Court Opinion

ID: 4252229
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-06 23:13:19.787163+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:14.254852
License: Public Domain

03/06/2018

                                          DA 16-0727
                                                                                           Case Number: DA 16-0727

              IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                          2018 MT 40N

STATE OF MONTANA,

               Plaintiff and Appellee,

         v.

RANDY BILL RING,

               Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM:           District Court of the Third Judicial District,
                       In and For the County of Powell, Cause No. DC 06-03
                       Honorable Ray Dayton, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

                For Appellant:

                       Randy Bill Ring, Self-Represented, Deer Lodge, Montana

                For Appellee:

                       Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General, C. Mark Fowler, Assistant
                       Attorney General, Helena, Montana

                       Lewis K. Smith, Powell County Attorney, Deer Lodge, Montana

                                                   Submitted on Briefs: January 24, 2018

                                                              Decided: March 6, 2018

Filed:

                       __________________________________________
                                         Clerk
Justice James Jeremiah Shea delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating

Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not

serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this

Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana

Reports.

¶2     Randy Bill Ring (“Ring”) appeals the Powell County District Court’s Order denying

his Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty of two counts of forgery in violation of

§ 45-6-325(1)(b), MCA, and denying his Motion for Discovery. In 2006, the State charged

Ring with two counts of forging signatures on a car and motorcycle lien. On October 16,

2007, Ring signed a written Plea Agreement and Waiver of Rights pleading guilty to two

counts of forgery, and the District Court held a change of plea hearing the same day. At

the hearing, counsel presented the written Plea, and the District Court proceeded through a

colloquy, questioning Ring about whether he understood the rights he was waiving and

was entering his pleas freely and voluntarily. Ring acknowledged he understood the rights

he was waiving, and stated that he was entering his pleas freely and voluntarily, and the

District Court accepted Ring’s pleas. On April 3, 2008, the District Court entered a

judgment and sentenced Ring to ten years suspended on each forgery count, to run

concurrent with each other. In the judgment, the District Court specifically found that

Ring’s guilty pleas were freely and voluntarily entered.

¶3     In 2011, the State petitioned to revoke Ring’s forgery sentence; Ring admitted the

revocation allegations and, on February 28, 2012, the District Court entered a judgment on

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the Petition to Revoke. On March 1, 2012, the District Court entered an amended judgment

revoking the suspended portion of Ring’s sentence. Ring applied for sentence review. In

2013, the Sentence Review Division affirmed the District Court’s judgment.

¶4     On April 20, 2016, Ring filed a Motion to Withdraw his Guilty Plea and a Motion

for Discovery. On November 10, 2016, the District Court issued its order denying Ring’s

Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty and, because his Motion for Discovery was contingent

on his Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty, this Motion was also denied. The District

Court held that Ring’s Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty was time barred because he

failed to present a factual basis for newly discovered evidence. Further, the District Court

again held that Ring had entered valid guilty pleas based on the words of the signed plea

agreement and the colloquy conducted prior to entry of the plea, and that there was “no

factual basis presented to conclude [Ring] entered guilty pleas because defense counsel or

anyone else threatened him.” Ring appeals.

¶5     Upon a showing of good cause, a district court may allow a defendant to withdraw

a guilty plea before judgment or within one year after judgment of conviction becomes

final. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA. This Court reviews a district court’s ruling on a motion

to withdraw a plea to determine whether the plea was voluntary. State v. Muhammad, 2005
MT 234, ¶ 12, 328 Mont. 397, 121 P.3d 521. Determining the voluntariness of a plea is

not a discretionary matter, but a mixed question of law and fact to be reviewed de novo;

thus, we review underlying findings of fact for clear error, questions of law for correctness,

and the ultimate question of voluntariness de novo. State v. Warner, 2015 MT 230, ¶ 9,

380 Mont. 273, 354 P.3d 620 (citing State v. Warclub, 2005 MT 149, ¶¶ 17, 24, 327 Mont.
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352, 114 P.3d 254); see also State v. Lone Elk, 2005 MT 56, ¶ 19, 326 Mont. 214, 108 P.3d
500, overruled in part by State v. Brinson, 2009 MT 200, ¶ 9, 351 Mont. 136, 210 P.3d
164. Finally, a defendant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”) are mixed

questions of law and fact we review de novo. Whitlow v. State, 2008 MT 140, ¶ 9, 343
Mont. 90, 183 P.3d 861.

¶6     A guilty plea is valid if made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. State v.

Keys, 1999 MT 10, ¶ 12, 293 Mont. 81, 973 P.2d 812. However, a guilty plea may be

withdrawn for good cause, including involuntariness. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA; State

v. McFarlane, 2008 MT 18, ¶ 11, 341 Mont. 166, 176 P.3d 1057; Warclub, ¶ 16. In

determining the voluntariness of guilty pleas, we apply the United States Supreme Court’s

standard from Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 90 S. Ct. 1463 (1970), and we will not

overturn a district court’s denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea “if the defendant

was aware of the direct consequences of such a plea, and if his plea was not induced by

threats, misrepresentation, or an improper promise such as a bribe.” Warclub, ¶ 32 (citing

Brady, 937 U.S. at 755, 90 S. Ct. at 1472).

