Opinion ID: 471311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: alleged misunderstanding of plea bargain

Text: 13 Salisbury urges that he should be granted the writ because an investigator with the District Attorney's office (who used to be Salisbury's athletic coach) and his relatives told him that he would go to a mental hospital instead of getting twenty years hard labor if he pled guilty. The record, however, contains no evidence of any improper influence by law enforcement officials or by Salisbury's relatives, and contains no evidence that any promises were made to Salisbury in exchange for his plea of guilty other than the sentence that was imposed upon him. The record indicates that the judge explained in detail to Salisbury what would happen to him if he pled guilty. The following exchange took place during the sentencing hearing: 14 Question (by the court): Has [your attorney] explained to you that he has submitted to the court what is called a plea bargain arrangement whereby concessions were asked of the D.A. as well as the judge; the D.A. in reducing the charge of aggravated rape to forcible rape, and the court in giving you a sentence of twenty (20) years for forcible rape and five (5) years on the kidnapping charge, both of the sentences to run concurrent? Do you understand that? 15 Answer (by Salisbury): Yes. 16 Question: Do you understand what concurrently means? 17 Answer: Yes. 18 Question: Has anybody else promised you anything else in regard to this case? 19 Answer: No, sir. 20 Question: Has anybody told you that you have to plead guilty?Answer: No, sir. 21 Question: Is this your own decision? 22 Answer: Yes, sir. 23 Question: Has it been made with consulting with your attorney as well as your family? 24 Answer: Yes, sir. 25 Question: Are you satisfied right now; you want to do this? 26 Answer: Yes. 27 Question: You want me to impose these sentences on you? 28 Answer: Yes. 29 Salisbury makes no claim before us that he was incompetent to understand the judge's questions. A staff psychiatrist at the hospital after evaluation found that Salisbury was competent at the time of the plea. We reject Salisbury's contention that he was improperly influenced by friends and relatives to plead guilty.