Opinion ID: 2639038
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sufficiency of Factual Basis

Text: [¶6] Sami first argues that the district court failed to obtain a sufficient factual basis to support the felonious restraint guilty plea. In particular, Sami contends that the factual basis developed at his change of plea hearing did not establish that he had restrained the victim under circumstances exposing her to a risk of serious bodily injury. Sami does not claim any other error with respect to the entry of his guilty plea. [¶7] The elements of felonious restraint are set forth in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-202 (LexisNexis 2003), which states: (a) A person is guilty of felonious restraint if he knowingly: (i) Restrains another unlawfully in circumstances exposing him to risk of serious bodily injury[.] Serious bodily injury is defined as bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes miscarriage, severe disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-1-104(a)(x) (LexisNexis 2003). Bodily injury means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. § 6-1-104(a)(i). [¶8] The felonious restraint statute is violated when a risk of serious bodily injury occurs and the action causing that risk is an unlawful restraint. Williams v. State, 2002 WY 136, ¶9, 54 P.3d 248, ¶9 (Wyo. 2002). The statutory language adopts that of the Model Penal Code, id., and requires proof that the accused acted knowingly, meaning he must have been aware that he was restraining his victim, that the restraint was unlawful, and that it exposed the victim to [the requisite] physical danger. Id., ¶10 (quoting Model Penal Code § 212.2 cmt. 2, at 242 (Proposed Official Draft 1962)). It does not require that . . . these results actually occur but only that the actor create a risk of such harm. Model Penal Code, supra, at 241. This formulation reaches the actor who is reckless with respect to [the requisite] physical harm by punishing one who is aware of the risk thereof. Williams, ¶10 (quoting Model Penal Code, supra, at 243). That the actor unlawfully restrains another under circumstances creating risk of serious harm is sufficient to call for felony sanctions and thus to differentiate this offense from the misdemeanor of false imprisonment. Model Penal Code, supra, at 240.