Opinion ID: 1687222
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: were mr. taylor's pleas of guilty involuntary, and unintelligently entered.

Text: Taylor comes before this Court asserting that his pleas were involuntary and unintelligently made as a result of his counsel failing to inform him adequately as to his rights and the charges against him. He claims that because he does not have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. he did not understand the charges, nor did he understand the trial process. In fact, he goes on to say that had he understood the charges and the trial processes, he would have not entered a plea of guilty. He would have insisted on going to trial. Here on appeal, Taylor, wishes to present new issues not raised below. Specifically, he contends, without any showing or proof, that he was placed in fear for his life ... Further, he proposes that the conspiracy took place in Louisiana, not Mississippi, and since the charges against the co-conspirators were dropped, he could not be guilty of conspiracy. This Court, in Gardner v. State, 531 So.2d 805 (Miss. 1988), met the appellant's attempt to plow new ground on appeal on a postconviction motion with the following response: The issue regarding the constitutionality vel non of § 97-1-1, Miss. Code Ann. (1972), was not raised in Gardner's motion for post-conviction relief and may not be raised now. Id. Again, Taylor does not explain who placed him in fear of his life, nor does he show any signs of this supposed fear in his guilty pleas. The transcript of the guilty plea hearing is quite clear as to Taylor's belief as to the endangerment of his life. The court asked, And has anyone threatened, abused, or mistreated you in any way? Taylor responded, No, sir. The charge of conspiracy against Taylor was answered by his pleading guilty. The question of his actual guilt will not be litigated on appeal. This Court in Jefferson v. State, 556 So.2d 1016, 1019 (Miss. 1989), held that, [a] guilty plea operates to waive the defendant's privilege against self-incrimination, the right to confront and cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses, the right to a jury trial and the right that the prosecution prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Taylor admitted his guilt after having the charge explained to him by the court. Taylor claims that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the conspiracy because the agreement allegedly took place in Louisiana, not in Walthall County, Mississippi. There was some conversation between Mr. Lampton, District Attorney, and Judge Starrett that the agreement took place on the way to Mississippi. Even if the agreement was made in Louisiana on the way to Mississippi, the conspiracy continued up until the commission of the crime in Walthall county. This Court in Norman v. State, 381 So.2d 1024, 1029 (Miss. 1980), stated that [o]nce a defendant is established as being a conspirator, he remains a part of the conspiracy until he has extricated himself therefrom by making full disclosure to the law enforcement authorities of his involvement and cessation of activity therein, or by communicating his abandonment thereof in a manner reasonably expected to reach his co-conspirators. The burden establishing his withdrawal rests upon the defendant. Hyde v. U.S., 225 U.S. 347, 369, 32 S.Ct. 793, 803, 56 L.Ed. 1114, 1127 (1912); U.S. v. Borelli, 336 F.2d 376, 388 (2d Cir.1964). Thus, the crime of conspiracy was committed in whole or in part in Walthall County, Mississippi. However, the record clearly shows by Taylor's own testimony that he and James Gatlin agreed on the porch of the murder victim's home in Walthall County to rob him. Notwithstanding the preclusion from raising a new issue on appeal, the argument that the lower court lacked jurisdiction is without merit. This Court in Wilson v. State, 577 So.2d 394, 396-97 (Miss. 1991), held that a guilty plea must be made voluntarily in order to satisfy the defendant's constitutional rights. A plea is voluntary if the defendant knows what the elements are in the charge against him, including an understanding of the charge and its relation to him, the effect of the plea, and the possible sentence. Schmitt v. State, 560 So.2d 148, 153 (Miss. 1990). Further, a complete record should be made of the plea proceeding to ensure that the defendant's plea was entered voluntarily. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969). The record of the guilty plea proceeding is replete with explanations by the trial judge of the charges and the consequences of those charges to Taylor. All of this was done prior to accepting any guilty pleas by Taylor. This Court holds that Taylor's argument that his pleas were involuntary and unintelligently entered is without merit.