Court Opinion

ID: 9791931
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:20:36.783171+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:39.451445
License: Public Domain

FIDEL, P.J., and EUBANK, J.,
concur.
SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION
In an earlier appeal to this court, appellant George Luis Tellez (defendant) challenged the imposition of a $37,500 fine in his plea agreement. The state contended the fine was mandatory. In our opinion filed December 7,1989,165 Ariz. at 381, 799 P.2d at 1, we held that the fine was not mandatory and vacated the plea agreement. Defendant subsequently filed a motion to reconsider arguing that the plea should be left intact with the fine stricken. The state agrees that the plea should remain intact but that the case should be remanded for resentencing at which time the state would have an option to withdraw. We grant this motion only to clarify the relief granted previously.
The trial court accepted defendant’s plea at the time of sentencing. Jeopardy attaches once a plea is accepted. The state may not withdraw from the agreement without violating defendant’s constitutional protection against double jeopardy. Dominguez v. Meehan, 140 Ariz. 329, 681 P.2d 912 (App.1983), approved, 140 Ariz. 328, 681 P.2d 911 (1984). Only the defendant may withdraw his plea once it has been accepted by the court. State v. Superior Court in and for Pima County, 160 Ariz. 71, 770 P.2d 375 (App.1988); 17 A.R.S. Rules of Crim.Proc., Rule 17.4(d), (e).
The state may withdraw from a plea agreement after a plea’s acceptance only where the parties expressly so contract. Dominguez, supra, 140 Ariz. at 331, 681 P.2d at 914. Such was not done here. The plea agreement provides that both defendant and the state may withdraw if the trial court disregards the parties’ sentencing recommendations. The document, however, announces “no agreement” on sentencing and only lists the fine as part of the information regarding special possible conditions of sentencing.
Our review of the colloquy between both counsel and the trial court regarding the fine indicates that each party to the plea agreement intended that the agreement be enforced even if the contested fine were held improper on appeal. Such, in fact, was our holding. Both counsels’ statements regarding the fine also indicate that the fine was immaterial to the decision to enter the plea and that the plea and resulting conviction should stand despite the improper fine. State v. Crowder, 155 Ariz. 477, 747 P.2d 1176 (1987). Accordingly, our prior opinion is modified. The plea and sentence remain in effect with the exception of the improper fine which is stricken pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4037; See also State v. Marquez-Sosa, 161 Ariz. 500, 779 P.2d 815 (App.1989), wherein a similar im*385proper fine was stricken from an otherwise valid sentence.