Court Opinion

ID: 9685631
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:53:51.26342+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:08.794078
License: Public Domain

T. Gh Kavanagh, J.
(dissenting). On May 20, 1964 defendant was convicted on his plea of guilty to “embezzlement of money over the value of $100.00, a violation of [MCLA § 750.362] MSA 28.594”, sentenced to 1-1/2 to 5 years, served 13 months and was released on parole on April 30, 1965.
A 1967 conviction on plea of guilty to “uttering and publishing a forged instrument” resulted in another prison sentence, and appellate counsel was appointed to assist him in post conviction proceedings in connection with the latter conviction. Defendant petitioned for leave to appeal the prior conviction of “embezzlement”.
The Court of Appeals denied leave on the basis that the “embezzlement” cause was moot.
We granted leave because the collateral continuing legal disabilities to which the defendant became sub*159ject by virtue of that conviction precludes disposition of the matter as moot (see People v. Mallory [1967], 378 Mich 538 and People v. Copeland [1967], 378 Mich 611) and the issues raised on appeal are deserving of consideration.
Pertinent portions of the transcript of the proceedings at which the plea was accepted are:
“This defendant was bound over to this honorable court on February 26, 1964, to stand trial on the charge of Embezzlement of Money Over One Hundred dollars, a violation of [MCLA § 750.362] MSA 28.594.
“Bond was set in the amount of One Thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and was not furnished, and defendant was remanded to the custody of the Macomb County Sheriff.
“He appears before the court today in pro per for purposes of arraignment on the People’s Information, a copy of which I have handed to the defendant in open court. And in this Information, the People charge that he:
“ (Whereupon information read aloud by Mr. Briggs.)
“The Court: No counsel?
“Respondent: I am pleading guilty, your Honor.
“The Court: You are going to plead guilty?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You know you are entitled to trial in this matter?
“Respondent: I understand that, but I am guilty. That’s why I gave myself up.
“The Court: You don’t have to tell me. You want to tell me what happened in this particular case?
“Respondent: Not in court.
“The Court: What?
“Respondent: I wouldn’t want to say it in court.
*160“The Court: If you are not going to tell me what the circumstances were, I am not going to accept your plea.
“Respondent: It was Grand Larceny.
“The Court: No, this isn’t Grand Larceny. This is embezzlement. I want to know what happened here.
“Respondent: Oh, here!
“The Court: Yes.
“Respondent: I was working for the man and something happened in New York. So, I had the money in my possession and I took it and went to New York with it and I came hack two weeks later and gave myself up to the Roseville Police Station.
“The Court: You ■ were working for Kelly (phonetic) ?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: What kind of work were you doing?
“Respondent: Pumping gas.
“The Court: You had money in your possession from the station?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And you went to New York?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You said an emergency came up. What happened?
“Respondent: Something happened to my family.
“The Court: I see. You mean a death or sickness?
“Respondent: It wasn’t that. It was just trouble.
“Mr. Briggs: It’s charged under the Four Year Statute.
“The Court: Four Year Statute?
“Mr. Briggs: Yes, sir.
“The Court: No, it is not.
“Mr. Briggs: 28 ... .
“The Court: (Interpose) 594 is a Five Year Statute.
“Mr. Briggs: Excuse me.
“The Court: According to my chart.
*161“Mr. Briggs: That’s correct.
“The Court: Yon understand that the possible penalty in this case is five years in the State Prison?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You know that. And despite that fact, you are pleading guilty?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You also understand you are entitled to trial if you want it?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: All right. No one has made any promises or threats which have in any way induced you to do this?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You are doing this because you are guilty and you admit it?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: Okay, I will accept your plea. Are you married?
“Respondent: No.
“The Court: How long have you lived in this area?
“Respondent: I came here June of ’63.
“The Court: June of ’63?
“Respondent: Yes, sir.
“The Court: I see. All right, I will set sentence in this matter for, this is the 6th of March. Let’s make it the 20th of March at nine a.m. The Probation Officer will be out to see you.
