SECOND DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and RI CKM A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Jul y 6, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 66 0 . COLEM AN v . STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

W al t er C o l e m a n a p p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h is m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw a n o n

n eg ot i at ed g u i l t y p l e a

, arg u i ng t h at th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al was a m an i fes t ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n . W e d i s ag ree an d affi rm

.

Co l em an p l ed g u i l t y t o i n f l u e n c i n g a wi t n es s an d was s en t en ced t o t h e

m ax i m u m sen t e n c e o f t e n y ears

, wi t h t h e p os s i b il i ty o f p aro l e. Du ri n g t h ree p l ea

h eari n g s o n th e sam e d ay , Co l em an k ep t ch an g i ng h i s m i nd as t o wh et h er o r n o t h e

s h o u ld en t er a g u il t y

p lea b efo re h e fi n al l y

en t ered h i s p l ea an d was s en t en ced

.

On M arch 3

, 2 0 15

, Co l em an ’ s cas e was cal l ed fo r t ri al

, an d Co l em an i n d i cat ed

t h at h e d i d n o t wan t t o p ro ceed t o a ju ry tri al b u t wo u l d rat h er en t er a g u i l t y p l ea. Th e

t ri al co u rt as k ed Co l em an i f h e h ad a f u l l o p p o rt u n i t y t o d i scu s s t h e cas e wi t h h i s

co u ns el

, i f he was s at i s fi ed wi t h co u n s e l ’s s e r v i ces

, an d i f h e u n d ers t o o d t h e

co n st i t u t io n a l ri g h t s h e wo u l d be wai v in g b y en t eri n g a g u i l t y p l ea. Co l em anan s wered i n t h e affi rm at i v e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt t h en in fo rm ed hi m t h at t h e m ax i m u m

p en al t y co u l d b e u p t o t en y ears i n p ri s o n

.

Th e St at e p ro ffered a fact u al b as i s fo r t h e p lea, s t at i n g t h at o n Oct o b er 1 9

,

2 0 1 3

, Co l em an ’ s as s o ci at e as s au l t ed a m an at a co n v en i en ce s t ore. Th e res p o n d i n g

p o l i ce o ffi cers o b s erv ed Co l em an “ y el l in g at t h e v i ct i m an d t hreat en i n g h i m n ot to

rev eal t h e i d en ti ty o f [t h e as s o ci at e] wh o h ad m ad e t h e as s au lt ag ai n s t h i m .” Th e t ri al

co u rt t h en accep t ed t h e g u i l ty p lea, fi n d i n g t h at i t was freel y an d v o l un t ari l y m ad e an d

s u p p ort ed b y a fact u al b as i s

. Th e St at e reco m m en d ed t h e m ax i m

u m t en y ear s en t en ce

b ecau s e o f Co l em an ’ s m

u l t i p l e p ri o r co n v i ct io ns

.

Bas ed o n an earl i er n eg ot i at ed o ffer o f t h ree y ears o f pro b at io n , t h e p o t en t i al

t en -year s en t en ce an d t h e i n t ro d u ct i on o f t h e p ri o r co n vi ct i o n s

, Co l em an ’ s t ri al

co u ns el i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at h e wo u l d reco m m en d th at Co l em an wi th d raw h i s

p l ea T h e t ri al co u rt res p on d ed t h at o n ce it accep t ed Co l em an ’ s no n -n eg o t i at ed p l ea,

Co l em an “ no l on g er h a[d ] an ab s o l u t e ri g ht t o wi t h d raw h i s p l ea,” an d t h at t h e t en

y ear sen ten ce was i n d i cat ed b as ed o n Co l em an ’ s fi v e p ri o r fel o n y co n vi ct i o n s

, ab o ut

wh i ch t he St at e h ad s en t a n o t i ce o f ev i d en ce t o b e u s ed i n ag grav at i o n o f s en t en ce. 1

1 Th e St at e’ s no t i ce o f ev i d en ce i n ag g rav at io n o f s en t en c e l i s t e d co n v i ct i on s

fo r t h eft by tak i n g a m ot o r v eh i cl e, b u rg l ary , t erro ri s t i c t h reat s, t h eft by t ak i n g

, an d

co cai n e p o s s es s i o n

.

