Opinion ID: 2585385
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: opinion on reconsideration [1]

Text: BECKER, J.: In 1996, respondent Bryan Scott Freese was charged with nine criminal counts arising from sexual conduct with a minor. Pursuant to negotiations, Freese entered into a written plea agreement wherein he agreed to plead guilty to one count of sexual assault upon a minor under sixteen years of age. Freese entered his guilty plea on May 20, 1997. Freese filed a post-conviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus in 1998 alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and challenging the sufficiency of the plea canvass. The district court found, based upon the totality of the circumstances, that Freese's plea was freely, voluntarily and knowingly entered and that he understood the nature of the offense and the consequences of his plea. Despite this finding, the district court [2] granted the petition, on the grounds that the plea canvass did not advise Freese about the elements of the offense or the rights Freese would waive by pleading guilty and the guilty plea memorandum could not be considered in determining the validity of the plea. [3] We disagree, and for the reasons set forth below, we reverse the district court's order granting the post-conviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus. [4]