Court Opinion

ID: 2768977
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-12 18:30:15.062288+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:02.693710
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                                    FILED
State of West Virginia, Plaintiff Below,                                        January 12, 2015
Respondent                                                                    RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                            SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                OF WEST VIRGINIA
vs) No. 13-1210 (Kanawha County 12-F-570)

Glen Tucker, Defendant Below,
Petitioner

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Glen Tucker, by counsel Charles Hamilton, appeals the Circuit Court of
Kanawha County’s November 20, 2013, sentencing order following his guilty plea of third
offense driving while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, and other drugs. The
State of West Virginia, by counsel Benjamin Yancey III, filed a response. On appeal, petitioner
argues the circuit court erred in finding that his guilty plea was entered freely, knowingly, and
voluntarily.

        This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        In July of 2012, petitioner was indicted on one count of third offense driving while under
the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, and other drugs in violation of West Virginia
Code § 17C-5-2, and one count of third offense driving while revoked for driving under the
influence of alcohol, controlled substances, and other drugs in violation of West Virginia Code §
17B-4-3(b). Pursuant to a plea agreement, petitioner pled guilty to third offense driving while
under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, and other drugs. As part of the plea
agreement the State dismissed the remaining count of the indictment. A plea hearing was held on
April 8, 2013, after which petitioner was sentenced to a term of incarceration of one to three
years. By order entered November 20, 2013, petitioner was resentenced for the purpose of filing
a petition for appeal. It is from this order that petitioner now appeals.

        On appeal, petitioner alleges that he did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
enter into the plea agreement. In support, petitioner argues that he thought he was entering a plea
pursuant to Kennedy v. Frazier, 178 W.Va. 10, 357 S.E.2d 43 (1987), and that the trial court
failed to conduct a proper colloquy pursuant to Rule 11 of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal
Procedure and syllabus point three of Call v. McKenzie, 159 W.Va. 191, 220 S.E.2d 665 (1975),
which states:
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       [w]hen a criminal defendant proposes to enter a plea of guilty, the trial judge
       should interrogate such defendant on the record with regard to his intelligent
       understanding of the following rights, some of which he will waive by pleading
       guilty: 1) the right to retain counsel of his choice, and if indigent, the right to
       court appointed counsel; 2) the right to consult with counsel and have counsel
       prepare the defense; 3) the right to a public trial by an impartial jury of twelve
       persons; 4) the right to have the State prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt
       and the right of the defendant to stand mute during the proceedings; 5) the right to
       confront and cross-examine his accusers; 6) the right to present witnesses in his
       own defense and to testify himself in his own defense; 7) the right to appeal the
       conviction for any errors of law; 8) the right to move to suppress illegally
       obtained evidence and illegally obtained confessions; and, 9) the right to
       challenge in the trial court and on appeal all pre-trial proceedings.

       To begin, the Court finds no merit in petitioner’s argument that he believed he was
entering a Kennedy plea. A review of petitioner’s plea agreement clearly shows no reference to
Kennedy. Regardless if petitioner entered a Kennedy plea or a guilty plea pursuant to Rule 11, the
plea must have been done knowingly, freely, intelligently, and voluntarily. See Syl. Pt. 1,
Kennedy v. Frazier, 178 W.Va. 10, 357 S.E.2d 43 (1987) (“An accused may voluntarily,
knowingly and understandingly consent to the imposition of a prison sentence even though he is
unwilling to admit participation in the crime . . . .”).

        Here, the record reflects that while the circuit judge did not methodically follow the litany
of factors set forth in Call, the circuit court took the necessary steps to ensure that petitioner’s
guilty plea was freely, knowingly, and voluntarily made and that petitioner was fully advised of
all the rights he was giving up by pleading guilty. The record reflects that petitioner
unequivocally informed the circuit court that he understood his rights; that he wished to plead
guilty to the crimes charged; and that no one had unduly influenced him to plead guilty. For these
reasons, the Court finds that petitioner knowingly, freely, intelligently, and voluntarily pled guilty
to the charge of third offense driving while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances,
and other drugs.

       For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s sentencing order is affirmed.

                                                                                           Affirmed.
ISSUED: January 12, 2015

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

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