2W h en as k ed i f Co lem an h ad b een ad v i s ed o f t h e n o t i ce of ev i d en ce t o b e u s ed

i n ag g rav at i o n o f s en t en ce an d t h e co n s eq u en ces th at co u l d fl ow fro m i t

, Co l em an ’ s

t ri al co u n s el ad m it t ed t h at h e h ad h ad t ro u b l e co n t act i n g Co l em an

, s o Co lem an m ay

n o t h av e b een aware o f t h e no t i ce o r t h e m an d at o ry s en t en ce t h at wo u ld res u l t fro m

e n t e r i n g a g u i l ty pl ea t o an o t h er fel o n y

. Th e t ri al co u rt al l o w ed Co l em an t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y t o s p eak wi t h h i s at t o rn ey t o d et erm i n e i f h e wan t ed t o st an d o n t h e p l ea

o r n o t

, an d t ol d h i m i f t h e St at e wi t h d rew t he n o ti ce o f ev i den ce i n ag g rav at i o n o f

s en t en ce, h e wo u l d s en t en ce Co l em an t o 10 y ears wi t h t h ree t o s erv e i n cu s t o d y an d

t h e b al an ce t o s erv e o n p ro b at i o n

. Co l e m a n d eci d ed t o wi th d raw h i s p l ea an d to

p ro ceed w i t h a t ri al

.

Du ri n g th e s eco n d co l l o qu y a h al f an ho u r l at er, Co l em an t ol d t h e t ri al co u rt

t h at h e was u n s at i s fi ed wi t h h i s t ri al co un s el

, s t at i n g t h at t h ere were “ a l o t o f t h i ng s

I wan t ed h i m t o d o

, b u t d ue t o t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, I wan t t o m ov e fo rward wi t h t h e

cas e.” Co l em an i n d icat ed t h at h e wan ted t o en ter a p l ea o f g u i l t y

. Th e t ri al co u rt ag ai n

wen t o v er t h e co n st i tu ti o n al ri g h t s Co l em an wo u l d wai ve i f h e en t ered a g u il t y p l ea.

Bu t wh en t h e tri al co urt t hen as k ed Co l em an

, “ H o w d o y o u p l ea d ?

, ” C o l em an

res p o n d ed

, “ N o t g ui l t y ,” an d s ai d h e wan t ed t o go t o t ri al

. T h e p art i es th en p ro ceed ed

t o s el ect a ju ry

.

3Du ri n g t h e t hi rd co ll o q u y

, aft er t h e j u ry had b een s el ect ed an d co u rt res u m ed

aft er l u nch

, Co l em an t o l d th e t ri al co u rt t h at h e h ad ag ai n deci d ed t o en t er a g ui l t y

p l ea. Fo r a t h i rd t i m e, t h e t ri al co u rt rev i ewed th e co n s t it u t i o n al ri g h t s Co l em an

wo u l d wai v e b y p l ead i ng gu i l t y

. Th e t ri al co urt t h en accep ted Co l em an ’ s g u i l t y p l ea

as i n tel l ig en t ly an d vo l u n tari l y en tered

. Th e St at e d eci d ed t o p res en t o n l y t wo o f t h e

fi ve p ri or co n v i ct io ns i t h ad l i s t ed i n i t s n o t ice o f ev i d en ce t o b e u s ed in ag grav at i o n

o f s en t en ce s o t h at Co l em an co u l d p o s s i bl y b e p aro l ed u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a).

Th e t ri al co u rt t hen s en ten ced Co l em an t o t en y ears u nd er t h at co d e s ect i o n

.

Ni n e d ay s l at er, o n M arch 1 2

, 2 0 15

, Co l em an m o v ed t o wi t h d raw hi s g ui l t y

p l ea, al l eg i n g am o n g o t h er th i n g s t h at h i s co u n sel h ad b een in effect i v e. Fo l l o wi n g a

h eari n g d u ri n g wh i ch Co l em an was rep res en t ed b y n ew co u n s el an d hi s t ri al co u n s el

d i d n o t ap p ear, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

. Co l em an fi l ed a t i m el y ap p eal

. 2

1

. Co l em an co n t en d s t h at t he tri al co u rt e r r e d b y d en y i ng h i s m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw h i s g u i lt y

p l ea b ecau s e h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect iv e. W e d i s ag ree.

