and not just by certain magic words used by the judge. Strain, 585 So.2d at 543; Marcoux, 96-0453 at p. 3, 691 So.2d at 777.

At the hearing on defendant’s motion to quash, the State introduced exhibit S-2 to establish the first predicate offense. Exhibit S-2 included a certified copy of an Explanation of Rights form which delineated a defendant’s rights, including the right to counsel. This form was signed by defendant following the recitation of rights. The section captioned WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND PLEA OF GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDRE also was signed by defendant and dated July 3, 1991, the date of his nolo contendere plea. The section captioned WAIVER OF RIGHTS TO ATTORNEY was not signed by defendant. The final section on the page was signed by William G. Yates, Judge Ad Hoc, that same date. Exhibit S-2 also included an arraignment form used by the trial court, which indicated that defendant appeared on July 3, 1991, without counsel, thát his rights were read to him from a prepared rights form, and that he waived those rights. The form further indicated that, based on his observation of defendant and his response to the questioning, the judge found that defendant understood his rights and knowingly and intelligently waived those rights. At the bottom of the form, the following notation was written by hand: “Defendant advises that he spoke to his attorney who advised him to plead nolo contendré.... ”

Monica Fanguy LeBlane, a city court deputy clerk, testified at the motion hearing that she completed the arraignment form contemporaneously at the July 3,1991 hearing. She further stated that defendant informed the court at the July 3rd hearing that he had |4spoken to his attorney who had advised him to plead nolo contendere under La.C.Cr.P. art. 894.

Herein, the initial inquiry is whether it was necessary to advise defendant of the right to counsel and to secure a waiver of that right. The evidence submitted by the State indicates that defendant positively asserted to the court at the time of the July 3rd plea that he had spoken to his attorney, who had advised him to plead nolo contende-re. Thus, defendant merely waived the presence of his attprney, not his right to counsel. See State v. Johnson, 404 So.2d 239, 247 (La.1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 925, 102 S.Ct. 1970, 72 L.Ed.2d 440 (1982). See also State v. Lawrence, dissenting opinion, 600 So.2d 1341, 1351 (La.App. 1st Cir.1991). Since defendant was represented by counsel, it was not necessary for the trial court to obtain a waiver or to advise defendant of his right to representation. Such advice was useless and unnecessary under the circumstances. Therefore, the trial court correctly denied defendant’s motion to quash the use of the July 3,1991 predicate.

Additionally, defendant makes general allegations in brief that the second predicate relied upon by the State is defective, but does not delineate any specific defects therein. In order to establish this predicate, the State introduced exhibit S-l (in globo), an exhibit consisting of a certified copy of a bill of information, a certified copy of the minute entry of defendant’s guilty plea to second offense DWI, and a written waiver of constitutional rights, all from State of Louisiana v. Bryan C. Authement, Docket Number 232, 181, 32nd Judicial District Court. We have reviewed these documents and find they are sufficient to establish the second predicate offense alleged in the State’s bill of information. See State v. Bland, 419 So.2d 1227, 1232 (La.1982); State v. Strain, 573 So.2d 517, 519 (La.App. 1st Cir.1990), affirmed, 585 So.2d 540 (La.1991). These assignments of error lack merit.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER 4

By this assignment of error, defendant argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to reconsider sentence on the grounds that the sentence imposed was excessive.

^Defendant's penalty exposure for third offense DWI was imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than five years and a fine of $2000.00. At least six months of the sentence must be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. La. R.S. 14:98 D(l). Pursuant to a plea bargain, defendant was sentenced to two years at hard labor, six months of the sentence being without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence; no fine was imposed.

