Court Opinion

ID: 1063607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:14:17.796054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:31.012904
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Chief Judge Felton, Judges Frank and McClanahan
Argued at Richmond, Virginia

MELVIN P. WADE
                                                               MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
v.       Record No. 0045-08-2                              CHIEF JUDGE WALTER S. FELTON, JR.
                                                                     MARCH 10, 2009
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

                    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
                                Clarence N. Jenkins, Jr., Judge

                   Jessica M. Bulos, Assistant Appellate Defender (Office of the
                   Appellate Defender, on briefs), for appellant.

                   Richard B. Smith, Special Assistant Attorney General (Robert F.
                   McDonnell, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

         Following a bench trial, Melvin P. Wade (“appellant”) was convicted of entering a

construction contract without holding the required license in violation of Code § 54.1-111. On

appeal, appellant contends the trial court “erred by accepting [his] guilty plea without first

adequately establishing whether [he] was aware of, and knowingly and voluntarily waived, his

numerous federal constitutional rights.” He also contends the trial court “erred in finding the

Commonwealth’s evidence sufficient to establish the amount of restitution owed by a

preponderance of the evidence.” For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial

court.

         *
             Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
                                                  I.

       Appellant was convicted in the general district court of entering a construction contract

without holding the required license. 1 He appealed that conviction to the trial court for a trial de

novo, pursuant to Code § 16.1-136. Following his arraignment in the trial court, appellant

entered a plea of not guilty. The following colloquy then took place between the trial court,

appellant, and appellant’s attorney, Mr. Anderson:

               THE COURT: Mr. Wade, you are pleading not guilty to the
               charge of operating without a contractor’s license.

               Sir, have you had ample opportunity to discuss this matter with
               Mr. Anderson?

               [APPELLANT]: Yes.

               THE COURT: Have you discussed any available witnesses that
               you may have to testify on your behalf?

               [APPELLANT]: No.

               THE COURT: Are there any witnesses?

               [APPELLANT]: No.

               THE COURT: If there were any witnesses you would have
               informed your attorney of the same; is that correct?

               [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

               THE COURT: Are you prepared to move forward today?

               [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

               THE COURT: Counsel ready?

               MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir.

The Commonwealth then called its first witness, Gilbert Debiasi, to testify.

       1
         The general district court imposed a suspended sentence of twelve months in jail, and
ordered that he pay $4,862 in restitution.

                                                -2-
       Appellant does not dispute that the evidence presented at trial showed that in August 2005,

he entered into a $28,562 construction contract with Gilbert Debiasi, without having the required

contractor’s license to do so, and that the stationary on which his contract with Debiasi was

written represented that he was a “Class A Contractor.”

       When appellant failed to complete the work he contracted to do, Debiasi reported the

failure to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Shelby

Hill, a DPOR investigator, after investigating Debiasi’s complaint, obtained a warrant for

appellant’s arrest for violating Code § 54.1-1115, 2 which prohibits “contracting for, or bidding

upon the construction, removal, repair or improvements to or upon real property owned,

controlled or leased by another person without a license . . . .”

       Evidence at trial established that Virginia law required Debiasi to hold at least a “Class

B” contractor’s license in order to manage or perform work under his $28,562 construction

contract with Debiasi. 3 At trial, during the Commonwealth’s direct examination of Investigator

Hill, the trial court initiated the following extended exchange with the Assistant

Commonwealth’s Attorney, Mr. Johnson, and appellant’s attorney, Mr. Anderson:

               THE COURT: Excuse me, again, we are spending a lot of time on
               this case on a relatively straightforward issue. Unless the court is
               missing something, the sole issue is whether or not he ha[d] a valid
               contractor’s license . . . .

               MR. JOHNSON: Right.

               THE COURT: Is that right or wrong?

       2
        By agreement of the parties the warrant was amended to charge a violation of Code
§ 54.1-111. The trial court convicted appellant of violating Code § 54.1-111.
       3
         Code § 54.1-111(A) provides in pertinent part: “It shall be unlawful for any person,
partnership, corporation or other entity to engage in any of the following acts: 1. Practicing a
profession or occupation without holding a valid license as required by statute or regulation.”
Code § 54.1-1100 provides in pertinent part that “‘Class B contractors’ perform or manage
construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single
contract or project is $7,500 or more, but less than $120,000 . . . . ”
                                                 -3-
MR. JOHNSON: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: That ought to be explained very easily. Either he
has one or he doesn’t. It’s kind of like a yes or no question. Or
maybe it lapse[d], I don’t know. Am I missing something here?

