Opinion ID: 2092493
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: We discuss assignments 1 and 2 together. They both assert lack of capacity going to plaintiff's ability to enter an intelligent and voluntary plea of guilty.

Text: This claimed lack of capacity is said to result from loss of memory concerning the events in question. He attributes this to a beating about his face and head suffered several weeks prior to the date of the offense. Plaintiff argues his inability to form the necessary intent or to assist his counsel precluded him from entering a valid plea to the offense charged. A similar claim was rejected in Reagon v. State of Indiana, 253 Ind. 143, 251 N.E.2d 829, 830 (1969). We decide this matter on the facts found by the trial court. The weakness of plaintiff's position is that it depends on the existence of facts which the postconviction court found did not exist. Except for plaintiff's insistance that he has no recollection of any of the eventsincluding the writing of the check, his appearances in court, or his stay at the Iowa Security Medical Facility for purposes of psychiatric evaluationthere is nothing to sustain his claim of amnesia. On the other hand, the trial court had before it the report of Dr. Loeffelholz which clearly indicated plaintiff remembered the events in question and which stated unequivocally plaintiff had no memory lapse. Under these circumstances we hold there is substantial support for the finding of the trial court on postconviction hearing. There is no merit in plaintiff's first two assignments. II. Plaintiff's remaining complaint alleges the trial court's failure to spell out fraudulent intent as an essential element of the crime made the plea invalid. Although plaintiff does not specifically rely on State v. Sisco, 169 N.W.2d 542 (Iowa 1969), implicit in his argument is the claim the trial court failed to follow standards there established. The Sisco case laid down guidelines governing the presentation and acceptance of pleas in criminal cases. In doing so we said no ritualistic or rigid formula need be adhered to. The important holdings of Sisco are found in the following quotations from pages 548 and 549: In other words, a sentencing court may not abrogate or delegate to anyone, including attorney for accused, the duty to determine defendant's knowledge of the charge, appreciation of legal consequences of a guilty plea, whether it is voluntarily entered, or existence of facts supporting it.       We are persuaded and now hold, when a guilty plea is entered by defendant, the court must address the accused personally and by that procedure heretofore prescribed determine whether he understands the charge made, is aware of the penal consequences of the plea, and that it is entered voluntarily. Nothing less will suffice. Plaintiff does not challenge the procedure followed by the trial court except the failure to explain to him the necessity for proving that the check was uttered with fraudulent intent. In this respect, we point out that the trial court carefully and patiently explained the charge filed against plaintiff, the circumstances under which it was alleged to have occurred, the penalty attached to a conviction, the necessity that the plea be voluntary, the effect of a plea as to waiver of constitutional rights, and the absence of any promises or threats which might have acted as an inducement for the plea. It is quite true the trial court did not specifically explain fraudulent intent to plaintiff, but we have held this to be unnecessary if under all the circumstances it is apparent the accused party understands the nature of the charge. State v. Hackett, 201 N.W.2d 487, 490 (Iowa 1972). There we said this: As required by the holdings in our cases    the trial court by interrogation of defendant determined he understood the charge to which he was entering a plea of guilty. We conclude discussion of each essential element of the crime charged was not necessary for the court to make that determination. We have not overlooked the opinion in Young v. Brewer, 190 N.W.2d 434, 437 (Iowa 1971), where we commended the trial court for having explained the meaning of intent as an essential element of the crime of robbery with aggravation. Certainly, the course there followed would have prevented the objection with which we are now confronted. However, the extent to which the trial court must pursue his questioning of a defendant to ascertain whether he understands the nature of the charge must necessarily vary with the circumstances in each case. A procedure followed in one is not the only method which can be used in others. In the present case, the trial court extensively interrogated plaintiff on at least two occasions. When necessary he explained in simple terms legal terminology which plaintiff did not understand. Plaintiff asserted several times he fully understood the charge. He had also earlier expressed a strong desire to plead guilty in the letter already referred to, a letter he now denies having written. We believe there is substantial support for the finding on postconviction hearing that the sentencing court was justified in accepting plaintiff's plea as voluntarily and intelligently made. We therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court. Affirmed.