Court Opinion

ID: 9721490
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:00:41.344046+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:26.431448
License: Public Domain

*231Hanley, J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent from the decision of the court. The majority concludes, from the record, that the trial court did not sufficiently ascertain that the defendant understood the nature of the charge against him and that the defendant’s conduct fell within the charge to which he was pleading. I disagree. The record is to the contrary.
As Mr. Justice Wilkie indicates in his opinion, at the initial appearance the court read the complaint to the defendant and asked him the following question: “. . . You are charged with Conduct Regardless of Life Mr. McAllister, do you understand the charge against you?” Defendant answered, “Yes.” At that time defendant still claimed to be not guilty.
A week later, the record shows, defense counsel was furnished with a copy of the information, and the plea was still not guilty.
Eight months later, after the case had been set for trial by jury, defendant indicated he had changed his mind and wished to plead guilty. The information was not read at that time; but, before accepting the guilty plea, the court had the district attorney describe in detail the facts which supported the charge of “Conduct Regardless of Life.” The district attorney stated:
“On the date of the offense, September 26, 1969, Mr. McAllister was drinking with three other individuals. It appears that a heated argument ensued outside Belle’s Bar, while seated in an automobile Mr. McAllister discharged a firearm causing a wound to the left hand of Mr. Cannon. Mr. Cannon was taken to the hospital and he stated to officers the person that shot him was Curtis McAllister. And there was testimony by Mr. White at the preliminary hearing to the effect he had been in the area and it was rather dark and Mr. McAllister had discharged a firearm towards Mr. Cannon. Also Mr. King gave a written statement to this effect.”
Defendant made no comment or objection to this statement, and the court then found the guilty plea was made voluntarily.
*232On this record defendant had testified he knew what he was charged with at the initial appearance. He was informed at the time of the guilty plea of the acts which he was alleged to have committed.
I would hold that the defendant knew what he was charged with, as required by Ernst v. State (1969), 43 Wis. 2d 661, 170 N. W. 2d 713. McCarthy v. United States (1969), 394 U. S. 459, 89 Sup. Ct. 1166, 22 L. Ed. 2d 418, and Boykin v. Alabama (1969), 395 U. S. 238, 89 Sup. Ct. 1709, 23 L. Ed. 2d 274. I would affirm the order of the trial court denying the motion to withdraw the guilty plea.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Justice Connor T. Hansen and Mr. Justice Robert W. Hansen join in this dissent.