Opinion ID: 767906
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plea Validity

Text: 52 Defendant argues that the district court should have held a hearing to consider whether he entered into his guilty plea voluntarily and, thus, validly. 53 Defendant, however, never moved the district court to hold a hearing to determine if his plea was valid. Rather, he asked, as an alternative to a hearing, that his plea be withdrawn based on its alleged invalidity. That alternative request was denied because defendant failed to satisfy his burden of withdrawal under Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. (J.A. at 83-85). Thus, the only question appropriately presented is whether the district court misapplied Rule 32. 54 Denial of a defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty plea under Rule 32 is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Pluta, 144 F.3d 968, 973 (6th Cir. 1998). If a motion to a withdraw a plea of guilty or nolo contendere is made before sentence is imposed, the court may permit the plea to be withdrawn if the defendant shows any fair and just reason. Fed. R. Crim. Pro. 32(e). The defendant has the burden of proving that withdrawal of the plea is justified. United States v. Baez, 87 F.3d 805, 808 (6th Cir. 1996). Indeciding whether a defendant has stated a fair and just reason to allow withdrawal of a plea, the factors to be considered are: 55 1) the amount of time that elapsed between the plea and the motion to withdraw it; 2) the presence (or absence) of a valid reason for the failure to move for withdrawal earlier in the proceedings; 3) whether the defendant has asserted or maintained his innocence; 4) the circumstances underlying the entry of the guilty plea; 5) the defendant's nature and background; 6) the degree to which the defendant has had prior experience with the criminal justice system; and 7) potential prejudice to the government if the motion to withdraw is granted. 56 United States v. Bashara, 27 F.3d 1174, 1181 (6th Cir. 1994). 57 The district court applied the preceding factors and determined, within its discretion, that withdrawal was inappropriate. (J.A. at 84-85). The district court did not abuse its discretion given: 1) the length of time of time between entry of defendant's plea and his motion for withdrawal (almost one year), 2) the absence of any breach of the plea agreement, 3) defendant's confession of guilt, 4) the careful reading of the plea agreement's terms to defendant at the plea hearing, and 5) defendant's criminal history. (Id.).