Opinion ID: 1958575
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: assignments of error number nineteen and twenty

Text: Defendant Kelly contends that the trial court erred in finding him to be a third offender. [3] LSA-R.S. 15:529.1. The primary issue is whether defendant Kelly was properly advised of his constitutional rights as required by Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969), at the time of his 1972 conviction. As to his privilege against self-incrimination, defendant was told: When you plead guilty, you lose or give up certain rights.... You lose your right to remain silent because when you plead guilty you're not remaining silent. Do you understand that? State v. Martin, 382 So.2d 933 (La.,1980) held that similar advice was insufficient since it did not adequately advise the defendant of his right to remain silent at a later trial after his plea. [4] However, Martin dealt with a 1976 conviction. In all recent Louisiana felony cases, the record must affirmatively show that the defendant was adequately advised of the three rights prescribed by Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1971). State v. Williams, 400 So.2d 868 (La.,1981). In the case of pleas entered more than six years ago, the record must show only that the defendant voluntarily pleaded guilty with a full understanding of the connotation and consequences. State v. Cusher, 400 So.2d 601 (La.,1981); State v. Warren a/k/a Mason, 402 So.2d 662 (La.,1981). Defendant here was adequately advised of his rights. His plea was knowing and voluntary. The trial court did not err in using the 1972 conviction to find defendant Kelly to be a multiple offender. It is also contended that a 1963 plea was effective because defendant was not accompanied by counsel. State v. Coody, 275 So.2d 773 (La.,1973). The minute entry for that conviction reflects that the Legal Aid Bureau was appointed as counsel for Kelly the day before his guilty plea was entered. Defendant was afforded counsel. He was entitled to waive the presence of that counsel when he entered his guilty plea. Kelly was accompanied by Harry F. Connick, attorney, when he was sentenced in 1963. The 1963 conviction was properly considered to enhance Kelly's sentence. The testimony of police officer Glen Burmeister, a fingerprint expert, adequately establishes that defendant, James Kelly, is one and the same as the James Kelly previously convicted. For the foregoing reasons, the convictions of defendant, Harden Johnson, for possession of Preludin and Dilaudid are reversed and vacated. The convictions and sentence of defendant, James Kelly, for possession of Dilaudid and Preludin with intent to distribute those drugs are affirmed. REVERSED AS TO DEFENDANT HARDEN JOHNSON; AFFIRMED AS TO DEFENDANT JAMES KELLY. LEMMON, J., dissents and assigns reasons.