Opinion ID: 1831263
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Involuntary Coercion as a Result of Plea Bargaining.

Text: In the instant case, while the trial judge properly did not participate in the plea bargaining, defendants received the identical sentences which the deputy district attorney promised to, and did, recommend in return for the entry of the guilty pleas. [5] This court's holding in Myartt v. State [6] is relevant. In that case the defendant pleaded guilty in exchange for the prosecutor's promise to recommend probation. The defendant was informed by his counsel that such recommendation was not binding on the court. The prosecutor kept his promise. The trial judge, who had not participated in the bargaining, did not follow the recommendation and imposed a prison sentence. This court held that the defendant had not been coerced or improperly induced to plead guilty by the plea bargaining. We agree with the statement made by the federal court of appeals for the Ninth circuit in Cortez v. United States. [7] The court stated: The important thing is not that there shall be no `deal' or `bargain,' but that the plea shall be a genuine one, by a defendant who is guilty; one who understands his situation, his rights, and the consequences of the plea, and is neither deceived nor coerced. [8] Defendants do not urge that all pleas of guilty arrived at as a result of plea negotiations are inherently coercive but contend that the last minute nature of their plea bargaining rendered their pleas involuntary. However, before accepting the prosecutor's proposal, the defendants did confer with their own counsel who recommended that such acceptance was advisable. Counsels' recommendations were grounded on the fact that, not only had eyewitnesses to the two robberies identified defendants at the preliminary examination, but that the alleged driver of their getaway car was also prepared to testify against them and to implicate them as participants. Thus, the chances of securing an acquittal before a jury were almost hopeless, and each defendant was faced with a possible maximum sentence of sixty years in prison. With these odds against them, defendants, in all probability, made a wise decision in deciding to plead guilty in return for the prosecutor's recommendation of maximum concurrent sentences of ten years each. When a plea of guilty has been entered, the trial judge must objectively determine the voluntariness of the plea. [9] After defendants had entered their guilty pleas, in response to questions from the court or counsel, defendant Cresci stated that he had discussed the change of plea with his attorney and that there had been no promises or threats; that he had changed pleas of his own free will; and that he had a high-school education. Likewise, defendant Tolfa stated that he had discussed the matter with his attorney, that no promises or threats were made to him, and that he voluntarily changed his plea. The court asked Tolfa if he understood that a prison sentence could result from his guilty plea. Tolfa answered in the affirmative. Nothing in the record indicates that Cresci had left the court at this time, and it is only reasonable to assume he heard the court's question. Also, while Cresci was being questioned, DeBrozzo intervened with the following statement: In each instance I want to say that the defendants are aware that each charge carries up to twenty-five years [actually it was 30 years] to the State Prison at Waupun. The trial court, in denying the motions to withdraw the pleas, found that defendants' pleas had been entered freely, voluntarily and understandingly. We find nothing in this record which would require this court to hold to the contrary as a matter of law. The shortness of time, within which defendants were obliged to make their decision with respect to accepting or rejecting the proposal resulting from the plea negotiations between defense counsel and DeBrozzo, was not coercive in the sense of rendering defendants' guilty pleas involuntary. [10] By the Court. Order affirmed.