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

THE COURT: Before we go through this long song and dance, I
trust there is a valid license that he had; is that right, Mr.
Anderson?

MR. ANDERSON: He has a valid license at this time, Your
Honor. But, again, the contention would be as to damages, not so
much this issue as to whether there was a valid license or not.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

THE COURT: As you know, Mr. Anderson, there are two parts to
a trial. There is guilt phase and sentencing phase. It sounds like
there may not be an issue as to guilt phase. I may be wrong, you
may have evidence.

MR. ANDERSON: No, there is no evidence as to that. But I
didn’t want to waive any of my client’s rights by pleading guilty to
something.

THE COURT: I understand. But either you can elect to take
another form of trial . . . , this is a class I misdemeanor, which can
carry a jail sentence so you can elect a jury trial, but the Court is
able to decipher, you know. That’s the difference between a Judge
and a jury, we kind of know the law and can distinguish these
things.

I understand where you are, but I don’t think it’s required to put on
all of this testimony. Either there is a license or there is not. We
can jump to sentencing on this.

MR. ANDERSON: I think we can jump straight to sentencing.
And I do apologize for that, Your Honor, but I didn’t want to –

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

THE COURT: We can - - again, Mr. Anderson, the Court is not
trying to force your hand. You may have testimony to refute the
fact that he is [not] a class A contractor, but it doesn’t sound like
there is that evidence. I may be wrong. That’s what I perceive
right now, correct?

MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir.
                                 -4-
              THE COURT: Why don’t we go right into sentencing.

              MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir.

(Emphasis added).

       Following the foregoing exchange, the trial court directly addressed appellant, who was

seated at counsel table and had not been sworn:

              THE COURT: Sir, if you would stand please.

              Mr. Wade, based upon what has transpired so far, it’s the Court’s
              understanding that there is a stipulation to fact . . . that you will not
              be contesting the violation of this statute in that you were not
              properly licensed as required by statute; is that correct?

              [APPELLANT]: Somewhat.

              THE COURT: I don’t want you to plead guilty to something that
              you are not guilty of.

              [APPELLANT]: Can I make a statement?

              THE COURT: Well, Mr. Anderson, why don’t you talk to your
              client, because I’m almost feeling like he is playing games with the
              Court here and that not --

              Was there a half a license that he had?

              MR. ANDERSON: He had a business license[,] not a contractor’s
              license.

              THE COURT: Counsel understand there is a difference between a
              business license and a contractor’s license?

              MR. ANDERSON: Yes, Your Honor.

              THE COURT: Again, I don’t want to force your hand on this.

              Therefore, Mr. Wade, do you understand . . . you do not have to
              plead guilty to this, but we can continue with the evidence, but if
              you feel that you are guilty we can move forward with this matter
              in another way.

              [APPELLANT]: I have an understanding of the license, yes. I
              didn’t have the right license as we entered into this.

                                                -5-
               THE COURT: All right. That being said we will accept your plea
               of guilty to contracting or bidding for construction without being
               properly licensed according to 54.1-1100.

               We . . . can proceed with the sentencing phase of this trial.

(Emphasis added).

       During the sentencing phase of the trial, Mr. Anderson conceded, “[m]y client does admit

to contracting without a license.” Prior to pronouncing sentence, the trial court engaged

appellant in the following colloquy:

               THE COURT: Is there anything you would like to say prior to the
               Court pronouncing sentencing?

               [APPELLANT]: On the contractor’s license part?

               THE COURT: That’s what we’re here on, [y]es, sir.

               [APPELLANT]: Yes. On the contractor’s license part, even
               though [it] was my ignorance, I had a valid business license for
               [Cornerstone] Construction Management. And what I did was, I
               get contracts and I let other licensed people do the work. The only
               thing I did, was get it set up and make sure the work was done. I
               didn’t know until [the DPOR investigator] came and knocked on
               my door and we talked, that I actually needed to have a
               contractor’s license, even though I wasn’t doing the work and sub
               everything out. I was unaware of that. Now that it’s been brought
               to my attention, I know now and I’m guilty of that.

       The trial court entered its final conviction order on January 9, 2008. That order states,

               The defendant was arraigned and pled NOT GUILTY to operating
               without a contractor’s license.

               Upon representation of the Commonwealth’s evidence, the
               defendant entered a plea of GUILTY.

