Court Opinion

ID: 9537898
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:26:32.337165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:08.863054
License: Public Domain

CAMERON, Justice
(dissenting).
In this case the defendant was charged in an information with rape unspecified as to degree. I agree with the majority that this was proper under the circumstances. The defendant later decided to withdraw his plea of not guilty and the following transpired:
“THE COURT: Case number 52821, State of Arizona versus Hargie Lee Lewis.
"MR. GERST: The State is ready, Your Honor.
“MR. FRANCONE: Defense is ready, Your Honor.
“THE COURT: Mr. Lewis, come forward. Your name is Hargie Lee Lewis? You are Mr. Lewis?
“DEFENDANT LEWIS: Yes.
“THE COURT: Mr. Lewis, you have been charged by the State with the crime of rape, felony. To this charge you have entered a plea of guilty; is that right?
“DEFENDANT LEWIS: Yes.
“THE COURT: Do you have anything to say or any legal cause to show why cause (sic) should not now be pronounced?
“DEFENDANT LEWIS: No excuse. I wish the Court be lenient with me.
“MR. FRANCONE: Your Honor, no legal cause, but if I could say a brief word in behalf of Mr. Lewis, I am sure he realizes, because of the other charges against him, he is not a candidate for probation, but ask the Court to give the minimum sentence.
“THE COURT: I studied the case.
The Court is aware this is — the fact this is the — your first felony, but the Court is aware that, you have a pattern there as to some misdemeanors.
The Court can take into consideration the fact there is a pattern there, Mr. Lewis, and for those reasons, others of which the Court took into consideration, which include the fact that the crime which you are being charged, the crime you have found to be guilty, terrorization of a woman, is a type of crime that the Court cannot turn its back on.
I am sure you must have had occasion since you were arrested for this crime to think as to the seriousness of your act at that time.
It is the judgment of this Court, Mr. Lewis, that you are guilty of the crime of rape, a felony. As punishment for this crime it’s ordered you be incarcerated in Arizona State Prison, Florence, Arizona, for a term of not less than 10 nor more than 15 years. This sentence shall begin this date.
A commitment will be issued which will be the authority of the Maricopa County Sheriff to take you to the State Prison, also, the authority of the warden to commit you for the term fixed by the Court or until you are otherwise legally discharged.
“MR. GERST: At this time the State would dismiss Count I of the information charged against Mr. Lewis.
“THE COURT: So ordered, dismissing Count I.
“MR. GERST: Yes, Your Honor, as to the kidnapping, I believe it was, I am not sure.
*167(Thereupon proceedings concluded.)”
Our rules state:
“Rule 185. Plea of guilty of offense divided into degrees
“When an indictment or information charges an offense which is divided into degrees, without specifying the degree, and the defendant pleads guilty without specifying the degree, the court shall determine the degree as provided in Rule 186.” (Emphasis added) Rule 185, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S.
“Rule 186. Plea of guilty of offense divided into degrees; determination of degree
“If the defendant pleads guilty as provided in Rule 185, the court shall, before accepting the plea, examine defendant and witnesses, if necessary, to determine the degree of the offense of which the defendant is guilty and render judgment and sentence accordingly.” (Emphasis added) Rule 186, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S.
The majority opinion pays credence to the statement of facts on conviction prepared by the County Attorney, pursuant to § 11-533 A.R.S., as evidencing and substantiating the alleged § 13-611, subsec. A (2) conviction. It is noted, however, that this is not a finding of fact; indeed, it is prepared after sentencing and is designed to “aid the superintendent of the prison and the board of pardons and paroles in determining the capability of such prisoner to become a law abiding citizen.” (§ 11-533 A.R.S.)
Neither the original complaint, the information, the transcript, nor judgment of guilt and sentence show this offense to be other than “rape — a felony”. This court has on previous occasion stated:
“So, it is recognized that in some instances it would not be necessary to examine defendant or witnesses. This of course could be done by questioning of defendant or by agreement of defendant and his counsel at the time of his plea or at the time of the sentence.” State v. Peel, 99 Ariz. 174, 178, 407 P.2d 756, 758-759 (1965).
Neither procedure was followed here.
Likewise, the majority calls on evidence from the companion case of State v. Scott, 105 Ariz. 109, 462 P.2d 3 (1969). Admittedly, in the companion case the record discloses the age of the victim to be 20 years. Knowing this fact I cannot assume that the defendant was guilty of rape in the 2nd degree. Of this analytical procedure, however, we have previously stated:
“There is * * * a conflict * * * as to whether the court may rely on testimony previously taken in a prosecution of a co-defendant at a separate trial for the same offense. We feel that the proper rule to follow is that determination ■must be made from the record made in the case in the presence of defendant.” State v. Peel, supra, 99 Ariz. at 178, 407 P.2d at 759. (Emphasis added)
I see no reason to retreat from that position.
Additionally, the punishment section for rape reads as follows:
“§ 13-614. Punishment
“A. Rape in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life, or for any term of years not less than five.
“B. Rape in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years in excess of one year, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not to exceed one year.
“C. Rape in the first or second degree committed by a person armed with a knife, a gun or deadly weapon is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, for the first offense, for not less than five years, for a second offense, not less than ten years, for a third or subsequent offense, not less than twenty years nor *168more than life imprisonment, and in no case, except for first offense, shall the person convicted be eligible for commutation of sentence.” § 13-614, as amended, 5 A.R.S.
Under subsection C, the punishment is the same for the first offense but must be enhanced for subsequent offenses committed with a deadly weapon. It therefore becomes important to the State as to future offenses to have the fact that defendant committed this act by force or violence and with a deadly weapon (a knife) determined at the time of sentencing. The information did not specify the degree of the offense. We have stated:
“Rule 142 permits an indictment or information to be filed without specifying the degree of the crime.
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“When an information is filed under Rule 142, Rules 185 and 186 make it mandatory upon the court to determine the degree of the offense of which defendant is guilty, before accepting the plea and rendering judgment and sentence.” State v. Moreno, 102 Ariz. 399, 401, 430 P.2d 419, 421 (1967). See also State v. Peel, supra.
I believe that before a plea of guilty may be accepted, the trial judge must expressly determine the degree of the offense and the permissible punishment thereunder. I would remand the matter for that limited purpose.
LOCKWOOD, J., concurs.