Court Opinion

ID: 9728831
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:17:15.35799+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:52.418291
License: Public Domain

WOLLMAN, Chief Justice
.(dissenting).
In Merrill v. State, 87 S.D. 285, 206 N.W.2d 828, we held that the record made at a post-conviction hearing may be used to establish that an accused was aware of his constitutional rights at the time he entered his guilty plea and that the plea was voluntarily and intelligently entered. I would extend the Merrill holding to the situation presented here and hold that the record made at the post-conviction hearing established a factual basis for appellant’s guilty plea.
The arresting officer testified that appellant was found hiding in an alfalfa field approximately 100 feet from the abandoned vehicle that had been chased for approximately one mile by the city policeman. At the time of his arrest appellant had in his pockets some automobile keys from the used car lot from which the abandoned vehicle had been taken. It was the arresting officer’s opinion, based upon his observation of appellant’s on-scene conduct, including appellant’s coordination (he was able to step *806over a barbed wire fence unassisted while handcuffed) and demeanor, that appellant was not intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the time he was arrested.
Appellant was represented at the arraignment and plea by competent counsel who had interviewed all known witnesses. Appellant was fully advised by the trial court of his constitutional rights prior to entering his plea. Whatever gaps existed in the factual record at the time of the plea, and I agree with the state’s characterization of the factual basis as “extremely tenuous,” those gaps were filled at the post-conviction hearing.
I would affirm the judgment denying post-conviction relief.