               After having been advised by counsel and by the Court of the right
               to trial by jury, the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived
               trial by jury and with the concurrence of the attorney for the
               Commonwealth and of the Court, here entered of record, the Court
               proceeded to hear the evidence without a jury. The Court, having
               heard the evidence and argument of counsel, finds the defendant
               GUILTY . . . .

                                                -6-
                                                   II.

        On appeal, appellant contends the trial court erred by accepting his mid-trial change of plea

to guilty, arguing “there is no affirmative showing that [he] ever expressly entered a guilty plea.”

        It is well settled that “[a] court speaks through its written orders.” Robinson v.

Commonwealth, 28 Va. App. 148, 155, 502 S.E.2d 704, 708 (1998) (citing Cunningham v. Smith,

205 Va. 205, 208, 135 S.E.2d 770, 773 (1964)). Because “[a] recital of proceedings in a judicial

order is an ‘absolute verity and it is not subject to collateral attack,’” Kern v. Commonwealth, 2
Va. App. 84, 88, 341 S.E.2d 397, 400 (1986) (quoting Kibert v. Commonwealth, 216 Va. 660, 662,

222 S.E.2d 790, 791 (1976)), we presume “that [a trial] court order, as the final pronouncement on

the subject, rather than a transcript that may be flawed by omissions, accurately reflects what

transpired,” Stamper v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 260, 280-81, 257 S.E.2d 808, 822 (1979), cert.

denied, 445 U.S. 972 (1980).

        Appellant also contends the trial court erred by accepting his guilty plea “without first

adequately establishing whether [he] was aware of, and knowingly and voluntarily waived, his

numerous federal constitutional rights.”

        However, appellant never presented that argument to the trial court during the trial

proceedings. “No ruling of the trial court . . . will be considered as a basis for reversal unless the

objection was stated together with the grounds therefor at the time of the ruling, except for good

cause shown or to enable the Court to Appeals to attain the ends of justice.” Rule 5A:18; see

Jacques v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 591, 593, 405 S.E.2d 630, 631 (1991) (citing Rule 5A:18).

“Rule 5A:18 applies to bar even constitutional claims.” Ohree v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 299,

308, 494 S.E.2d 484, 488 (1998).

        The purpose of Rule 5A:18 is “to ensure that the trial court and opposing party are given the

opportunity to intelligently address, examine, and resolve issues in the trial court, thus avoiding

                                                  -7-
unnecessary appeals.” Andrews v. Commonwealth, 37 Va. App. 479, 493, 559 S.E.2d 401, 408

(2002). Here, appellant never objected to the trial court that his guilty plea was not entered

knowingly and voluntarily, nor did he ask the trial court within twenty-one days of the entry of the

final judgment order to set aside its judgment of conviction, or ask it to modify the order to reflect

that it did not adequately establish “whether [he] was aware of, and knowingly and voluntarily

waived, his numerous federal constitutional rights” prior to accepting his guilty plea. See Rule 1:1.

Nor did appellant ask the trial court to permit him to withdraw his plea of guilty pursuant to Code

§ 19.2-296. 4

        Appellant now asks that we invoke the “ends of justice” exception to Rule 5A:18.

However, “[t]he ends of justice exception to Rule 5A:18 is narrow and is to be used sparingly.”

Copeland v. Commonwealth, 42 Va. App. 424, 442, 592 S.E.2d 391, 399 (2004) (citing Michaels

v. Commonwealth, 32 Va. App. 601, 608, 529 S.E.2d 822, 826 (2000)). “In order to avail

oneself of the exception, a[n] [appellant] must affirmatively show that a miscarriage of justice

has occurred, not that a miscarriage might have occurred.” Brown v. Commonwealth, 8
Va. App. 126, 132, 380 S.E.2d 8, 11 (1989) (citing Mounce v. Commonwealth, 4 Va. App. 433,

436, 357 S.E.2d 742, 744 (1987)). “‘In examining a case for miscarriage of justice, we . . .

determine whether the record contains affirmative evidence of innocence or lack of a criminal

offense.’” Tooke v. Commonwealth, 47 Va. App. 759, 765, 627 S.E.2d 533, 536 (2006) (quoting

Lewis v. Commonwealth, 43 Va. App. 126, 134, 596 S.E.2d 542, 546 (2004), rev’d on other

grounds, 269 Va. 209, 608 S.E.2d 907 (2005)) (emphasis added).

