Opinion ID: 555492
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Request to Withdraw Plea

Text: 6 On the day of sentencing, Badger asked the district court for permission under Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(d) to withdraw his guilty pleas to both the conspiracy count and the failure to appear count. The district judge denied these requests. We now affirm those decisions. 7 Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(d) allows a district judge to permit a defendant to withdraw a guilty plea prior to sentencing upon the showing of any fair and just reason. We will reverse a lower court's denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea only for abuse of discretion. United States v. Clark, 917 F.2d 177, 180 (5th Cir.1990); United States v. Daniel, 866 F.2d 749, 752 (5th Cir.1989). Although Rule 32(d) should be construed and applied liberally, there is no absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea. United States v. Benavides, 793 F.2d 612, 616 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 868, 107 S.Ct. 232, 93 L.Ed.2d 158 (1986). 8 In United States v. Carr, 740 F.2d 339, 343-44 (5th Cir.1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1004, 105 S.Ct. 1865, 85 L.Ed.2d 159 (1985), we set out seven factors for the district courts to consider when ruling on a Rule 32(d) motion: (1) whether the defendant has asserted his innocence; (2) whether withdrawal would prejudice the Government; (3) whether the defendant delayed in filing the motion and, if so, the reason for the delay; (4) whether withdrawal would substantially inconvenience the court; (5) whether adequate assistance of counsel was available to the defendant; (6) whether the plea was knowing and voluntary; and (7) whether withdrawal would waste judicial resources. No single factor or combination of factors mandates a particular result. Instead, the district court should make its determination based on the totality of the circumstances. Id. at 344. 9 Although Badger points out that the district judge did not make specific findings on each of the Carr factors, that circumstance does not establish that the district judge abused his discretion by denying Badger's motions. By enumerating those factors we did not intend to require the district court to make a specific finding as to each of the seven factors every time a defendant requests to withdraw a guilty plea. The burden of establishing a fair and just reason for withdrawing a guilty plea remains at all times on the defendant. United States v. Hurtado, 846 F.2d 995, 997 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 863, 109 S.Ct. 163, 102 L.Ed.2d 133 (1988). Badger did not attempt to invoke any of the Carr factors to support his Rule 32(d) motions. He cannot now argue that the district court abused its discretion by failing to consider arguments that he had the burden to raise. At sentencing, Badger claimed only that the government's failure to offer him a substantial deal in exchange for information justified his requests to withdraw his pleas. Unfulfilled expectations of a deal for a lighter sentence do not constitute a fair and just reason for allowing withdrawal of a guilty plea. 10 Additionally, the record indicates that the Carr factors do support the district court's ruling. Badger asserts that allowing withdrawal of his pleas would not prejudice the government, inconvenience the court, or waste judicial resources. Even if these factors weigh in Badger's favor, they do not tip the scales to the extent necessary to find an abuse of discretion. The remaining Carr factors all support the district court's rulings. 11 The district judge carefully and thoroughly explained to Badger the consequences of agreeing to plead guilty. Badger knowingly and voluntarily chose to enter the pleas. He was ably and effectively represented by the counsel of his choice throughout the proceedings. Even if he believed that he should not be convicted for his participation in this venture, he did not claim innocence as to the acts which support the conviction. Finally, he did not attempt to withdraw his pleas until the day of sentencing. Over six weeks had passed since he entered his guilty plea on the conspiracy charge, and nearly three weeks had passed since he pleaded guilty to the failure to appear charge. The district court was correct in denying Badger's motions to withdraw his pleas.