2 As an i n i t i al m at t er, we n o t e t h at Co l em a n ’s b r i e f f ai l s to co m

p l y wi t h o u r

ru l es

. H e e n u m erat es th e s am e i s s u es i n d i fferen t erro rs an d arg u es erro r d i fferen t

fro m t h o s e h e in it i al l y en u m erat es

. “ [A] p art y wi l l n o t b e gran t ed rel i ef s h ou l d we err

i n d eci p h eri n g a b ri ef wh i ch fai l s t o ad h ere t o th e req u i red fo rm .” Pr u i t t v. S t a t e

, 3 2 3

Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 9 (1 ) (7 4 7 SE2 d 6 9 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ). See Co u rt o f Ap peal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (1 ) (“ Th e

s eq u en ce o f arg u m en t s i n th e b ri efs s h a l l f o l l o w t h e ord er o f th e en u m erat i o n o f

erro rs , an d s hal l b e n u m

b ered acco rd i n g l y .”)

4“ Aft er s en t en ce i s p ro n o u n ced

, wh e t h e r t o a l lo w t he wi t h d rawal o f a g ui l t y

p l ea l i es wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’s s o u n d d i scret i o n, an d we rev iew t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n fo r m an i fes t ab u s e o f t h at d i s cret io n .” P ru i t t

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 0 (2 ).

Co l em an al l eg ed h i s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e b ecau s e h e w as u n p r ep ared

,

u n reach ab l e, an d d i d n o t fu l l y ex p l ai n t o C o l e m a n t h e n at u re o f t h e g u i l t y p l ea an d

m ax i m u m s en t en ce.

Becau s e [Co lem an ’ s ] m o t i o n was b as ed on an i n effect i ve as s i s tan ce o f

co u n s el cl ai m

, t h e t ri al co u rt was req u i red to ap pl y t h e t wo -p ro n g ed t es t

s et fo rt h i n St r ickl a n d

v. W a s h i n gt o n , 4 66 U.S. 66 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 52

, 8 0

LE2 d 6 74 ) (1 9 8 4 ), t o d et erm i n e wh et h er co u n s e l ’ s p erfo rm an ce w as

d efi ci en t

, an d

, i f s o, wh et h er [Co lem an ] was preju d iced b y th e

d efi ci en cy

.

Pr u it t

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 69 0 (2 ). “ If t h e d efen d an t i s un a b l e t o s a t is fy ei t h er t h e

d efi ci en cy o r preju d ice p ro n g o f t h e t es t

, h i s i neffect i v e as si st an ce cl ai m

fai l s .”(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ) Ta yl o r v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 8

, 8 8 0 -8 8 1

(6 9 8 S E 2 d 3 8 4 ) ( 2 0 1 0 ). See al s o W r i g h t v. S t a t e

, 2 98 G a. 1 2 4

, 1 2 5 (2 ) (7 7 9 SE2 d

6 6 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (d efen dan t wh o s eek s t o wi t h d raw g u i lt y p l ea m us t sh o w b o t h d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce a n d a re a s o n a bl e p ro b ab i li t y t h at

, b u t fo r co un s el ’ s erro rs

, d efen d an t

wo u l d h av e i n si s t ed o n t ri al ). W h en t h i s co u rt r e v i e w s a t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al of a

5m o t i o n t o wi t hd raw a gu i l t y p l ea, “ t h e v o l u n tari n es s o f t h e p l ea d ep en d s u p o n

wh et h er co u n s el ’ s ad vi ce was wi t h i n t h e ran g e o f co m p et en ce dem an d ed of at t o rn ey s

i n cri m i n al cas es .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Al exa n d er v. S t a te

, 2 9 7 Ga

.

5 9 , 6 1 (7 7 2 SE2 d 6 5 5) (2 01 5 ).

Un d er t h e fi rs t p ro n g o f t h e S tr i ckl a n d t es t

, t h ere i s a s t ro ng p res um p t i o n t h at

co u ns el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e wi d e ran g e o f reas o nab l e p ro fes s i o nal as s i s t an ce

an d “ wi t h o u t t ri al co u n sel ’ s t es ti m o n y

, h i s act i o ns are p res u m ed s t rat eg i c.” Fr eema n

v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 5

, 1 8 8 (2 ) (6 3 8 SE2 d 3 5 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ); E a r l ey v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 1 0

, 1 1 2 ( 7 1 2 SE2 d 56 5 ) (2 0 1 1). Co l em an as s ert s t h at h i s t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t b ecau s e co u ns el d i d n ot ad eq u at el y p rep are fo r t h e t ri al

,

fai l ed to co m

m un i cat e wi t h Co lem an

, an d fai led t o i n f o r m h i m o f an y s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n an d reci d i v i s m ev i d en ce.

