Opinion ID: 1939728
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: The proceedings on the taking of the plea were as follows: Proceedings had in the above entitled cause, before Honorable Philip Elliott, circuit judge, on May 20th, 1958. Appearances: Mr. Edward Joseph, Ass't. Prosecuting Attorney, appearing for the People. Mr. Geo. Baer and Mr. Thomas Gadola, appearing for the Respondents. Mr. Joseph: This is criminal matter No. 16530, the People of the State of Michigan v. Leonard Ferguson and Freddie Keels, charged with robbery armed. Mr. Ferguson is present, represented by his attorney, Mr. Thomas Gadola and I understand he wishes to enter a plea. The Court: You heard what the prosecutor says, Mr. Ferguson? Respondent Ferguson: Yes, sir. Q. Is it your desire to plead guilty to this charge?
Q. Do you understand what the charge is,  it is robbery armed? A. Yes. A. Yes, sir. Q. Have any threats or any promises been made in order to get you to plead guilty? A. No, sir. Q. Have you talked this over with your attorney Mr. Gadola? A. Yes. The Court: All right, I will accept the plea and defer sentence until the 30th of June. Mr. Baer: I make a motion to have Leonard Ferguson's name indorsed on the information. The Court: All right. We hope that when Mr. Ferguson testifies, he will testify to the truth and the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Mr. Joseph: Mr. Ferguson is remanded? The Court: Yes, he will be remanded to the custody of the sheriff. He should not be put in the same pen with Mr. Keels. Defendant's affidavit in support of his motion to withdraw plea of guilty recites, in part: 3. That your petitioner did not know what possible sentence for armed robbery at the time he entered his plea of guilty; that he only learned of the possible sentence at the time the court pronounced sentence. In denying the motion to set aside plea and vacate sentence, the circuit judge stated: Now, Mr. Gadola, I think I know you. Your father was a circuit court judge and so, you have a background of law. You may be a new young lawyer but I am quite sure that you probably told him what he could get. You probably informed him also that for robbery armed, there must be a prison term; that there cannot be parole or probation. I think that based on the fact that he was represented by a lawyer, the fact that the court inquired whether he had discussed this with his attorney, and he said, yes; and then when he sentenced him, the court said that robbery armed carries a possible life sentence, I am quite sure that with the information that he received from you in discussing his plea of guilty with you and what he could get, that he was well aware of the consequences of his plea.