Court Opinion

ID: 2232055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 08:44:28.749951+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:46:37.230804
License: Public Domain

49 Mich. App. 574 (1973)
212 N.W.2d 290
PEOPLE
v.
BUCHANAN
Docket No. 13307.
Michigan Court of Appeals.
Decided September 25, 1973.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Paul M. Ladas, *575 Prosecuting Attorney, and M. Dale Render, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Fredric F. Balgooyen, for defendant on appeal.
Before: HOLBROOK, P.J., and T.M. BURNS and CHURCHILL,[*] JJ.
CHURCHILL, J.
On November 2, 1971, defendant L.T. Buchanan was convicted by a negotiated plea of guilty to unarmed robbery, MCLA 750.530; MSA 28.798, and on December 2, 1971, received a sentence of 12 to 15 years.
All issues raised on appeal in this case, except two, are the same as those considered by us in the companion case of People v Means, 49 Mich. App. 570; 212 NW2d 288 (1973), and what we said in that case about the manner in which sentences were determined and administered is incorporated herein by reference.
On January 21, 1972, defendant's appellate counsel filed a motion for leave to withdraw his plea of guilty. The motion, and the defendant's attached affidavit, assert his innocence and contain vague allegations about promises of leniency by his trial counsel. The affidavit states that he lied to help friends who were suspects in the same case, and that because of fear, he did not disclose all of the facts about his defense to his attorney. The affidavit doesn't specify when, to whom, nor in what respects he lied, nor how lying would have helped anyone, nor the cause of his fear, nor what facts were not disclosed to his attorney.
The affidavit appears to be a studied effort at ambiguity. Because of the failure to include substantial factual allegations to support the claim *576 that the plea was not voluntary, the court would have been justified in refusing to grant a testimonial hearing. People v James Smith, 27 Mich. App. 650; 183 NW2d 866 (1970). Had this been done we can only speculate as to whether the defendant would have sought to file an amended affidavit to satisfy the substantial factual allegations requirement.
The procedure actually followed deprived the defendant of this opportunity, and also of other substantial rights.
After refusing to issue a writ of habeas corpus to bring the defendant back from prison to testify, on June 5, 1972, the trial judge did preside at a testimonial hearing at which the only witness was the defendant's trial attorney. The defendant's appellate counsel called the trial attorney as his witness, but we are satisfied that he had no other choice if he wanted the motion to be considered by the court. At the conclusion of the testimony by the trial lawyer the court denied the motion, stating among other things:
"The court has in its own mind the testimony that was developed on the trial of Milton Gooden and also the trial of Tommy Buchanan [the defendant's cousin]. The facts all fit from all four sources to support the proposition that the defendant at the time of his guilty plea was involved and that he was guilty in fact of armed robbery not unarmed robbery."
After reviewing what the defendant told the court when he pled guilty, the trial judge went on to say:
"If the Court of Appeals states that the trial court erred in refusing to grant an evidentiary hearing, then they may well do so, and if the Court of Appeals finds that he should come back obviously we will hold an *577 evidentiary hearing. I feel it would be a tragedy [sic] of justice to have this defendant withdraw his guilty plea after being advised of all his constitutional rights."
The trial court made factual determinations partially on the basis of an evidentiary hearing at which the defendant was not given the opportunity to be present and testify, and partially on evidence heard by the trier of fact in another proceeding in which the defendant was not even a party. This is not the type of evidentiary hearing ordered by the Supreme Court in People v Jones, 385 Mich. 288; 188 NW2d 536 (1971), and in People v Johnson, 386 Mich. 305; 192 NW2d 482 (1971).
The defendant is granted the opportunity to file an amended motion and affidavit attacking the voluntariness of his plea. If he does so the case will be assigned to another judge for all further proceedings. It is not our purpose to extend the rule set forth in People v Frazier Walker, 24 Mich. App. 360; 180 NW2d 193 (1970), aff'd, 385 Mich. 596; 189 NW2d 41 (1971), beyond the actual trial situation. In this case, however, the trial judge's candid expression of his views about a testimonial hearing, if ordered, indicates the propriety of this requirement. We do not retain jurisdiction.
The defendant's sentence of 12 to 15 years was in violation of the indeterminate sentence statute as construed in People v Tanner, 387 Mich. 683; 199 NW2d 202 (1972). The portion of the minimum sentence in excess of ten years is reversed. The valid remainder of the sentence is affirmed and his sentence now stands as 10 to 15 years. Moore v Parole Board, 379 Mich. 624; 154 NW2d 437 (1967); People v Hempton, 43 Mich. App. 618; 204 NW2d 684 (1972); MCLA 769.24; MSA 28.1094.
All concurred.
NOTES
[*]  Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.