Ho wev er, d u ri n g t h e i n i t i al p l ea co ll o q u y

, Co l em an ’ s t ri al co u n s el s t at ed t h at

h e t ri ed m u l t i p l e t i m es to co n t act Co l em an b u t was u n ab l e t o reach h i m

. Tri al co u n s el

s ai d t h at h e had cal l ed an d l eft m es s ag es fo r Co l em an b u t h ad “ n e v e r r e c e i v ed an y

res p o n s e i n m

y co m m u ni cat i o n s fro m h i m

. . . an d I h a[d ] n o wa y o f v e ri fy i n g

wh et h er o r n o t he g ot t h e co m m u n i cat i o n .” Ad d i t i o nal l y

, t h e reco rd refl ect s

t h ro u g h ou t t h e t hree co l l o q ui es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt g av e Co l em an t h e op p o rt u n i t y to

6co n su l t wi t h h i s t ri al co u n s el b efo re d eci d i n g t o en t er h i s p l ea. M o reo v er, Co l em an

al s o m ad e sev eral co n fl i ct i n g s t at em en t s at th e h eari n g o n h i s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s

g u i l t y pl ea, fi rs t tel l i n g t h e t ri al co u rt t h at he h ad n ev er t al ked t o h i s t ri al co u n s el

, b ut

t h en co nced i n g t h at t h e t ri al co un s el h ad rep res en t ed h i m i n t w o p ri o r co u rt

ap p earan ces . Co l em an al s o t es ti fi ed t h at t h e t ri al co u n sel wo u l d cal l h i s u n cl e, wh o

wo u l d t h en p as s al o n g t h e i n fo rm at i o n t o Co lem an

.

Reg ard i n g Co lem an ’ s co n t en t io n t h at t ri al co u n s el was d efi ci en t fo r fai l i n g to

ad eq uat el y i n fo rm h i m ab o u t t h e St at e’ s u s e o f s i m i l ar t ran sact i o n s i n ag g rav at i o n o f

h i s sen t en ce, at t h e h eari n g on t h e m o ti o n t o w i t h d r a w g u il t y p l ea, t h e t ri al co u rt

i n fo rm ed Co l em an t h at i t h ad n o t co ns i d ered an y s i m i l ar act s i n s en t en ci n g b ecau s e

t h ere was n o p re-t ri al d et erm i n at i o n as t o th ei r ad m i ss i b i l i t y

. Th u s

, tri al co u n s el was

n o t d efi ci en t i n t h i s reg ard

.

In i t s o rd er d en y in g Co l em an ’ s m o t i on t o wi t h d raw h i s g u il t y p lea, t h e t ri al

co u rt fo u n d t h at Co lem an ’ s “ s wo rn t es t i m o n y at th e t i m e o f t h e g ui l t y p l ea was t h at

h e had a fu l l o pp o rt u n i t y to t al k wi t h h i s l awy er ab o u t h is cas e, an d t h at h e t o l d h i s

l awy er ev ery t h i n g h e kn e w t o t el l h i m ab o u t t he fact s o f t he cas e.” Th e co u rt t h en

h el d t h at Co lem an ’ s pl ea “ was en t ered in t o kn o wi n g l y

, i n t el l i g en t l y

, an d v o l u n t ari l y

. . . wi th a fu l l u n d ers t an d in g o f wh at t h e p l ea co n n o ted an d o f i t s co n s eq u en ces .”

7“ As t h e fi n al a r b i t er o f t h e fact s

, th e t ri al co urt was au t h o ri zed t o reject

[Co lem an ’ s ] sel f-s erv i n g t es t i m o n y d u ri n g t h e h eari n g o n hi s m o t i o n to wi t h d raw t h e

p l ea an d fi n d t h at h e en t ered i t k n o wi n gl y an d vo l u n t ari ly .” Y o un g v. S t a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 9 1

, 92 (5 9 8 SE2 d 8 4 0 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Fu rt h er, Co lem an h as n o t d es cri b ed an y ev i d en ce

o r d efen s es t hat co u l d h av e b een p res en t ed at tri al if h i s p l ea co u n sel h ad s p en t m o re

t i m e wi t h h i m

. Pr u it t

, 3 23 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 3 (2 ) (c). “ Cred ib i l i t y d e t e r m i n at i o n s are

wi t h i n t h e p u rv i ew of t he t ri al co u rt an d t h e co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s wi l l n o t b e

d i s t u rb ed u n l es s cl earl y erro ne ous. D e spite a p pe lla nt’ s sta te d m otiva

tion [fo r p l ead i n g

g u i l t y i n s t ead o f g o i n g t o tri al ]

