Opinion ID: 2145405
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Perkins' Medical Condition

Text: Perkins also contends that his medical condition prevented an accurate, voluntary, and intelligent plea. See State v. Trott, 338 N.W.2d at 251. He claims that he made a hasty decision to plead guilty because he wanted to leave the Steele County Jail to enter a state facility where he could get appropriate medical treatment. Perkins testified that at the time of his guilty plea, both of his ears were seriously infected and his temperature was about 102 degrees, and that he was feeling miserable even though he was given medications for those ailments while at the jail. When asked how he felt about his treatment at the jail, Perkins stated, I just think it could have been a little more continuous with what was going on. I tried one antibiotic, switched to another one and you know, just medications they were giving me weren't working. When asked whether the jail conditions influenced his decision to plead guilty, Perkins testified that they had a lot to do with it because he was ready to get some more  little more medical attention. Contrary to Perkins' claims, the evidence demonstrates that he did receive appropriate medical care. Perkins testified that he did not receive medical attention until four or five days after he arrived at the Steele County Jail. However, the record shows that he was taken to St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center within two days of his arrival and remained there until he tested negative for tuberculosis and was transported back to the jail. Perkins also testified that officials at the jail took him to a clinic upon request, but denied him the chance to revisit the doctor a week later when the antibiotic the clinic prescribed did not improve his condition. The sheriff, however, testified that Perkins was taken to the clinic several times, that he was never notified that Perkins was not receiving appropriate medical care at the jail, and that, if the jail staff had had any questions about Perkins' treatment, it was jail policy to inform the sheriff or his chief deputy. Perkins has failed to indicate how his medical complaints negate the accuracy, voluntariness, or intelligence of his guilty plea. The record shows that the Steele County Jail officials tried to meet Perkins' needs and accommodate his illness. Perkins admitted that at the time of the plea hearing he felt competent to fully understand the proceedings. He also admitted that he did not tell the court or his attorney at any point that he did not understand what was going on or that he was on any type of medication that would have affected his understanding. He had an opportunity at both the plea and sentencing hearings to express any concerns regarding his health and the guilty plea. Perkins' medical condition in no way precluded an accurate, voluntary, and intelligent plea.