Title: State v. Teater

State: nebraska

Issuer: Nebraska Supreme Court

Document:

351 N.W.2d 60 (1984) 217 Neb. 723 STATE of Nebraska, Appellee, v. Kenneth Eugene TEATER, Appellant. No. 83-753. Supreme Court of Nebraska. June 22, 1984. *61 Dennis R. Keefe, Lancaster County Public Defender, and Dorothy Walker, Lincoln, for appellant. Paul L. Douglas, Atty. Gen., and John Boehm, Asst. Atty. Gen., Lincoln, for appellee. KRIVOSHA, C.J., and BOSLAUGH, WHITE, HASTINGS, CAPORALE, SHANAHAN, and GRANT, JJ. WHITE, Justice. This is a criminal action in which the Lancaster County District Court accepted a plea of no contest from the defendant, Kenneth Eugene Teater, to one count of attempted first degree sexual assault on a child, as defined by Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 28-201 and 28-319(1)(c) (Reissue 1979). The district court sentenced Teater to the Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex for a term of not less than 62/3 years nor more than 15 years. The court further found that Teater was a treatable, mentally disordered sex offender and committed him to the Lincoln Regional Center until such time as the court has determined that Teater is no longer mentally disordered or until he has received the maximum benefit of treatment. On appeal we affirm Teater's conviction and sentence. The facts which are relevant to the disposition of this appeal will be discussed as needed throughout the opinion. The first issue raised by Teater is that the district court erred in finding that he was mentally competent to stand trial. On *62 August 26, 1982, the district court ruled that Teater was incompetent to stand trial. Teater was committed to the Lincoln Regional Center, pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-1823 (Reissue 1979), for further evaluation. Six months later, and after extensive evaluation by psychiatrists and psychologists, the district court determined that Teater was mentally competent to stand trial. In State v. Guatney, 207 Neb. 501, 509, 299 N.W.2d 538, 543-44 (1980), we stated: The district court's finding that Teater was mentally competent to stand trial will not be disturbed unless there is insufficient evidence to support that finding. The test of mental capacity to plead or stand trial is the same. State v. Quarrels, 211 Neb. 204, 318 N.W.2d 76 (1982). Based on the current evaluations of Teater, the record reveals that two of the four doctors, one of whom reversed his prior position, found that Teater was mentally competent to stand trial. Only one of the doctors concluded that Teater was incompetent to stand trial; the other doctor gave no conclusion. As a basis for their evaluations, three of the four doctors relied on the 20 factors outlined in the concurring opinion in State v. Guatney, supra. Since there is substantial evidence in the record to support the trial court's determination that Teater was, in fact, mentally competent to stand trial, we will not disturb the district court's ruling. Teater next assigns as error that the district court erred in overruling his motion to withdraw his plea of no contest. Because this assignment of error is not discussed in the brief, we shall not consider it. See State v. Evans, 215 Neb. 433, 338 N.W.2d 788 (1983). We do pause to note, however, that if the issue were discussed, it would be without merit, based on the criteria recently outlined in State v. Holtan, 216 Neb. 594, 344 N.W.2d 661 (1984). For his third assignment of error Teater contends that the district court erred in accepting his "plea of no contest and finding him guilty in that the Court failed to establish by proper inquiry that the plea was made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily." Brief for Appellant at 5. The record does not support this argument. Prior to acceptance of his plea, the court advised the defendant, who was represented by counsel, of the nature of the charge against him, the statutory penalty limits, and his constitutional rights to confrontation, jury trial, and privilege against self-incrimination. The court also determined that there was a factual basis for the guilty plea and that the defendant voluntarily waived all of his rights. In short, *63 the record reveals that the district court complied with the requirements of State v. Tweedy, 209 Neb. 649, 309 N.W.2d 94 (1981), and State v. Turner, 186 Neb. 424, 183 N.W.2d 763 (1971). When asked by the court, Teater's counsel stated that he had thoroughly discussed the plea with Teater and that his client's plea was consistent with the law and the facts. Although not discussed in the brief, Teater next alleges that the district court violated "his rights to the notice requirements of the Due Process Clauses of the Federal and State Constitutions," in that the court failed to arraign him "in a timely fashion." Brief for Appellant at 5. Any delays in the instant case were the result of the proceedings to determine Teater's competency to stand trial and the continuance granted at the request of Teater's counsel. Both of these factors tolled the defendant's right to a speedy trial. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-1207(4)(a) and (b) (Reissue 1979). Finally, Teater argues that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing him. Teater contends that probation would have been a more appropriate sentence. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2260(2)(a) (Cum.Supp.1982) provides that probation should not be granted if "[t]he risk is substantial that during the period of probation the offender will engage in additional criminal conduct." The various evaluations describe Teater as a mildly mentally retarded pedophiliac who, if given the opportunity, would continue to engage in sexual misconduct with young children. Dr. James K. Cole, a clinical psychologist, stated in his report: Concerning the length of Teater's sentence, we note that attempted first degree sexual assault on a child is a Class III felony, punishable by a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment or a $25,000 fine, or both. Teater's sentence of 62/3 to 15 years' imprisonment was within the statutory guidelines. We further note that Teater was originally charged with two counts of first degree sexual assault on a child. Pursuant to a plea bargain, Teater pled no contest to one count of attempted first degree sexual assault on a child. The district court was aware, as are we, that Teater's conduct which led to his charges was not an isolated occurrence. Having thoroughly reviewed the record, we cannot conclude that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing Teater, and therefore his sentence will not be modified on appeal. See State v. Cooley, 318 Neb. 90, 348 N.W.2d 433 (1984). The conviction and sentence of Kenneth Eugene Teater are hereby affirmed. AFFIRMED.