Court Opinion

ID: 2654017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-21 01:04:44.944164+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:31.570152
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

                                         2014 WY 24

                                                                  October Term, A.D. 2013

                                                                      February 20, 2014

BLAS PEDRAZA, JR.,

Appellant
(Defendant),

v.                                                    S-13-0254, S-13-0255

THE STATE OF WYOMING,

Appellee
(Plaintiff).

                        ORDER REVERSING CONVICTIONS
[¶1] This matter came before the Court upon a “Stipulated Motion to Reverse and Remand,”
e-filed herein January 28, 2014. After a careful review of the motion and the file, this Court
finds as follows. In two dockets, Appellant pled guilty or “no contest” to nine felonies: two
counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and seven counts of sexual abuse of a minor
in the second degree. According to Appellant’s briefs, prior to entering his pleas, the district
court advised, in both cases, as follows: “as a result of these being felonies, if you were….
convicted, plead guilty to them, you could lose some of your civil rights, the right to vote, your
right to hold public office, and your right to bear firearms by federal law.” In his briefs,
Appellant contends that his convictions should be reversed because he was not given the firearms
advisement required by Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-507. The State of Wyoming agrees.

[¶2] This Court agrees as well. While the district court’s firearms advisements likely satisfied
§ 7-11-507(a)(i), the advisement did not satisfy § 7-11-507(a)(ii). Here is what that statute
requires:

       § 7-11-507. Advisement of loss of firearms rights upon conviction.

       (a) No judgment of conviction shall be entered upon a plea of guilty or nolo
       contendere to any charge which may result in the disqualification of the defendant
       to possess firearms pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), (9) and
       924(a)(2) or other federal law unless the defendant was advised in open court by
       the judge:
               (i) Of the collateral consequences that may arise from that conviction
       pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(33), 922(g)(1), (9) and
       924(a)(2); and
               (ii) That if the defendant is a peace officer, member of the armed forces,
       hunting guide, security guard or engaged in any other profession or occupation
       requiring the carrying or possession of a firearm, that he may now, or in the
       future, lose the right to engage in that profession or occupation should he be
       convicted.

As this Court has noted, “the legislature directed that no judgment of conviction be entered
without advisement as to the potential loss of firearms privileges and its effect on employment in
occupations requiring an employee to possess a gun.” Balderson v. State, 2013 WY 107, ¶ 21,
309 P.3d 809 (Wyo. 2013) (emphasis supplied). Therefore, based on Balderson, Starrett v. State,
2012 WY 133, 286 P.3d 1033 (Wyo. 2012) and Cobb v. State, 2013 WY 142, 312 P.3d 827
(Wyo. 2013), this Court must reverse Appellant’s convictions. It is, therefore,

[¶3] ORDERED that the “Judgment and Sentence” entered on August 30, 2013, in Washakie
County District Court Criminal No. 2012-0025, be, and hereby is, reversed and vacated; and it is
further

[¶4] ORDERED that the “Judgment and Sentence” entered on August 30, 2013, in Washakie
County District Court, Criminal No. 2013-0007, be, and hereby is, reversed and vacated. These
matters are remanded to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order.

[¶5]   DATED this 20th day of February, 2014.

                                                    BY THE COURT:

                                                    /s/

                                                    MARILYN S. KITE
                                                    Chief Justice