Initially, we note that a “defendant cannot appeal or seek review of a sentence imposed in conformity with a plea agreement which was set forth in the record at the time of the plea.” La.Code Crim. P. art. 881.2 A(2). The record reflects that the sentence in this case was imposed in accordance with a negotiated plea agreement. At the Boykin hearing, the following colloquy occurred between the trial court and defendant:

Q. And, Mr. Authement, you understand that before today your attorney discussed with the court and -with a representative of the District Attorney’s office a plea agreement in connection with a guilty plea?
A. Yes, Sir.
Q. And you understand that I told Mr. Prejeant [defense counsel] that if you plead guilty I was going to sentence you to two years in the state Department of .Correction?
A. Yes Sir.
* * * * * *
Q. Mr. Authement, understanding the constitutional rights that you waive at this time as well as the sentence the court intends to impose and with the understanding that the prior ruling of the court will, in fact, be appealed, it is still your desire to plead to guilty?
A. Yes, Sir.
* * * * * *
In light of the negotiated plea in connection with this matter, it will be the sentence of the court that the defendant be imprisoned at hard labor in the custody of the Louisiana State Department of Correction for a term of two years with credit for any time served in prison awaiting process in sentencing in this case, six months of that sentence to be without benefit or parole, probation or suspension thereof.

Defendant voluntarily and with the assistance of counsel entered into a plea agreement providing for imposition of a specific sentence. The trial court imposed the sentence agreed to by defendant. Thus, defendant is precluded under La.Code Crim. P. |6 art. 881.2 A(2) from challenging his sentence on appeal. See State v. Young, 96-0195, p. 7 (La.10/15/96), 680 So.2d 1171, 1175; State v. Cousin, 96-2035, p. 8 (La.App. 1st Cir. 9/23/97), 700 So.2d 1016, 1020, writ denied, 97-2809 (La.3/13/98), 712 So.2d 875.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER 5

In this assignment of error, defendant requests this case be remanded to the trial court for supplementation of the record to include the following items: a transcript of defendant’s testimony at, the hearing .on his Motion to Quash, a stipulation entered into the record at that hearing, and State exhibits S-l and S-2. With the exception of exhibit S-1, each of these items was already included in the record before this Court. In accordance with defendant’s request, this Court issued an order on May 29,1998, supplementing the record with state- exhibit S-l (in-globo), which was introduced at the hearing on defendant’s Motion to Quash. Since the record before the Court is now complete, further supplementation of the record is not neees--sary.

DECREE

CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED.

| iGUIDRY, Judge,

dissenting

The critical issue on review of the waiver of the right to counsel is whethfer the accused understood the waiver. What the accused understood is determined in terms of the entire record and not just by certain magic words used by the judge. Strain, 585 So.2d at 543; Marcoux, 96-0453 at p. 3, 691 So.2d at 777. In order to establish a valid waiver of the right to counsel at trial, there must be a sufficient inquiry (preferably by an interchange with the accused that elicits more than “yes” and “no” responses) to establish on the record a knowing and intelligent waiver under the overall circumstances. Strain, 585 So.2d at 542.

The duty of the trial judge to advise the defendant expressly of his right to counsel and to determine “on the record that the waiver is made knowingly and- intelligently” is not discharged by the accused’s signature on a printed waiver form advising him of his right to counsel and warning him of the danger of self-representation, nor the signature of the trial judge on the same- form indicating he is satisfied the accused understood the nature of his plea and its consequences. State v. Deroache, 96-1376, p. 1 (La. 11/8/96), 682 So.2d 1251, 1252. Whether an accused has knowingly and ^intelligently waived his right to counsel is a question which depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. Strain, 585 So.2d at 542.

In the present case, the state introduced Sv-2 into evidence at the hearing on defendant’s motion-to quash to establish the first predicate offense. S-2 included a certified copy of an Explanation of Rights form which delineated a defendant’s rights, including the right to counsel. This form was signed by defendant following the recitation of rights. The back of the form included the following provisions:

