IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA GENE FREEMAN PRICE, ) ) Appellant, ) NOT FOR PUBLICATION ) V. ) Case No. F-2012-112 ) THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, ) FILED ) IN COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL@ Appellee. ) : STATE OF OKLAHOMA FEB 2 5 2013 SUMMARY OPINION LUMPKIN, JUDGE: MICHAEL S. RICHIE CLERK Appellant, Gene Freeman Price, was tried by jury and convicted of First Degree Burglary (21 O.S.2001, § 1431) in the District Court of Atoka County, Case Number CF-2011-183. The jury recommended as punishment imprisonment for twelve (12) years. The trial court sentenced accordingly. It is from this judgment and sentence that Appellant appeals. Appellant raises a single proposition of error in this appeal: I. Mr. Price’s conviction should be reversed because the record does not adequately reflect that he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel. After thorough consideration of the entire record before us on appeal including the original records, transcripts, and briefs of the parties, we have determined that Appellant is entitled to relief. 1 A conviction for first degree burglary requires service of not less than 85% of any sentence of imprisonment. 21 O.S.Supp.2009, § 13.1. In his sole proposition of error, Appellant contends that the record is insufficient to demonstrate that he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel. We agree. Reviewing the totality of the circumstances in the present case, we find that the trial court abused its discretion. Mathis v. State, 2012 OK CR 1, I 18, 271 P.3d 67, 75; Braun U. State, 1995 OK CR 42, I 10, 909 P.2d 783, 787. While the trial court may very well have explained the disadvantages and perils of self-representation to Appellant off the record, the colloquy that the trial court conducted on the record was insufficient to establish that Appellant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to the assistance of counsel. Braun, 1995 OK CR 42, I 10, 909 P.2d at 787 (“Anything less than a record which shows that the defendant rejected the offer of counsel with knowledge and understanding of the perils of self-representation is not waiver.”). We note that the colloquies that occurred before preliminary hearing, formal arraignment and trial in the present case all were insufficient to establish that Appellant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to the assistance of counsel. Norton v. State, 2002 OK CR 10, I 8, 43 P.3d 404, 407. Therefore, we are forced to conclude that Appellant was denied his right to the assistance of counsel. As this error pervaded the entire proceedings in the present case, it cannot be considered harmless. Satterwhite U. Texas, 486 U.S. 249, 257, 108 S.Ct. 1792, 1797, 100 L.Ed.2d 284 (1988) (finding that Sixth Amendment violations that pervade entire proceeding fall within category of constitutional violations that can never be considered harmless); compare 2 Norton, 2002 OK CR 10, 1 12 43 P.3d at 408 (“denial of counsel at preliminary hearing is subject to harmless-error review.”). Thus, reversal is required. DECISION The judgment and sentence of the trial court is REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR NEW TRIAL. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2013), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision. AN APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF ATOKACOUNTY THE HONORABLE RICHARD BRANAM, DISTRICT JUDGE APPEARANCES AT TRIAL APPEARANCES ON APPEAL GENE FREEMAN PRICE ROBERT W. JACKSON PRO SE APPELLATE DEFENSE COUNSEL OKLAHOMA INDIGENT DEFENSE- AND SYSTEM P.O. BOX 926 RYAN RENNIE NORMAN, OK 73070 ATTORNEY AT LAW COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT 118 N. CHICKASAW PAULS VALLEY, OK 73075 STANDBY COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT GREG JENKINS E. SCOTT PRUITT ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA 202 EAST COURT STREET JUDY KING ATOKA, OK 74525 ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE STATE 313 N.E. 21ST ST. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105 COUNSEL FOR THE STATE OPINION BY: LUMPKIN, J. LEWIS, P.J.: CONCUR IN RESULT SMITH, V.P.J..: CONCUR C. JOHNSON, J.: CONCUR A. JOHNSON, J.: CONCUR RC 3
F-2012-112
- Post author:Mili Ahosan
- Post published:February 25, 2013
- Post category:F
Tags: Appeal, Appellate Defense Counsel, Assistance of Counsel, Assistant District Attorney, Colloquy, Conviction, Counsel for Appellant, Counsel for the State, Criminal Proceedings, Decision, District Court of Atoka County, First Degree Burglary, Harmless Error, Imprisonment, Indigent Defense, Judgment, Knowingly and Intelligently, New Trial, Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 13.1, Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1431, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Preliminary Hearing, Pro Se, Right to Counsel, Self-Representation, Sentence, Sixth Amendment, Totality of Circumstances, Trial Court Discretion, Waiver