, h e fai l s t o d em o n s t rat e co erci o n o r t h at h i s d eci s i o n

t o en ter t he p l ea was no t v o l u n t ari l y m ad e.” (Ci tat i o n s om i t t ed

. ) McGu yt o n v. S t a t e

,

2 9 8 Ga. 3 5 1

, 3 5 5 (1 ) (b ) (7 82 SE2 d 2 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Becau s e Co l em an fai l ed t o m eet h i s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g t h at h is t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm a n c e w as d efi ci en t

, t h is Co u rt n eed n o t ad d res s t h e p reju d i ce p ro n g

. Ho r n e

v. S t a t e

, 33 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 3

, 3 5 3 (1 ) ( 7 7 3 S E2 d 46 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i ts d i s cret i o n wh en i t d en ied Co l em an ’ s m o t io n t o wi t h d raw h i s

g u i l t y p l ea b as ed o n an i n effect iv e as s i st an ce o f co un s el cl ai m

. See Gr es h a m v. S t a t e

,

3 0 0 Ga. Ap p. 1 5 8

, 1 6 3 (6 84 SE2 d 3 3 6 ) (2 0 0 9) (affi rm i n g t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f

8m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw g u i l ty p l ea b as ed o n as s ert i o n pl ea co u n s el di d n o t s p en d en o u g h

t i m e o n t h e cas e).

2

. Nex t

, C o l e m an co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i m a fu l l

h eari n g o n hi s i n effect i v en es s cl ai m

. H e arg u es t hat t o m eet th e fi rs t p ro n g o f

S t r i ckl a nd , h i s t ri al at t o rn ey h ad t o b e p res en t an d tes t i fy at t h e m o t io n t o wi t h d raw

g u i l t y p l ea h eari n g. Co lem an as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d h av e s t ay ed th e m o t i o n

t o w i t h d raw g ui l t y p l ea heari n g b ecau s e h i s t ri al at t o rn ey ’ s ab s en ce d en i ed h i m t h e

ri gh t t o a fu l l d u e p ro ces s heari n g an d h e “ wo u l d n o t h av e p l ead g u i lt y i f h e k n ew

t h ere was a ri s k o f g et t i n g an y p ri s o n t i m e wi t ho u t p aro l e.”

Co l em an w as n o t sen ten ced t o a t erm wi t h o u t t h e p os s i b i li t y o f p aro l e. He was

s en t en ced u n d er OCGA § 1 7-1 0-7 (a), wh i ch d oes n o t p rev en t th e Bo ard o f Pard on s

an d Paro l es fro m g ran t i n g Co lem an p aro l e at s o m e po i n t du ri n g h i s s en ten ce. Fu rt h er,

d u ri n g t h e p l ea heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt i n fo rm ed Co l em an t h at i t was n o t t h e co urt ’ s

“ i n ten t i o n t h at [ h e ] n o t b e el ig i b l e fo r p aro l e,”an d l at er, wh en Co l em an as k ed i f h e

was el i g i b l e fo r p a r o l e

, t h e t ri al co u rt s ai d t h at p aro l e “ wi l l b e up t o t h e Paro l e

Bo ard .” Th e t ri al co u rt al s o gav e Co l em an an d h i s t ri al co un s el am pl e t i m e t o d i s cu ss

t h e co n s eq u en ces o f t h e St at e ’s n o t ice o f ev i d en ce t o b e u s ed i n ag g rav at i o n o f

s en t en ce. Th e St at e wi t h d rew al l b u t t wo o f t h e fo u r co u n s el ed fel o n y co n v i ct i on s

9i n cl u d ed i n i t s n o ti ce o f ev id en ce t o be u s ed i n ag g rav at i on o f s en t en ce, s peci fi cal l y

s o t h at Co l em an co ul d be s en t en ced as a reci d i v is t u n d er OCGA § 1 7

- 1 0 -7 (a) an d

recei v e a s p l i t sen ten ce, w i t h so m e p ort i o n t o b e s erv ed o n pro b at i o n

. If th e St at e h ad

i n s i s ted o n p res en ti n g al l fo u r co n v i ct i o n s

, OCGA § 17 -1 0 -7 (c) wo u l d h av e req u i red

t h e co u rt t o s en t en ce h im t o t en y ears wi t ho u t t h e p o s si b i l i t y o f p aro l e.

