Opinion ID: 1710912
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Circumstances surrounding the plea.

Text: There is no question but that the authorities in charge of the women's jail in Waukesha exercised poor judgment in placing this defendant in solitary confinement apparently because they desired to separate her from the adult population. Similarly, it is unfortunate that Deborah did not receive adequate medical treatment initially at the jail. The fact remains, however, that these factors had nothing to do with the guilty plea. In fact, Deborah had been integrated with the general jail population and had been afforded adequate medical treatment for a month prior to the plea. The only testimony to substantiate the claim that the plea was induced by appellant's physical and emotional condition is appellant's own testimony at the hearing on her motiona year after the actual plea. The circuit court concluded that appellant's testimony was totally incredible. As pointed out in State v. Carter, [2] when the trial court makes findings of fact as to the credibility of witnesses and the weight of testimony, even in cases involving constitutional principles, this court will not upset those findings unless they are against the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence, assuming the trial court adopted adequate procedures, as here, to try the issues. The record in this case demonstrates that the trial court meticulously examined appellant before accepting the guilty plea. The court considered substantial evidence prior to accepting the plea. At the hearing on the motion to vacate the plea Deborah's trial attorney refuted her testimony of undue pressure and emotional strain. The evidence of appellant's voluntary plea is overwhelming.