Opinion ID: 2382139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: In November 1995, Perry was indicted by a New Castle County grand jury on charges of Kidnapping, Threatening and Assaulting Dorothy Perry (Dorothy). In October 1996, Perry entered a guilty plea in the New Jersey Superior Court to having violated a New Jersey restraining order. The New Jersey charges were related to Perry's unauthorized contact with Dorothy. As part of his sentence, the New Jersey Superior Court ordered Perry to have no contact with Dorothy or with Perry's son, Sean Justin Perry (Sean), except as expressly authorized and in accordance with any order issued by the [New Jersey] Family Court. In May 1997, Perry entered a Robinson plea in the Delaware Superior Court to one count of Assault in the Second Degree and one count of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. After the entry of that plea but before sentencing, Perry wrote letters to Sean on June 19, 1997, and to Dorothy on July 2 and July 7, 1997. Perry was sentenced in the Delaware Superior Court on July 18, 1997 and immediately incarcerated at the Gander Hill Prison in Delaware. Perry's Delaware sentences were as follows: on the assault conviction, Perry received a sentence of six years at Level V, suspended after one year for five years of probation; and, for the deadly weapon conviction, Perry was sentenced to two years at Level V followed by one year of probation. The State contends that at the time these sentences were imposed, Perry was orally advised by the sentencing judge that he was to have no direct or indirect contact with Sean, Dorothy, or Dorothy's family. The record of Perry's sentencing on July 18, if a record was made, has never been transcribed. The July 18, 1997 sentencing order was docketed by the Prothonotary on September 11, 1997. The order stated that Perry was to have no direct or indirect contact with Dorothy Perry or her family, and no direct or indirect contact with Sean Perry, unless pursuant to a Family Court Order. The record reflects that neither Perry nor his attorney was sent a copy of the written sentencing order. By letter dated September 8, 1997, Perry wrote to the Family Court in New Jersey and requested permission to correspond with Sean. By letter dated September 12, 1997, Karen S. Keeney (Keeney), a representative of the New Jersey Family Court, Domestic Violence Unit, responded to Perry's request. Keeney advised Perry that he could contact Sean by mail. Between October 7 and October 16, 1997, Perry wrote to Sean four times. Perry also wrote to Dorothy's adult son, Scott Carrigan (Scott) once on October 15, 1997. During this period, Perry remained incarcerated at the Gander Hill Prison in Delaware as a result of the sentences imposed on July 18, 1997. In a letter dated October 23, 1997, Keeney advised Perry that her previous letter of September 12, 1997, was issued in error. Keeney directed Perry to stop corresponding with Sean. Upon receipt of Keeney's letter, Perry stopped writing to Sean. Perry continued to write to Scott: once on October 30, 1997 and again on November 7, 1997.