¶7     A motion to withdraw a guilty plea must be filed within one year after the judgment

becomes final. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA. A judgment becomes final “when the time

of appeal to the Montana Supreme Court expires . . . .” Section 46-16-105(2)(a), MCA.

An appeal of a criminal judgment “must be taken within 60 days after entry of the judgment

from which the appeal is taken.” M. R. App. P. 4(5)(b)(i). A narrow exception applies

when a convicted person raises a claim of actual innocence supported by evidence, which

would result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice were he not allowed to withdraw his

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guilty plea. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA; see also State v. Montgomery, 2010 MT 193,

¶¶ 17–18, 357 Mont. 348, 239 P.3d 929. The burden remains on the convicted person to

make a showing of innocence. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA; Montgomery, ¶¶ 17–18.

¶8     A criminal defendant’s right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment of the United

States Constitution and Article II, Section 24, of the Montana Constitution includes the

right to effective assistance of counsel. Miller v. State, 2012 MT 131, ¶ 12, 365 Mont. 264,

280 P.3d 272. We apply the two-pronged test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984), to a defendant’s claim of IAC. Whitlow, ¶ 10. The first

prong of the Strickland test requires the defendant to show that his counsel’s performance

was deficient, which requires he prove that counsel’s performance fell below an objective

standard of reasonableness. Whitlow, ¶ 10 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct.

at 2064); Bishop v. State, 254 Mont. 100, 103–04, 835 P.2d 732, 734 (1992). The second

prong of the Strickland test requires the defendant to prove that his counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced the defense, which requires he demonstrate a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would not have pled guilty and would have

insisted on going to trial. State v. Thee, 2001 MT 294, ¶ 9, 307 Mont. 450, 37 P.3d 741,

overruled on other grounds by Whitlow, ¶ 13; State v. Turner, 2000 MT 270, ¶ 65, 302
Mont. 69, 12 P.3d 934.

¶9     Ring argues on appeal that his plea was not entered voluntarily, intelligently, and

knowingly, and that he misunderstood the nature of the plea agreement and consequences

of the plea. Ring further asserts that the plea colloquy transcript is incomplete because he

had a private conversation with his counsel during the change of plea hearing where he

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stated that he believed he was innocent and therefore did not wish to plead guilty. Ring

also argues that his attorney told Ring that if he went to trial he would be convicted. Finally,

Ring argues that his motion to withdraw is not time barred because he had discovered new

evidence that supports his innocence and that sealed documents filed in the record contain

evidence supporting his innocence.

¶10      The State counters that Ring provides no evidence to support his claim of actual

innocence or to show a fundamental miscarriage of justice would occur should he not be

allowed to withdraw his guilty plea, entered in 2007. Further, the State contends that under

§ 46-16-105(2)(a), MCA, any motion to withdraw Ring’s guilty plea is time barred. We

agree.

¶11      Ring has not presented any evidence to support his claim of innocence; he merely

asserts that new evidence exists. Further, when Ring signed the agreement he agreed orally

and in writing that he entered the pleas knowingly, voluntarily, and competently and not

because of pressure, coercion, or threats by the State or anyone else. Ring acknowledged

that he reviewed the agreement and waiver of rights and that he was mentally competent

and not under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Ring has failed to support his claim

of innocence or to show that a fundamental miscarriage of juice would occur were he not

allowed to withdraw his pleas. See Montgomery, ¶¶ 17–18. Instead, he has proffered only

insufficient conclusory statements that do not overcome the steep hurdle to avoid the time

bar. See Montgomery, ¶ 18. Ring did not demonstrate good cause to withdraw his guilty

pleas made in 2007. See Warclub, ¶¶ 16, 35; McFarlane, ¶ 11. Since his claim of

innocence is not supported by evidence, Ring’s Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty must

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have been entered before the judgment or within one year after the judgment became final.

See § 46-16-105, MCA; M. R. App. P. 4(5)(b)(i); see also Montgomery, ¶ 16 (we have long

held that there must be some finality in criminal cases).

¶12    Further, we agree with the District Court that Ring fails to support his claim that

defense counsel acted coercively; instead, it appears defense counsel was merely advising

Ring of his choice to plead guilty or proceed to trial. See Turner, ¶ 65. “There is no factual

basis presented to conclude [Ring] entered guilty pleas because defense counsel or anyone

else threatened him.” His pleas were validly made. See Keys, ¶ 12.

¶13    Ring’s Motion to Withdraw was filed more than six years after his conviction

became final on June 3, 2008. It is therefore time barred under § 46-16-105, MCA. The

District Court did not err in dismissing Ring’s Motion to Withdraw his Guilty Plea and his

Motion for Discovery.

¶14    We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of our

Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. In the opinion of the

Court, the case presents a question controlled by settled law or by the clear application of

applicable standards of review. The District Court’s findings of fact are not clearly

erroneous, and the District Court’s interpretation and application of the law were correct.

¶15    Affirmed.

                                                  /S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA

We Concur:

/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ JIM RICE

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