Summary
reversing denial of rule 3.170(l ) motion to withdraw plea that alleged counsel misadvised him regarding sentencing, and remanding for evidentiary hearing because record failed to show that defendant was not entitled to relief
Summary of this case from Lane v. StateOpinion
Case No. 2D03-1514.
Opinion filed February 18, 2004.
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County, J. Kevin Carey, Judge.
James Marion Moorman, Public Defender, and Andrea Norgard, Assistant Public Defender, Bartow, for Appellant.
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Susan D. Dunlevy, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.
Troy E. Daniel appeals the trial court's denial, without an evidentiary hearing, of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea. Daniel's motion alleged that his trial counsel misadvised him regarding sentencing. Because the record fails to show that Daniel is not entitled to relief, we reverse and remand for an evidentiary hearing. See Snodgrass v. State, 837 So.2d 507, 508 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003) (citing State v. Leroux, 689 So.2d 235, 237 (Fla. 1996)). Since a motion to withdraw a plea pursuant to rule 3.170(l) is a "critical stage" in which the defendant is entitled to effective assistance of counsel, Brown v. State, 835 So.2d 402, 403 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003), we remand with directions that the trial court appoint conflict-free counsel for the evidentiary hearing.
Reversed and remanded.
SALCINES and WALLACE, JJ., Concur.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED