Opinion ID: 1358445
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court err in failing to examine the evidence pursuant to an unequivocal admission of guilt?

Text: Defendant correctly contends that there is an affirmative obligation on the part of the trial court pursuant to a voluntary guilty plea to determine if a factual basis exists to justify the entry of a plea of guilty. See State v. Williker, 107 Ariz. 611, 491 P.2d 465 (1971). However, the record indicates that defendant was aware that the evidence against him was overwhelming and thus a sound factual basis for the guilty plea existed. Defendant heavily relies on North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160, 27 L.Ed.2d 162 (1970), but the Alford case can be easily distinguished because in Alford the defendant protested his innocence while in the case at bar defendant unequivocally admitted his guilt. Since there was no protestation of innocence, there was no conflicting evidence for the court to consider.