Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Sidney P. COODY, Jr.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1973-03-26
Citations: 275 So. 2d 773
Docket Number: No. 52999
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Sidney P. COODY, Jr.
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 275
Pages: 773–777

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Sidney P. COODY, Jr.
No. 52999.
Supremo Court of Louisiana.
March 26, 1973.
Gravel, Roy & Burnes, Richard V. Burnes, Alexandria, for defendant-appellant.
Ford & Nugent, William M. Ford, Alexandria, for plaintiff-appellee.

Opinion:
BARHAM, Justice.
Sidney P. Coody, Jr., charged with driving a vehicle while intoxicated, R.S. 14:98, was convicted as charged in the City Court of Pineville, Louisiana, and sentenced to pay a fine of $400.00 and costs and to serve 90 days in the parish jail. He has appealed.
No bills of exceptions were reserved, but our examination of the minutes of court shows error requiring a reversal of the conviction and sentence. C.Cr.P. Art. 920(2).
The defendant "present in Court without counsel", was arraigned on September 18, 1972, and pleaded not guilty. Trial was set for September 25 at the request of the defendant in order to afford him time in which to secure an attorney. On September 25 the case was continued on motion of the State to October 20. On this last date, when the case came on for trial, "the defendant [was] present in Court without counsel". After testimony was heard and evidence presented, the judge found the defendant guilty as charged and imposed a sentence of fine and imprisonment.
Nowhere in the minutes is there any mention that defendant had, been informed of his right to counsel and had waived that right. It is well settled that there must be an affirmative showing that counsel was offered and knowingly waived. Our Code of Criminal Procedure Article 514 provides: "The minutes of the court must show either that the defendant was represented by counsel or that he was informed by the court of the defendant's right to court-appointed counsel." According to the Official Revision Comment, this article is based on the rule stated in State v. Youchunas, 187 La. 281, 174 So. 356 (1937). The crime in Youchunas was a felony, and to date it has not been the practice in this state to afford a person charged with a misdemeanor counsel as a matter of right. State v. Angelo, 251 La. 250, 203 So.2d 710 (1967); State v. Rockeymore, 253 La. 101, 216 So.2d 828, fn. 1 (1968).
However, under the recent United States Supreme Court decision in Arger- singer v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 92 S.Ct. 2006, 32 L.Ed.2d 530 (1972), we must change our practice in respect to misdemeanors which may carry a prison sentence and must afford an accused charged with such a misdemeanor the same rights in regard to counsel afforded a defendant on trial for a felony. In Argersinger the court said:
"We hold, therefore, that absent a knowing and intelligent waiver, no person may be imprisoned for any offense, whether classified as petty, misdemeanor, or felony, unless he was represented by counsel at his trial." Fox v. City of Bellevue, 407 U.S. 918, 92 S.Ct. 2464, 32 L.Ed.2d 804 (1972); Wright v. Town of Wood, 407 U.S. 918, 92 S.Ct. 2465, 32 L.Ed.2d 804 (1972); see also James v. Strange, 407 U.S. 128, 92 S.Ct. 2027, 32 L.Ed.2d 600, fn. 24 (1972).
Since the defendant in the present case was given a prison sentence and since the minutes show that he did not have counsel and do not show that he was informed of his right to counsel and knowingly waived that right, we must, under our Article 514 and the holding in Argersinger, reverse the conviction and sentence.
The conviction and sentence are reversed, and the case is remanded to the City Court of Pineville.
See Rice v. Olson, 324 U.S. 786, 65 S.Ct. 989, 89 L.Ed. 1367 (1945); McNeal v. Culver, 365 U.S. 109, 81 S.Ct. 413, 5 L.Ed.2d 445 (1961); Carnley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 82 S.Ct. 884, 8 L.Ed. 2d 70 (1962); Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969); Boyd v. Dutton, 405 U.S. 1, 92 S.Ct. 759, 30 L.Ed.2d 755 (1972).