“Respondent: Yes, sir.”
The transcript of the sentencing, herewith reproduced in full, provides as follows:
“Mr. Briggs: May the court please, this is the case of the People v. Louis Zunno, also known as Louis DeAngelo, Criminal File 64-138.
“This defendant was convicted in this honorable court on March 6, 1964 by his plea of guilty to the charge of embezzlement of money over $100, in violation of [MCLA § 750.362] MSA 28.594.
*162“Bond was set in the amount of $1,000 which was not furnished and the defendant was remanded to custody. He appears before the court today in pro per for the purposes of receiving sentence. Also present is Mr. Robert Lucas, Probation Department, who has investigated this matter and submitted a report to the court. The People now move that sentence be imposed.
“The Court: Is there anything you want to say?
“The Defendant: No, sir.
“The Court: Well, I have gone over this report of your record and I think that for a young man in trouble you have what is a very poor attitude. I don’t know what you think it will get you. Your general attitude is of disrespect for the law and authority, and I have a report, but I also remember this was borne out by your conduct when you left here the morning you were arraigned and entered your plea.
“I don’t know how you get away with this stuff in New York, but you will not get away with it hero. I don’t go for it at all. Therefore, I think I have only one alternative in this case, based on your record and general attitude. I don’t think you are a fit subject for probation, and I think I have only one alternative, and that is to impose a sentence in the State Prison, in Jackson State Prison.
“Therefore, it shall be the sentence of this court that you be sentenced for a period of not less than one year and a half and not more than ten years.
“Mr. Briggs: Is this a five or ten — this is embezzlement of money, not set as a larceny.
“The Court: If it is five, it is five — 28.594—I am sorry, it is five. I thought it was the other way. It is five years. One and a half to five. You just saved yourself five years.
“All right, that is it.
“Mr. Briggs: Thank you, your Honor.”
GrOR 1963, 785.3 (1) & (2) provide in part:
*163(1) “If the accused is not represented by counsel upon arraignment, before he is required to plead, the court shall advise the accused that he is entitled to a trial by jury and to have counsel, and that in case he is financially unable to provide counsel the court will, if accused so requests, appoint counsel for him. * * *
(2) “Imposing Sentence. If the accused pleads guilty, after such plea and before sentence the court shall inform the accused of the nature of the accusation and the consequence of his plea * # * .”
From the foregoing it is apparent that the court did not advise the accused of his right to counsel; he did not apprise him of his right to trial by jury; he did not advise him of the nature of the accusation.
There is nothing in the record which will support a conclusion that the accused voluntarily relinquished his known rights in these matters.
The response “I am pleading guilty, Your Honor” to the courts inquiry: “No counsel?” can not be regarded as a waiver of counsel. In re Palmer (1963), 371 Mich 656 and People v. Whitsitt (1960), 359 Mich 656.
In most cases, a mere reading of the information will not discharge the judge’s duty under the court rule to implement the accused’s right under art 1, § 20 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 “to be informed of the nature of the accusation.” Here the repeated confusion of the court and prosecutor as to whether this was larceny or embezzlement is aparent. Under this circumstance it would seem unreasonable to charge the accused with having been informed of the nature of the accusation from such reading.
The failure of the court to mention the word “jury” when he advised the defendant: “You know *164you are entitled to trial in this matter” simply highlights the deficiency of his compliance with the court rule. The incidents of a trial by jury — especially those spelled out in art 1, § 20 of the Michigan Constitution — which are equally applicable to a bench trial — are all contemplated in the rules injunction to the court to advise the accused that he is entitled to a trial by jury.
Unless it is fairly inferred that the accused knows he has a right he cannot be deemed to have waived it. The court rule requiring the court to give the information precludes the assumption that the accused knew of the right without the information.
For the foregoing reasons the conviction must be set aside and the matter remanded for trial.
T. M. Kavanagh and Adams, JJ., concurred with T. G. Kavanagh, JJ.