Opinion ID: 1489800
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Craig has the right of direct appeal to challenge the court's findings of fact regarding his prior alcohol related offenses

Text: The State challenges Craig's right to appeal. No right of an appeal exists without statutory authority. State v. Williams, 871 S.W.2d 450, 452 (Mo. banc 1994). In criminal cases, § 547.070, RSMo 2000, allows appeals from final judgments, which occur when the court enters a judgment of guilt and sentence. State v. Larson, 79 S.W.3d 891, 893 (Mo. banc 2002). The plain language of the statute supports Craig's right to appeal. Nevertheless, the State argues that Rule 24.035 precludes Craig's appeal. A motion for postconviction relief is generally the exclusive procedural vehicle to challenge a conviction after a guilty plea. Rule 24.035(a). The generally recognized exceptions to Rule 24.035, as the exclusive procedure to challenge a conviction after guilty plea, are: (1) claims disputing the subject-matter jurisdiction of the lower court; and (2) claims regarding the sufficiency of the charging document. State ex rel. Simmons v. White, 866 S.W.2d 443, 446 n. 4 (Mo. banc 1993) (citing State v. Mitchell, 563 S.W.2d 18, 23 (Mo. banc 1978), and State v. Douglas, 835 S.W.2d 383, 384 (Mo.App.1992)). Rule 24.035 does not preclude Craig's appeal. Rule 24.035 is based on the principle of waiver; a guilty plea serves as a waiver of any challenge to the merits of the underlying conviction. Robinson v. State, 491 S.W.2d 314, 315 (Mo. 1973) (citing Geren v. State, 473 S.W.2d 704, 707 (Mo.1971)). This principle of waiver is especially true and binding against a defendant whose plea is accepted because of the colloquy of questions plea courts undertake to ensure that the defendant is guilty of the crime and is knowingly and voluntarily waiving his right to trial. Rule 24.02. [1] In this case, however, Craig did not plead guilty to the charged offense. He admitted to facts establishing certain elements of the offense, but specially requested a hearing to contest those facts establishing the applicability of the prior intoxication-related traffic offenses. Under § 577.023, Craig permissibly bifurcated the proceedings and litigated whether his sentence was subject to enhancement. This procedure in no way constituted a waiver of Craig's statutory right to appeal under § 547.070 that part of the judgment that was subject to a contested hearing. He has preserved this issue for appeal.