Robert Scott Pebbles v The State Of Oklahoma

C-2005-524

Filed: Apr. 5, 2006

Not for publication

Prevailing Party: The State Of Oklahoma

Summary

Robert Scott Pebbles appealed his conviction for First Degree Rape. His conviction was for five years of imprisonment, which was fully suspended. The court found that Pebbles' plea was not knowing and voluntary because he had been misinformed about the possible punishment he faced. This misinformation included false claims that he could receive the death penalty, which was not correct. The opinion concluded that his guilty plea should be withdrawn, and the case was sent back for further action. Judge C. Johnson dissented.

Decision

The Petition for Certiorari is GRANTED and Petitioner's guilty plea is hereby withdrawn. This matter is thus REMANDED to Oklahoma County for further proceedings consistent herewith. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2006), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision.

Issues

• was there a valid basis for the Petitioner to withdraw his guilty plea?
• did the Petitioner enter his plea knowingly and voluntarily?
• was the Petitioner misinformed about the maximum punishment for First Degree Rape?
• did the misadvice regarding potential sentencing affect the validity of the plea?
• is the Petitioner eligible for the death penalty for the crime charged?

Findings

• The court erred in denying the motion to withdraw the plea.
• Petitioner's plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered.
• Petitioner was misadvised regarding the range of possible punishment.
• The guilty plea is hereby withdrawn.
• The matter is remanded to Oklahoma County for further proceedings.

C-2005-524

Apr. 5, 2006

Robert Scott Pebbles

Appellant

v

The State Of Oklahoma

Appellee

SUMMARY OPINION

LUMPKIN, V.P.J.: In furtherance of a negotiated plea agreement, Petitioner Robert Scott Pebbles pled guilty and was convicted of First Degree Rape, in violation of 21 O.S.2001, § 1114 in Oklahoma County District Court, case no. CF-2004-470. He was sentenced to five (5) years imprisonment, fully suspended.

Petitioner, through new counsel, filed a motion to withdraw his plea, claiming his attorney scared him into pleading guilty, he did not understand and could not complete the sexual offender program due to its requirements and his health, his attorney was unprepared for trial, and actual innocence. During the hearing on this motion, Petitioner testified his attorney had advised him that he was facing a possible sentence of death by lethal injection for the crime of rape. This sentence was also written into the plea documentation. The State neither cross-examined Petitioner nor offered any evidence in response. Following arguments, the trial judge denied the motion to withdraw plea.

Petitioner now appeals from that decision. Petitioner raises the following proposition of error in support of his Petition for Writ of Certiorari: that his plea was not knowing and voluntary due to ignorance of the requirements of his probation, misapprehension of the maximum punishment, lack of deliberation, and actual innocence.

After thoroughly considering this proposition and the entire record before us, we find the Petition for Writ of Certiorari has merit. Based upon the record before us, we find Petitioner’s plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered due to the fact that Petitioner was misadvised regarding the range of possible punishment. While the rape statutes continue to provide that first-degree rape is punishable by death, this is not the case as the U.S. Supreme Court declared such a punishment unconstitutional. Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, 97 S.Ct. 2861, 53 L.Ed.2d 982 (1977). Affidavits submitted on this issue by defense counsel support Petitioner’s claim that he was misadvised regarding the sentence he was facing.¹ Thus, we cannot say the plea was entered into knowingly and voluntarily. See Berget v. State, 1991 OK CR 121, 824 P.2d 364, 370 (we will examine the entire record before us to determine whether the guilty plea was entered in a knowing and voluntary manner).

1 We called for a Response Brief from the Attorney General regarding Petitioner’s claims, including whether or not he is eligible for the death penalty for the crime charged and whether or not he was misadvised regarding the maximum sentence for first-degree rape. The Attorney General moved to supplement the record under Rule 2.2(C) with affidavits from the attorneys involved regarding what transpired at the plea hearing, which was not transcribed. That motion is sustained under the facts of this case. While the Attorney General acknowledged Petitioner is not eligible for the death penalty for the crime of rape, the affidavits convince us Petitioner was in fact misadvised regarding the possible punishments he was facing.²

DECISION

The Petition for Certiorari is GRANTED and Petitioner’s guilty plea is hereby withdrawn. This matter is thus REMANDED to Oklahoma County for further proceedings consistent herewith. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2006), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision.

AN APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY THE HONORABLE SUSAN BRAGG, DISTRICT JUDGE

APPEARANCES AT TRIAL

AL HOCH W. CREEKMORE WALLACE CHARLENE L. GINTER 20 NORTH ELM 6303 N. PORTLAND, SUITE 300 P.O. BOX 90 OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73112 SAPULPA, OKLAHOMA 74067

COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER

GAYLAND GEIGER ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY 5TH FLOOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY OFFICE BLDG. OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73102

COUNSEL FOR THE STATE

OPINION BY: LUMPKIN, V.P.J.

CHAPEL, P.J.: CONCUR

C. JOHNSON, J.: CONCUR

A. JOHNSON, J.: CONCUR

LEWIS, J.: CONCUR

RC 3

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Footnotes:

1. 21 O.S.2001, § 1114
2. Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, 97 S.Ct. 2861, 53 L.Ed.2d 982 (1977)
3. Berget v. State, 1991 OK CR 121, 824 P.2d 364, 370
4. Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2006)

Oklahoma Statutes citations:

• Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1114 (2001) - First Degree Rape
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 3.15 (2006) - Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

Oklahoma Administrative Rules citations:

No Oklahoma administrative rules found.

U.S. Code citations:

No US Code citations found.

Other citations:

No other rule citations found.

Case citations:

• Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, 97 S.Ct. 2861, 53 L.Ed.2d 982 (1977)
• Berget v. State, 1991 OK CR 121, 824 P.2d 364, 370