Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert Madsen, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1968-12-12
Citations: 31 A.D.2d 737
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert Madsen, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 31
Pages: 737–737

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert Madsen, Appellant.

Opinion:
Order unanimously reversed and matter remitted to Brie County Court for a hearing in accordance with the following Memorandum: Although defendant's petition contained only eonclusory allegations that his plea of guilty had been coerced, so that the court was correct in its memorandum-decision denying eoram nobis relief for that reason, on the date of the court's decision the defendant filed an affidavit in answer to the District Attorney's affidavit opposing the petition; and the order, prepared by the District Attorney, denying the petition recited that the denial was upon all of the above papers. It does not appear that defendant's said affidavit supplementing his petition actually came to the court's attention; but in view of the recital in the order the District Attorney acknowledges that said affidavit should be considered on this appeal. The affidavit avers that while defendant was on bail prior to sentencing, on February 14, 1964 between 10:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. he was walking in the Brie County Courthouse with his two children, aged five and seven years respectively, when an Assistant District Attorney approached him and said, "Madsen, if you don't give me a plea of guilty right now, I'm going to revoke your bail as of now and lock you up". The defendant states that he replied, "You can't do that because I have my kids with me ", and he says that the Assistant District Attorney answered, "I don't care, because I'm interested in you—your kids will be taken care of until someone picks them up. If you take the plea right now, you can take them home yourself." Accordingly, a question of fact is presented, and the defendant is entitled to a hearing to determine the circumstances underlying his plea, as to its voluntariness (People v. Picciotti, 4 N Y 2d 340; People v. Samson, 30 A D 2d 771; People v. Whipple, 27 A D 2d 799; People v. Gleason, 18 A D 2d 959). (Appeal from order of Brie County Court denying, without a hearing, motion to vacate judgment of conviction for forgery, second degree.) Present—'Goldman, J. P., Del Vecchio, Marsh, Witmer and Henry, JJ.