Fi n al l y

, d u ri n g th e fi rs t p l ea co l l o q u y

, aft er t h e t ri al co u rt accep ted Co l em an ’ s

g u i l t y pl ea an d t h e St at e reco m m en d ed t en y ears t o serv e, Co l em an ex p res sed s u rp ri s e

t h at t h e reco m

m en d ed s en t en ce o f t en y ears t o serv e wi t h o u t p aro le was m u ch h i g h er

t h an h e t h o u g h t i t wo u ld be. Hi s t ri al co u ns el t ol d t h e tri al co u rt th at Co l em an h ad n ot

b een fu l l y aware o f t h e n o t i ce of ev i den ce to b e u s ed i n ag g rav at i o n o f sen t en ce u n t i l

m o m en t s b efo re, an d Co l em an t o l d t h e co u rt t h at h e h ad en t ered h i s p l ea ex p ect i n g

t h e St at e t o reco m

m en d t h e t h ree y ears p ro b at i on it h ad o ri g i nal l y offered

. Th e t ri al

co u rt ex p l ai ned t h e m an d at o ry m i n i m u m s en t en ce it wo u l d b e co n s t rai n ed t o g i v e

Co l em an b as ed o n t h e f

o u r cert i fi ed fel on y co n v i ct i o n s t h e St at e h ad in t ro d u ced

,

wh i ch was ten y ears t o s erv e w i t h o u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of p aro l e. Co l em an i n di cat ed t h at

h e un d ers t o o d t h e ex p l an at i o n an d t hat h e d i d n o t h av e an y fu rt h er q u es t i o n s . Aft er

t h e ex p l an at i on

, t h e t ri al co u rt al l o wed Co l em an to wi t h d raw h i s i n i t i al g u i l t y p l ea

an d g av e h i m t he o p p ort un i t y t o d i s cu s s hi s cas e fu rt h er wi th h i s t ri al co u n s el

. W h en

10Co l em an ret u rn ed t o th e co u rt

, th e t ri al co u rt as ked if h i s t ri al co un s el h ad “ ex p l ai n ed

t o [h i m ] wh at t h e s tat u t e s ay s an d wh at i t m ean s ? ” Co l em a n r e s p o n d ed t h at h e

u n d ers t o o d an d wan t ed t o g o t o t ri al

.

Aft er t h e ju ry w a s s t r u ck

, wh en Co lem an i n di cat ed ag ai n t h at h e wan t ed to

p l ead g u il t y

, t h e t ri al co u rt t o l d h i m t h at it w o u l d b e a b l i n d pl ea, t h at t h ere wo u l d n ot

“ b e a n y g uaran t ees wh at s o ev er,” an d t h e co u rt wo ul d en t ert ai n th e p l ea, h ear

a r g u m e n t

, an d d eci d e w h at t h e s en t en ce wo u l d be. Aft er th e co urt ag ai n accep t ed

Co l em an ’ s g u i lt y p l ea, t h e St at e ag ai n reco m m en ded t en y ears t o s erv e, b u t wi t h d rew

t w o o f t h e f

o u r co un s el ed fel on i es t o g i v e th e t ri al co u rt t h e d i s cret i o n t o p ro b at e

s o m e p o rt i o n o f t h e s en t en ce if i t wi s h ed t o

. Th e co u rt d ecl i n ed t o p ro b at e an y o f t h e

req u i red t en -y ear s en t en ce, b ut d i d s en t en ce Co l em an u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) as

i f t h is w ere h is t h i rd fel o n y

, rat her t h an u n d er O CGA § 1 7 -1 0-7 (c) as i f th i s were h i s

fi ft h fel o n y , s o t h at h e i s el i g i b l e fo r p aro l e, i n t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e Bo ard

.

