Case Name: PEOPLE v. ESPARZA
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1969-02-25
Citations: 16 Mich. App. 145
Docket Number: Docket No. 5,683
Parties: PEOPLE v. ESPARZA
Judges: BEFOSE: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and Quinn and Levin, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 16
Pages: 145–148

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. ESPARZA
Opinion op the Court
1. Criminal Law — Possession op Narcotics — Entrapment.
Even if the record sustained defendant's contention that he was induced to obtain and sell nareoties by a police informer, no defense of entrapment would be established in prosecution for unlawful possession of narcotics on record presented (CLS ' 1961, § 335.153).
Beperences por Points in Headnotes
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 143 et seq.
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal-Law' §§ 485, 49-3, 494.
Dissenting Opinion
Levin, J.
2. Criminal Law — Possession op Narcotics — Guilty Plea — Promise op Beware.
An affidavit by defendant eonvieted of unlawful possession of narcotics, stating that he pleaded guilty only because. of assurances that if he did so his automobile which had been seieed would be returned to him, unopposed by the proseeution, is sufficient to entitle defendant to a testimonial hearing and if upon such hearing it is found that the alleged promise was made by a state official but not Icept or that defendant’s trial counsel falsely made the promise, the defendant would be entitled to have his guilty plea set aside.
Appeal from Wayne, Nathan J. Kaufman, J.
Submitted Division 1 December 12, 1968, at Detroit.
(Docket No. 5,683.)
Decided February 25, 1969.
Michael Frank Esparza was convicted of unlawful possession of narcotics. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Gahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Samuel J. Torina, Chief Appellate Lawyer, and Luvenia D. Dockett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Louis Rosensweig, for defendant on appeal.
BEFOSE: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and Quinn and Levin, JJ.

Opinion:
J. H. Gillis, P. J. and Quinn, J.
Michael Frank Esparza pled guilty to possession of narcotics in violation of CLS 1961, § 335.153 (Stat Ann 1957 Eev § 18.1123), and was sentenced. On appeal, he contends that his plea was induced by .a', promise by authorities to return his automobile which had been ordered forfeited, and that he was innocent because of entrapment by police.
We find no support in the record for these claims. On the contrary the transcript of the plea discloses that defendant's plea was freely, understanding^, and voluntarily made, without promises of any kind. The record offers no support for the claim of innocence. If the record supported defendant's contention that he was induced to obtain and sell narcotics by a police informer, no defense would be established thereby. People v. Martin (1965), 1 Mich App 265, 270. The record demonstrates compliance with GCR 1963, 785.3.
Affirmed.