Court Opinion

ID: 9666762
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:27:12.14527+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:32.612963
License: Public Domain

Wright, J.,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision, which reversed the judgment of conviction of aiding and abetting second degree murder and remanded the cause for further proceedings.
On January 21, 1993, an information was filed in Lincoln County District Court which charged Ladig with aiding and abetting first degree murder and aiding and abetting attempted robbery in regard to the death of Richard Sterkel on July 28, 1992. Pursuant to a plea agreement, an amended information was filed on September 16, 1993, which charged Ladig with aiding and abetting second degree murder.
■ Ladig waived his right to wait 24 hours before entering a plea to the charge stated in the amended information and appeared before the court with his attorney on September 16,1993. The amended information stated that on or about July 28, 1992, Ladig did aid, abet, procure, or cause another to intentionally, but without premeditation, kill Sterkel in Lincoln County, Nebraska. The court informed Ladig that second degree murder was a Class IB felony punishable by a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment and that the sentence imposed had to be within the range of 10 years to life. Ladig stated that he understood.
The court advised Ladig that by entering a plea of no contest, he waived the right to have a speedy and public trial before a jury, the right to see and hear all of the witnesses called to testify against him and to cross-examine such witnesses, and the right to call his own witnesses and present evidence. He was also advised that he had the right to refuse to testify, that he was presumed innocent, and that such presumption remained with *546him throughout the trial until the State proved him guilty.
The court informed Ladig that by entering a plea of no contest, he would be giving up any defenses or challenges that he might have to the admissibility of any statements made by him or to the evidence presented. Ladig indicated that he understood. The court then asked Ladig whether he had discussed his plea with his attorney, whether he was satisfied with his attorney’s representation, and whether his rights had been explained to him. Ladig answered yes to these questions. The court noted:
Aiding, abetting, procuring or causing in the State of Nebraska means that if you helped, hired or were involved in the killing of Richard Sterkel with the other person, then you, as an aider or abettor, are just as guilty as if you had done it yourself. Do you understand that?
Ladig answered yes and entered a plea of no contest to the amended information. The court accepted as a factual basis the evidence the court heard in the trial of Ladig’s codefendant Darrin McHenry.
The court then inquired whether anyone had threatened Ladig in any manner to get him to enter the plea, had promised him leniency other than the plea agreement, had kept food or water from him, or had kept him in solitary confinement in order to make him enter his plea. Ladig responded in the negative.
The court accepted the plea, finding that there was a factual basis for the plea and that the plea was made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. The court found Ladig guilty of aiding and abetting the second degree murder of Sterkel, based on the evidence in the trial of McHenry. A Class I presentence investigation was ordered.
At the sentencing hearing, the court sentenced Ladig to life in prison, finding that all three defendants involved in Sterkel’s death were equally culpable. As a part of the sentence, the court ordered Ladig to be placed in solitary confinement for 4 days each year. The court also ordered Ladig to pay restitution for the costs of Sterkel’s burial. On appeal, Ladig asserted that the district court abused its discretion by sentencing Ladig to life imprisonment, by ordering that Ladig be placed in solitary *547confinement for 4 days each year, and by ordering that Ladig pay restitution to SterkePs family.
For the reasons set forth in my dissents in State v. Grimes, ante p. 473, 519 N.W.2d 507 (1994), and State v. Manzer, ante p. 536, 519 N.W.2d 558 (1994), I would affirm Ladig’s conviction for aiding and abetting second degree murder. I can find no basis for reversing Ladig’s conviction because the amended information did not say that he maliciously committed the crime with which he was charged, to which he pled no contest, and for which he was subsequently convicted.