Des p i t e h is as s ert io n t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s ab s en ce fro m t h e m o t i o n h eari n g

d en ied h i m a fai r an d p ro p er d et erm i n at i o n o f h i s i n effect i v en es s cl ai m

, Co l em an fai l s

t o i n d icat e wh at ad d i t i o n al i n fo rm at i o n h i s t ri al co u n s el co u l d h av e ad d ed t o m eet h i s

“ b u rd en of s h owi n g th at

, h ad i t n o t b een fo r h i s at t o rn ey ’ s d efi ci en t rep res en t at i o n,

a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y ex i s t s t h at h e wo u l d h av e in s i s t ed o n a t ri al .” (Ci t at i o n an d

11p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ho wa r d v. S t a t e

, 2 7 4 G a. Ap p

. 86 1

, 8 6 1-8 6 2 (6 1 9 SE2 d 3 6 3 )

(2 0 0 5).

At t h e h eari ng o n t h e m o t i o n t o w i t hd raw h i s g ui l t y p l ea, Co l em an ’ s n ew

co u ns el i nfo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at Co l em an ’ s t ri al co u n s el was un av ai lab l e b u t t h at

h e “ p l an n ed t o g o fo rward

. . . an d g et s t art ed wi th t h i s p ro ceed i n g

. ” He t hen i n d i cat ed

t h at h e wo u l d l at er req u es t a s t ay s o t h at t h e t ri al at t o rn ey co u l d b e “ h ere at m o t i o n s .”

T h e t ri al co u rt as k ed Co l em an ’ s n ew co u ns el wh at ad d i t i o n al i nfo rm at i on t h e tri a l

co u ns el co u l d t es t i fy t o t h at w o u l d b e fav o rab l e t o Co l em an

, an d a p p e l l a t e co u n s el

h ad n o res p o n se. Th e t ran s cri p t al s o i n d i cat es t h a t ap p el l at e co u n s el d i d n o t l at er

ap p ro ach t h e t ri al co u rt an d i n di cat e t h at Co l em an wan t ed t o s t ay t h e p ro ceed i n g s

.

Th i s en u m erat i o n fai l s

.

3

. Co lem an al s o co n ten d s t h at t he tr i a l c o u rt erred by p art i ci p at in g i n p l ea

n eg ot i at i o n s an d t h at i t ab u s ed i t s d i scret i o n wh en i t fai l ed t o sp eci fi cal l y an d

ex p res s l y i n fo rm Co l em an w h at s en t en ce h e wo ul d recei v e if h e en tered a g u i l t y p l ea

as o p p o s ed t o g oi n g t o t ri al

. Ho wev er, t h e reco rd s h o ws t hat Co l e m a n n e v e r rai s ed

t h es e is s ues at t h e heari n g o n h i s m o t i o n to wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea o r i n t he act u al

m o ti o n

, an d “ i t i s wel l s et t l ed t hat i s s u es n ei t h er rai s ed n o r ru l ed o n i n t he tri al co u rt

c a n n o t b e rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .)

12Ta l t o n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p. 9

, (7 49 SE2 d 1 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Fu rt h er, th e t ran s cri p t o f t h e

p l ea co l l oq u i es m ak es i t cl ear t h at Co l em an was o nl y o ffered a n o n -n eg o t iat ed

, b l i n d

p l ea, an d t h e t ri al co u rt w as n o t req u i red t o an n ou n c e it s s en t en ce b efo re accep t i n g

t h e g u il t y p l ea.

4

. W e al s o fi n d n o m eri t t o Co l em an ’ s arg u m en t th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f

Co l em an ’ s m o t i o n to wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea was a m an i fes t i n ju s t i ce. Bas ed o n o u r

c o n c l u s i o n th at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in fi n d i n g t h at tri al co un s el was n o t

i n effect i v e, an d Co lem an ’ s wai v er o f t h e rem ai n i n g arg u m en t s

, t h is en u m erat i o n al s o

fai l s

. See W

i l l i a m s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 8 Ga. A p p

. 7 44

, 7 4 5 (7 3 4 SE2 d 74 5 ) (2 01 2 ) (“ Th e tes t

fo r m an i fes t i n

ju s ti ce wi l l b y n eces s i t y v ary fro m cas e t o c a s e

, b u t i t h as been s ai d

t h at wi t h d rawal is n eces s ary t o co rrect a m an i fes t i n ju s t i ce i f, fo r i n s t an ce, a

d efen d an t i s den i ed effect i v e a s s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, or t h e g u i l ty pl ea was en t ered

i n v ol u n t ari l y o r wi t h o u t an u n ders t an d i n g o f t h e n at u re o f t h e ch arg es

. ”) (ci t at i o n s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Bo g

g s a n d Ri ckma n , JJ., co ncu r

.

13