Court Opinion

ID: 9696160
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 18:39:17.774622+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:19.134684
License: Public Domain

*468Lesinski, C. J.
(dissenting). Defendant was originally charged with receiving and concealing property valued at more than $100, a felony. MCLA § 750.535 (Stat Ann 1971 Cum Supp § 28.803). He claims he pled guilty to the reduced misdemeanor charge on the mistaken belief that by doing so he would not be charged with a violation of probation on another unrelated conviction. The record does not support defendant’s argument; it shows the trial court informed defendant that he might be charged with a violation of probation as a consequence of his plea. On this point I agree with the majority.
Unlike my brethren of the majority, I find on this appeal another issue which must be settled. We must face squarely the issue of whether OCR 1963, 785.3 is applicable to the instant case. The issue is properly before us as defendant’s claim of error raises the general issue of the voluntariness of the proffered guilty plea.
The record reveals that the requirements of OCR 1963, 785.3 were not met in the instant case. No inquiry into the facts of the alleged crime was conducted by the court. People v. Barrows (1959), 358 Mich 267. No attempt was made to determine whether the plea was induced by undue influence, compulsion, duress, or the promise of leniency. The court rule states that “the court shall examine the accused” relative to these matters to effect reasonable ascertainment of the truth of the plea. (Emphasis supplied.) More is required than that the defendant agree with his attorney that it is expedient to plead guilty. “The purpose of the direct questioning of the defendant by the trial judge is to establish the crime and the participation therein of the defendant as a precaution against involuntary or induced false pleas of guilty and against subsequent false claims of innocence.” People v. Coates *469(1971), 32 Mich App 52. Absent such examination there is no basis for the determination that the guilty plea was freely, understandingly, and knowingly made, a prerequisite to its acceptance. People v. Gerald Jackson (1971), 30 Mich App 173.
The fact that the ultimate plea in this case involves a misdemeanor does not alter the obligation of the trial court to conduct such an inquiry, since defendant was originally charged with a felony. GCR 1963, 785.3 applies “in every prosecution wherein the accused is charged with a felony”. Compare People v. Barry (1970), 23 Mich App 121; People v. Holt (1969), 17 Mich App 27. Acceptance of the guilty plea without valid determination of its voluntariness mandates reversal.
I would reverse and remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings.