Court Opinion

ID: 9843706
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 02:42:15.670674+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:52.930235
License: Public Domain

SANDSTROM, Justice,
concurring in the result.
[¶ 19] I agree with the majority that any error alleged here is harmless, and therefore I concur in the result. ■ I write separately to suggest the defendant’s tactic of concealing his argument from the district court until sentencing is prohibited by our rules and cases.
[¶ 20] The North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure specifically authorize a criminal defendant to enter a conditional guilty plea. N.D.R.Crim.P. 11(a)(2). A defendant who enters a conditional guilty plea may contest an adverse determination of the trial court and may withdraw his guilty plea if he prevails on appeal. Id. Mora did not preserve a right to appeal by entering a conditional guilty plea; rather, he contested the validity of the charging document at the time of sentencing.
[¶ 21] Rule 12(b) of the North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that a defendant raise “[a]ny defense, objection, or request which is capable of determination without trial of the general issue.” Certain defenses or objections must be raised prior to trial, including alleged “defects in the indictment, information, or complaint.” N.D.R.Crim.P. 12(b)(2). Failure to raise these defenses or objections constitutes waiver. N.D.R.Crim.P. 12(f). The dissent says at ¶ 31 the information was not defective, but at ¶ 36 says that because the information was not in “strict compliance with the clear and unambiguous requirements,” the trial court lacked authority to apply the mandatory minimum. In City of Grand Forks v. Mata, 517 N.W.2d 626, 628 (N.D.1994), we said, in “considering the sufficiency of a criminal information, technicalities have been abol*482ished.” “Mere defects, inaccuracies, or omissions in an information do not affect the subsequent proceedings, unless as a result, no offense is charged.” Id.
[¶ 22] We have repeatedly held that defendants who voluntarily plead guilty waive the right to challenge defects that occur before the entry of the guilty plea. As stated in State v. Burr, 1999 ND 143, ¶ 29, 598 N.W.2d 147 (citing State v. Kraft, 539 N.W.2d 56, 58 (N.D.1995)):
Persons who voluntarily plead guilty to an offense waive their right to challenge on appeal nonjurisdictional defects that occur before the entry of the guilty plea, including alleged violations of constitutional rights. State v. Slapnicka, 376 N.W.2d 33 (N.D.1985); see Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S. 258, 93 S.Ct. 1602, 36 L.Ed.2d 235 (1973). Under Rule 11(a)(2), N.D.R.Crim.P., a defendant may preserve the right to appeal “the adverse determination of any specified pretrial motion.” A defendant who em ters a conditional plea agreement, but fails to preserve issues for review in the agreement, cannot raise those issues on appeal. See United States v. Ramos, 961 F.2d 1003 (1st Cir.1992); United States v. Ryan, 894 F.2d 355 (10th Cir. 1990).
[¶ 23] Because Mora could have raised his objection prior to entering a plea, he was required to do so. N.D.R.Crim.P. 12(b); Burr, 1999 ND 143, ¶ 29, 598 N.W.2d 147. Mora could have conditionally pled guilty to preserve his sentencing issue. N.D.R.Crim.P. 11(a)(2). By failing to do so, he waived any error. Burr, at ¶ 29.
[¶ 24] Dale V. Sandstrom