Opinion ID: 863977
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Move for a dismissal of other charges; or

Text: b. Make a recommendation to the trial court for a particular sentence, with the understanding that such recommendation or request will not be binding upon the court. ¶8. Numerous Mississippi cases present facts similar to the case sub judice where the defendant was indicted as an habitual offender, but was able to plead guilty to a lesser offense which did not include the habitual status or where the prosecutor chose not to indict the defendant as an habitual offender if he plead guilty to the indicted crime.See, e.g., Rush, 749 So.2d at 1025; Turner, 590 So.2d at 872-73; Wrenn, 802 So.2d at 179. ¶9. In the present case, a guilty plea hearing was conducted on November 21, 1996, after the trial had commenced. Although the trial judge was aware of Robinson's prior felony convictions, the trial judge acknowledged Robinson and his attorney had been engaged in plea bargain discussions with the prosecutor. He read the new charge1 which was listed only as felony sexual battery with no mention of an habitual status, and Robinson plead guilty to the charge. The State recommended a 20-year suspended sentence pending his future good behavior, which recommendation was accepted by the trial court and Robinson was sentenced pursuant to the recommendation. According to the sentencing order, Robinson plead guilty to a charge of sexual battery. Again, there was no mention of habitual status. 1 On April 25, 1995, Robinson was indicted on one count of felony sexual battery and was charged under § 99-19-81 as a habitual offender. According to the indictment in cause number CR95-056, Robinson had previously been convicted for three house burglaries, one in Pontotoc County, and two in Union County. 5 ¶10. According to the docket sheet an agreed motion to reduce the charge, an order reducing the charge in Count I to non-habitual, an order accepting a plea to the reduced charge, a motion to retire the cause to the files as to Count II, an order retiring the cause to the files as to Count II, and a sentencing order in Count I were all filed on November 21, 1996. The court papers from the Circuit Court of Monroe County only contain the sentencing order. However, it is clear from the docket sheet and from the sentencing order that Robinson did not plead as an habitual offender. Because he did not plead guilty as an habitual offender, the trial court was under no obligation to sentence Robinson to the maximum statutory penalty of thirty years. Despite Robinson’s contention that he was somehow lured into pleading guilty, the record indicates that his plea was free and voluntary without threat or coersion. In fact, it is clear that Robinson avoided sentence as an habitual offender by a reduced non-habitual plea bargain. The trial judge is the ultimate decision maker as to whether or not to accept a plea of guilt and is also solely responsible for determining the appropriate sentence. The trial judge does not have to accept any sentence recommendation made during plea negotiations. Here, the trial court did accept the recommendation of the state and so sentenced Robinson accordingly. We hold that Robinson was not given an illegal sentence, but rather, he was appropriately sentenced according the governing statutes. We need not address § 47-7-33 as we find Robinson was not illegally sentenced for the reasons stated above.