Opinion ID: 1707196
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether a sufficient factual basis was established for the trial court to accept templeton's guilty plea.

Text: ¶ 16. Templeton contends that the trial court failed to establish a sufficient factual basis to support his guilty plea. Particularly, he argues that there was not enough evidence to prove the underlying offense of burglary, and that Mr. Tabb prompted his answers as if he were prosecuting the case. Rule 3.03(2) of the Mississippi Uniform Criminal Rules of Circuit Court Practice states, Before the trial court may accept a plea of guilty, the court must determine that the plea is voluntarily and intelligently made and that there is a factual basis for the plea. U.C.R.C.C.P. 3.03(2). Judge Toney and Mr. Tabb questioned Templeton at his plea hearing to determine whether there was a sufficient factual basis for accepting his guilty plea on the charge of capital murder during the commission of burglary: THE COURT: Why did you stop at this particular house where the Joneses lived? THE DEFENDANT: I really can't tell you. THE COURT: Did you know anyone was home? THE DEFENDANT: (No response). MR. TABB: Did you know anyone was home at the time? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, I did. THE COURT: Okay. Now, tell me then, what happened as you approached the house. I assume you were by yourself? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. .... THE COURT: Okay. Tell me then what happened as you approached the house. THE DEFENDANT: Uh, the kids were outside, and I asked if their mother was home. And they said yes. And so I walked up on the steps, and she invited me in. And we talked a few minutes, and then I really MR. TABB: When you went in the house, did you intend to commit a house burglary? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. MR. TABB: And did you then subsequently kill her? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. Further questioning by Judge Toney disclosed that Templeton was high on crack cocaine and carrying a buck knife which he used to stab Ms. Jones one time before leaving the house. No other witnesses were called to establish a factual basis for Templeton's guilty plea. ¶ 17. The elements of burglary of a dwelling are: 1) breaking and entering a dwelling, and 2) with the intent to commit a crime. Miss.Code Ann. § 97-17-19 (1994) (repealed 1996). Templeton's account of the events leading up to Ms. Jones's murder lacks the element of breaking and entering. Instead, he told the court that she invited him in. The majority concludes that there was a constructive breaking, because Templeton must have gained entry by deceit, pretense, or fraudulent means. However, the record simply does not support such a finding, and the majority therefore relies on mere supposition in reaching its conclusion. Based upon the factual basis actually presented at Templeton's plea hearing, the trial court should not have accepted Templeton's guilty plea to the charge of capital murder with burglary as the underlying felony. [A] factual basis is an `essential part of the constitutionally valid and enforceable decision to plead guilty.' Reynolds, 521 So.2d at 915. This factual basis cannot simply be implied from the fact that the defendant entered a plea of guilty. United States v. Briggs, 920 F.2d 287, 293 (5th Cir.1991). Rather, there must be an evidentiary foundation in the record which is `sufficiently specific to allow the court to determine that the defendant's conduct was within the ambit of that defined as criminal.' United States v. Oberski, 734 F.2d 1030, 1031 (5th Cir.1984). Unless courts are satisfied that such a factual basis exists, they are admonished not to enter judgment on a plea of guilty. Lott v. State, 597 So.2d 627, 628 (Miss.1992) (emphasis added). The evidence before the court did not provide a sufficient factual basis for a plea of guilty to capital murder. I would reverse Templeton's conviction and sentence and remand his case for further proceedings.