Court Opinion

ID: 9721798
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:09:42.124011+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:28.755423
License: Public Domain

PIVARNIK, Justice,
dissenting.
I must dissent from the majority in its finding that Petitioner Martin has carried his burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that he did not knowingly *203and intelligently enter guilty pleas. MceDowell v. State, (1981) Ind., 422 N.E.2d 1229.
The record shows the trial court exhaustively advised Petitioner of his rights and of the alternatives facing him in his desire to plead guilty to the charges. Petitioner indicated to the trial court that he had in the past experienced criminal prosecution and understood his rights and understood the alternatives facing him. The trial court informed Petitioner of the charges facing him and the penalties he might face and, in view of this, Petitioner expressed his desire to plead guilty immediately and begin serving his time. At the time of the guilty plea entry the habitual offender charge had not yet been filed and, accordingly, there was no discussion of it at that time. At the time of sentencing, however, the habitual offender charge had been filed and the trial court advised Petitioner of this and of the penalties he could expect from that. Petitioner indicated he was aware that it was filed and thought it probably would be and was aware of the penalties. Upon further questioning from the trial court, Petitioner indicated he still wished to proceed and have sentence pronounced on him at that time. He again indicated he was aware of all the alternatives facing him, understood them and wanted to proceed with sentencing. The trial court sentenced him for the charges of theft, robbery, burglary, and for being an habitual offender.
The final sentence pronounced by the trial court was far less than it could have been had the maximum sentence been given for all of the crimes to which Petitioner pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to a total of forty years imprisonment. Considering the fact that he was being sentenced for theft, robbery, burglary, and for being an habitual offender, it certainly cannot be said that the total of forty years was an undue or unconscionable amount of time, thereby revealing a tendency to take advantage of Petitioner in his hapless position of being unrepresented by counsel.
The record shows Petitioner was thoroughly advised of all of his rights by the trial court, that he knew what he was doing, and that he knowingly, intelligently, and willingly entered his pleas of guilty. He therefore did not carry the burden required of him in his post-conviction relief petition and the trial court properly denied him relief. I therefore dissent and would affirm the judgment of the trial court.
GIVAN, C.J., concurs.