Opinion ID: 2210642
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: background of claim

Text: Initially, the State charged Clear with attempted robbery of a Ginn Oil food store and use of a firearm in the attempted robbery. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Clear pled guilty to attempted robbery, and the State dismissed the charge that Clear used a firearm in the attempted robbery. Two weeks before the sentence hearing, a probation officer sent a letter to Clear and his lawyer, notifying them that the presentence report on Clear was available for their review. When Clear contacted his lawyer and told him about the letter, the lawyer said that before Clear's sentence hearing, they would review the presentence report, which included a letter from William F. Ginn, president of Ginn Oil Company. Although Clear's lawyer never showed Clear the presentence report before the sentence hearing, the lawyer did discuss the contents of the presentence report with Clear, including the Ginn letter. Consequently, before the sentence hearing, Clear never saw the letter from Ginn, but did visit with his lawyer regarding the letter and whether the letter's allegations were true. Without examining Ginn's letter in the presentence report, Clear, nevertheless, denied the events mentioned in the letter. At the sentence hearing, the court recounted some of the information in the presentence report containing the letter in which Ginn accused Clear of a prior armed robbery of a Ginn Oil food store, the attempted armed robbery involved in the present case, and intimidation of potential witnesses to prevent their testifying against Clear. Regarding the prior armed robbery, Ginn said that Clear robbed our station on South 13th before [and] used the same gun.... Concerning the present charge, Ginn stated that Clear, wearing a ski mask, entered the robbery site and was armed with a pellet gun which he aimed at our attendant Jim Allen and then demanded money. When our employee refused to give him any money [Clear] then lifted the hinge counter-top and went behind the counter where our employee was standing. While at gunpoint our employee managed to spray [Clear] in the face with MACE. [Clear] then tried to flee, but was unable to because our employee wrestled him to the ground outside of the building. [Clear] was held down on the ground until the police arrived at the scene of the crime. Sometime during the scuffel [sic], our employee was bitten by [Clear]. In the letter, Ginn also requested that the court sentence Clear to jail where he needs to be to learn how to be a deserving citizen of our community. When the court inquired whether there was [a]nything either party wishes to say as regards the matter of sentencing in this particular case, Clear's lawyer responded: Yes, Judge. . . . . The owner of the station had submitted a letter to the Probation Office concerning their thoughts that Mr. Clear was involved in another robbery at the same station. That is inaccurate, Judge. Mr. Clear was not involved with any robbery of that station. They expressed some concern about the problems they had with their clerks leaving because of this. I ask the Court to consider only that Mr. Clear is charged with this one incident, attempted robbery, to which he has pled guilty. After the statements by Clear's lawyer, the court asked, Anything you wish to say, Mr. Clear? Clear answered: I know I broke the law, sir. I haven't been in trouble for a long time. I would like to have a chance and I'll never see the Court or a traffic ticket again. I know I broke the law. I'm not saying I didn't break the law. In fact, at the time I didn't know what I was arrested for. But I would like to have another chance. You won't see me on a traffic ticket, Your Honor. And I have been going to AA since I've been out and trying to help myself, Your Honor. After the foregoing comments, Clear's statements to the court related, generally, to Clear's personal history, including his prior convictions, with no reference to or question concerning the circumstances of the attempted robbery or the contents of Ginn's letter which was in the presentence report and had been mentioned by Clear's lawyer during the sentence hearing. After the court sentenced Clear to imprisonment for a term of 5 to 8 years, this court summarily affirmed the district court's judgment. See State v. Clear, 227 Neb. xxiv (case No. 87-916, Mar. 16, 1988).