Case Title: Roten v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2014-08-15T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
BEN ROTEN, 
 
 
 
§ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§  No. 266, 2014 
 
Defendant Below,  
 
§ 
 
Appellant,  
 
 
§  Court Below – Superior Court 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§  of the State of Delaware, 
 
v. 
 
 
 
 
§  in and for Sussex County 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§  Cr. ID No. 0907011738 
STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
§ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
 
Plaintiff Below, 
 
 
§ 
 
Appellee. 
 
 
 
§ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Submitted:  July 22, 2014 
Decided:  August 15, 2014 
 
Before STRINE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and RIDGELY, Justices. 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 15th day of August 2014, having carefully considered the 
appellant’s opening brief, the appellee’s motion to affirm, and the record on 
appeal, the Court has determined that the judgment of the Superior Court 
should be affirmed on the basis of the reasons stated by the Superior Court 
in its letter decision dated May 8, 2014. 
In addition, although not addressed by the Superior Court, the 
appellant’s claim is also procedurally barred by Superior Court Criminal 
Rule 61(i)(3).  That subsection precludes the appellant from making a claim 
not asserted in the proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction.  The 
appellant failed to raise either on direct appeal or in subsequent post-trial 
2 
 
motions his argument that a plea of nolo contendere cannot qualify as a 
predicate offense.  Because the appellant has failed to demonstrate cause for 
failing to raise his claims previously and has not shown that his failure to do 
so prejudiced his rights, his claim cannot overcome the procedural hurdle 
that Rule 61(i)(3) presents.  For similar reasons, the appellant likewise 
cannot demonstrate a “colorable claim that there was a miscarriage of justice 
because of a constitutional violation” under Rule 61(i)(5). 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the motion to affirm is 
GRANTED.  The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED. 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Randy J. Holland 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice