Court Opinion

ID: 2672805
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-07 15:20:37.184787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:59:34.936458
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

                                         2014 WY 57

                                                                     April Term, A.D. 2014

                                                                          May 7, 2014

ROBERT J. PARKS,

Appellant
(Defendant),

v.                                                    S-13-0278

THE STATE OF WYOMING,

Appellee
(Plaintiff).

               ORDER REVERSING JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE
        This matter came before the Court upon a “Stipulated Motion to Reverse and Remand,”
e-filed herein April 23, 2014. After a careful review of the motion and the file, this Court finds
as follows. Appellant pled guilty to two felonies: kidnapping and sexual abuse of a minor in the
first degree. According to Appellant’s brief, prior to entry of those pleas, the district court
advised Appellant that he could lose the “right to own and possess certain types of weapons.” In
his brief, Appellant contends 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.

       This Court agrees as well. While the district court’s firearms advisement 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); Cobb v. State, 2013 WY 142, 312 P.3d 827
(Wyo. 2013), and Pedraza v. State, 2014 WY 24, 318 P.3d 812 (Wyo. 2014) this Court must
reverse Appellant’s convictions. It is, therefore,

        ORDERED that the “Judgment and Sentence” entered on August 16, 2013, in Converse
County District Court Criminal Action No. 4432, be, and hereby is, reversed and vacated. This
matter is remanded to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order.

       DATED this 7th day of May, 2014.

                                                    BY THE COURT:

                                                    /s/

                                                    MARILYN S. KITE
                                                    Chief Justice