WAIVER OF RIGHTS TO ATTORNEY
I choose to waive my rights to an attorney and to represent myself herein.
DEFENDANT
WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND PLEA OF
GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDRE
I choose to waive my rights and plead GUILTY/NOLO CONTENDRE to the charges against me. I acknowledge I have not been coerced or forced to plead; that I have received no promises of a light or no sentence, I am pleading guilty because I am, in fact, guilty.
DATE DEFENDANT
Based upon the defendant’s responses to my questions and my observation of the defendant in the courtroom, I believe the defendant understand his/her rights and the consequences of his/her plea. I further find that the defendant freely, knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waives his rights and, in particular, his right to an attorney.
JUDE THADDEUS FANGUY, JUDGE
ATTORNEY

|3The section captioned WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND PLEA OF GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDRE was signed by defendant and dated July 3, 1991, the date of his nolo contendré plea. However, the section captioned WAIVER OF RIGHTS TO ATTORNEY was not signed by defendant. The final section on the page was signed by William G. Yates, Judge Ad hoc, that same date.

S-2 also included a pre-printed, legal-size form captioned “ARRAIGNMENT”, which contained blank spaces to be filled in and numerous boxes. Several, boxes were checked on this form indicating that defendant appeared on July 3, 1991, without counsel, that his rights were read to him from a prepared rights form, and that he waived those rights. The form did not specifically delineate any of the rights included in this recitation. Another box was checked next to pre-printed language indicating that the trial judge stated that, based upon his observation of the defendant and his responses to the judge’s questions, the judge found the defendant understood his rights and knowingly and intelligently waived those rights, in particular his right to an attorney. However, there was a box on the form to specifically indicate that the defendant waived his right to counsel, which was not checked on the form presented by the state. On a blank space at the bottom of the form, the following notation was written in by hand: “Defendant advises that he spoke to his attorney who advised him to plead nolo contendré.... ”

At the motion hearing, Monica Fanguy LeBlanc, a city court deputy clerk, testified that she completed the ARRAIGNMENT form introduced in |4this case, which the state referred to as a minute form. She indicated she completed the form as the events referred to therein occurred in court. William Yates, the judge ad hoe who accepted defendant’s plea on July 3, 1991, also testified at the motion hearing. He testified he normally informed defendants of their right to counsel, but admitted it was possible he unintentionally failed to so 'advise defendant, since he had no independént recollection of defendant’s plea. Neither he nor Ms. LeBlanc were able to offer any explanation for the fact that defendant did not sign the waiver of counsel provision on the Explanation of Rights form. They both indicated that it was normal procedure for a defendant who waived his right to counsel'to sign this provision. In fact, Judge Ad Hoc Yates testified that he normally had defendants sign this provision in court in his presence.

The documents relied upon by the state fail to show either that the trial court specifically advised defendant of his right to counsel or inquired into defendant’s capacity to waive his right to the assistance of counsel. See Strain, 585 So.2d at 543. Additionally, •defendant’s signature on the pre-printed waiver of rights form did not discharge the trial court’s duty to determine on the record that defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel. See Deroache, 96-1376 at p. 1, 682 So.2d at 1252. Considering the above, the evidence relied upon by the state to prove the predicate conviction of July 3, 1991, does not affirmatively establish a valid waiver of counsel and this plea may not serve as the predicate for enhancement of a subsequent DWÍ offense. The trial court erred in denying defendant’s motion to quash. Accordingly, defendant’s guilty'plea and sentence for the instant offense should be vacated. 
      
      . The bill of information incorrectly referred to this court as the "32nd "Judicial District Court, Parish of Terrebonne, Houma, Louisiana.” The court properly should have been referred to as the City Court of Houma, Louisiana. However, this error was harmless; defendant does not allege, nor does the record indicate, that the error caused any prejudice to defendant. See La. C.C.P. art. 487 A.
     
      
      . Defendant concedes in brief that the copy of the record he utilized in preparing the brief may have been incomplete, and that the items noted might be included in the record before this Court.
     
      
      . At the hearing on defendant’s motion to quash, the state referred to this form as a "minute form." However, we note that such pre-printed, pre-fabricated, check off the box forms are not true minutes. See State v. Delanoix, 637 So.2d 515, 516 n. 1 (La.App. 1st Cir.1993); State v. Longo, 560 So.2d 530, 533 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1990).