        In Allen v. Commonwealth, 27 Va. App. 726, 730, 501 S.E.2d 441, 443 (1998), the

defendant contended that “the trial court failed to determine that his amended plea [of nolo

        4
         Code § 19.2-296 provides in pertinent part that “the court within twenty-one days after
entry of a final order may set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant to
withdraw his plea.”
                                               -8-
contendere] was entered voluntarily, intelligently and knowingly, and, thus, deprived him of liberty

without due process of law.” The defendant in Allen failed to preserve for appeal his claim that the

trial court did not determine whether his mid-trial change of plea from not guilty to nolo contendere

was knowing and voluntary. He asked the Court to apply the ends of justice exception to

Rule 5A:18. We declined to apply the ends of justice exception there and affirmed the defendant’s

conviction, finding he “was afforded the constitutional rights afforded a defendant who pleads not

guilty” and that “the trial court’s acceptance of [his] mid-trial plea caused no retrospective waiver of

any rights.” Id. at 732, 501 S.E.2d at 444.

        As did the defendant in Allen, the appellant here proceeded to trial without a jury, pled

not guilty, confronted the Commonwealth’s witnesses who testified in his presence, and then

changed his plea to guilty, admitting that he violated Code § 54.1-111. The record on appeal does

not demonstrate that appellant was innocent of the offense for which he was convicted.

        The Commonwealth was required to prove that appellant was required by Virginia law to

hold a contractor’s license in order to perform or manage the work he contracted to do for Debiasi,

and to prove that appellant engaged in that activity without having the required license. Both

appellant and his attorney admitted in open court to the trial judge that he did not have the required

license. Appellant’s counsel informed the trial court that appellant was contending only the amount

of the “damages” claimed by Debiasi, not whether he had a valid license.

        The appellant having admitted in open court that he did not have the required license, there

is “no basis upon which to apply the ends of justice exception to this case.” Copeland, 42 Va. App.

at 442, 592 S.E.2d at 399. Accordingly, we decline to apply the ends of justice exception to

Rule 5A:18. Ohree, 26 Va. App. at 308, 494 S.E.2d at 488.

                                                 -9-
                                                 III.

       Appellant also contends the trial court “erred in finding the Commonwealth’s evidence

sufficient to establish the amount of restitution owed [by appellant] by a preponderance of the

evidence.”

               The statutory scheme for ordering restitution was established by
               the Virginia legislature as a conjunct of suspended sentences. Its
               purpose is to help make the victim of a crime whole. Although
               historically denominated a criminal penalty, restitution under
               Virginia law may be more accurately characterized as quasi-civil
               in nature. Restitution is a monetary amount that reflects the
               “damages” or “loss” caused by the crime. Part of the sentencing
               phase of trial, the amount is determined following conviction and
               is a matter resting within the sole province of the sentencing judge.

McCullough v. Commonwealth, 38 Va. App. 811, 815, 568 S.E.2d 449, 450-51 (2002) (citations

omitted). “[T]he ‘damages’ or loss incurred by an aggrieved party as a result of the offense need

only be proved by a preponderance of the evidence.” Id. at 816, 568 S.E.2d at 451. “The

credibility of the witnesses and the weight accorded the evidence are matters solely for the fact

finder[,] who has the opportunity to see and hear that evidence as it is presented.” Sandoval v.

Commonwealth, 20 Va. App. 133, 138, 455 S.E.2d 730, 732 (1995). “On review, we will not

disturb the factual findings of the trial court unless plainly wrong or unsupported by the

evidence.” Robinson v. Commonwealth, 273 Va. 26, 39, 639 S.E.2d 217, 224 (2007). A trial

court does not “err by relying on [] victim loss statements to determine a reasonable amount of

restitution.” Smith v. Commonwealth, 52 Va. App. 26, 34, 660 S.E.2d 691, 694-95 (2008).

       Here, the Commonwealth presented both documentary and testimonial evidence during

the sentencing phase of appellant’s trial that Debiasi contracted with three different people to

complete the work left unfinished by appellant and that the total amount he expended on that

work was $9,868. Appellant presented no evidence to the trial court to contradict the

Commonwealth’s evidence. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not “err by relying on

                                                - 10 -
victim loss statements to determine a reasonable amount of restitution” in this case. See Smith,

52 Va. App. at 34, 660 S.E.2d at 694-95.

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                                                        Affirmed.

                                               - 11 -