Opinion ID: 2010669
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: VOP Claim Moot

Text: In Frady v. State, the defendant pled guilty to Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in the Third Degree and Burglary in the Third Degree. [11] After thirteen years in prison at Level V, he was released on probation. [12] While he was on probation, he was charged with seven counts of Rape in the Fourth Degree. [13] Following a VOP hearing, the Superior Court found the defendant had committed Rape in the Fourth Degree and, as a result, had violated the terms of his probation. [14] The defendant filed an appeal from the Superior Court's decision. [15] He then entered an agreement with the State, pleading guilty to Unlawful Sexual Contact in the Second Degree in exchange for dismissal of the remaining charges. [16] On appeal, this Court held that, by pleading guilty to a crime as part of a plea agreement, the defendant's prior appeal from the VOP hearing was moot. [17] We explained that the defendant's voluntary plea established guilt for the crime charged, whether or not his conduct actually satisfied the elements of the offense. [18] In Frady, we held that the defendant's evidentiary appeal was moot because his later guilty plea supported the Superior Court's determination that he violated the terms of his probation. [19] Dejesus' claim mirrors the defendant's claim in Frady. Dejesus was arrested and charged with several crimes. As a result, the Superior Court found him in violation of the terms of his probation. Subsequently, Dejesus pled guilty to one charge of possession with intent to deliver arising out of the conduct leading to his arrest. Like the defendant in Frady, Dejesus' guilty plea supports the Superior Court's finding that he violated the terms of his probation and renders his appeal from that determination moot.