Opinion ID: 2634523
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Breach of Plea Agreement by the State

Text: [¶ 40] Rutti argues that the State breached the plea agreement by dismissing two counts against him without prejudice. The plea agreement was entered in open court on May 20, 2002. One term of the plea agreement was that, in return for Rutti pleading guilty to two counts of the Information, the State would dismiss the other two counts. The record is silent on whether the dismissals were to be with or without prejudice. On May 23, the trial court dismissed two counts of the Information without prejudice as requested by the State. On appeal, Rutti argues that the plea agreement required the counts be dismissed with prejudice and that the State breached the plea agreement by having the counts dismissed without prejudice. Rutti never presented this argument to the trial court. [¶ 41] Rutti's first hurdle, then, is to prove plain error. Once again, [p]lain error will not be assigned unless: (1) the record clearly reflects the incidents urged as error; (2) appellant is able to demonstrate violation of a clear and unequivocal rule of law; and (3) it is shown that a substantial right of the appellant was materially abridged. Seymour v. State, 949 P.2d 881, 883 (Wyo.1997). In his appellate brief Rutti makes no argument that this issue meets any of the criteria of plain error. We determine that no plain error exists. [¶ 42] When a plea of guilty rests to any significant degree on a promise or agreement by the State, that promise must be fulfilled. Whether the prosecutor has violated the plea agreement is a question that is reviewed de novo. Herrera v. State, 2003 WY 25, ¶ 8, 64 P.3d 724, ¶ 8 (Wyo.2003). A plea agreement is a contract between the defendant and the State and thus general principles of contract law apply to the agreement. When determining whether a breach of the plea agreement has occurred we: (1) examine the nature of the promise; and (2) evaluate the promise in light of the defendant's reasonable understanding of the promise at the time the plea was entered. Ford v. State, 2003 WY 65, ¶ 11, 69 P.3d 407, ¶ 11 (Wyo.2003) (internal quotation marks omitted). [¶ 43] Rutti has not shown that the State has breached any material term of the plea agreement. The nature of the promise made is not clear from the record. All the record reflects is that the State agreed to dismiss two counts. There is no mention of whether the dismissal should be with or without prejudice. The State did dismiss the two relevant counts. Rutti did not complain about the manner in which the counts were dismissed until this appeal, almost two years after the counts were dismissed. [¶ 44] Even if this Court assumes that an intended material term of the plea agreement was for the State to dismiss the counts with prejudice, both the nature of the promise and the reasonable understanding of the promise to dismiss the counts would be that Rutti would not be subject to any further criminal proceedings on the dismissed counts. While it would be better practice for the State to request dismissal with prejudice, it would not necessarily be required. What would be required is that the State not refile the dismissed counts against Rutti or threaten Rutti that it will refile the counts to gain an impermissible advantage. Rutti has not alleged that the State threatened him in any manner with the reinstatement of the dismissed counts. See generally People v. Soto, 62 Mich.App. 370, 233 N.W.2d 545 (1975) (failure to immediately dismiss charges as agreed to in a plea agreement might result in impermissible chilling of appellate rights). [¶ 45] Pursuant to general contract law, under these circumstances, refiling the dismissed counts arguably might constitute a breach of the plea agreement. Under these facts, however, this Court will not elevate form over substance. The State did not breach the plea agreement by requesting the trial court dismiss the relevant charges without prejudice.