Court Opinion

ID: 9776483
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:37:31.182006+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:39.178460
License: Public Domain

FENNER, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion wherein it holds that the appellant’s enhanced sentence must be set aside and the cause remanded to the trial court for reimposition of sentence on the grounds that appellant’s guilty plea did not rest on findings of fact that warrant beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant was a persistent offender.
As set forth in the majority opinion, § 558.0211 provides in pertinent part as follows:
1. The court shall find the defendant to be a ... persistent offender, ... if
(1) The ... information ... pleads all essential facts warranting a finding that the defendant is a ... persistent offender, ... and
(2) Evidence is introduced that establishes sufficient facts pleaded to warrant a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is a ... persistent offender, ... and
(3) The court makes findings of fact that warrant a finding beyond a reason*250able doubt by the court that the defendant is a ... persistent offender, ...
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(5) The defendant may waive proof of the facts alleged.
The majority opinion holds that the appellant’s extended sentence does not rest on findings of fact as required under § 558.021.1(3).
The record reflects that when appellant entered his guilty plea the sentencing court reviewed with appellant his seven prior felony convictions as specifically set forth in the information by date of conviction and nature of offense. The court then inquired if appellant was aware of the consequences of his entering a guilty plea in light of the fact that he was considered a persistent offender because of the prior convictions that had just been addressed. The court also reviewed with appellant the fact that the 15 year sentence contemplated in the plea bargain the court was asked to accept was only possible in light of the fact that appellant was a persistent offender. Appellant responded that he was aware of the consequences of his prior convictions and acknowledged he was also aware that the sentence of 15 years was only possible in light of his prior convictions.
Appellant admitted the allegations of the charge against him, which charge specifically set forth his seven prior felony convictions, and entered a plea of guilty. Upon appellant entering a plea of guilty the court continued to discuss appellant’s plea with him generally discussing the facts and circumstances of the case, the sentence and the terms of probation that the court was imposing. In the course of this discussion the court stated twice that appellant had seven prior felony convictions and also twice stated that appellant’s record would reflect eight felony convictions in light of his plea to the case at hand.
A defendant may waive proof of facts alleging that he is a persistent offender. § 558.021.5. By entering a plea of guilty to the information charging him with the underlying offense and the seven prior convictions, the appellant admitted his guilt to the substantive offense and all the facts charged including the seven prior convictions. Hurse v. State, 527 S.W.2d 34, 36 (Mo.App.1975).
In my opinion, when a defendant admits to specific prior convictions sufficient to establish that he is a persistent offender, he waives the necessity of the court making findings to that effect as otherwise required under § 558.021.1(3). However, in the case at bar one need not even adopt that position to deny this appeal because the court did find on the record that appellant had seven prior felony convictions all of which were specifically admitted by appellant. I believe that the statement of the court that the appellant had seven prior felony convictions, subsequent to a specific review of those convictions and appellant’s admission of the specific prior convictions, constitutes a finding of appellant’s convictions which complies with § 558.021.1(3).
Furthermore, any lack of findings of appellant’s prior convictions, under the circumstances of the case at bar, amounts to the fact that after appellant admitted to the specific prior offenses, as delineated by the court, the court accepted appellant’s admission to the specific prior convictions and found him to be a persistent offender but did not reiterate the specific convictions which appellant had admitted. Any error that might be attributed to the trial court in this regard is a procedural defect rather than a substantive error resulting in prejudice to appellant. Since appellant has made no showing that he suffered any prejudice, resentencing is not required. State v. Kilgore, 771 S.W.2d 57, 64 (Mo. banc 1989); State v. Williams, 728 S.W.2d 690, 694 (Mo.App.1987); State v. Richardson, 719 S.W.2d 884, 886 (Mo.App.1986).

. All statutory references are to RSMo 1986.