Summary
remanding the case to the trial court so that the defendant could be properly advised that "a felony-firearm conviction carries a mandatory two-year sentence which must be served before, rather than concurrently with, any sentence imposed with regard to his plea on the murder charge"
Summary of this case from People v. BlantonOpinion
Docket No. 45434.
Decided December 16, 1980. Leave to appeal applied for.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Edward Reilly Wilson, Principal Attorney, Appeals, and A. George Best, II, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
John A. Lydick, Assistant State Appellate Defender, for defendant on appeal.
Before: J.H. GILLIS, P.J., and BASHARA and CYNAR, JJ.
Defendant was charged with first-degree murder, MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548, and felony-firearm, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). Pursuant to a guilty-plea arrangement, the trial court accepted defendant's plea of guilty to second-degree murder, MCL 750.317; MSA 28.549.
At the plea proceeding, the trial court informed the defendant of the consequences of a felony-firearm conviction, as follows:
"Now, I would indicate to you the charge in this case carries a mandatory sentence of up to two years in the state penitentiary, if you should be convicted of the charge of carrying a firearm. This charge would run concurrently, that is, together with any sentence imposed on any other charges. Do you understand that?" (Emphasis supplied.)
Defendant challenges the guilty plea on the grounds that he was not apprised of the two-year mandatory minimum sentence for a felony-firearm conviction which must be served consecutively to and preceding the underlying felony.
GCR 1963, 785.7(1)(d) requires the trial court to inform the defendant of the "mandatory minimum prison sentence, if any, for the offense". Failure to comply with the rule (formerly 785.7[1][b]) requires reversal. Guilty Plea Cases, 395 Mich. 96, 118; 235 N.W.2d 132 (1975), cert den sub nom Sanders v Michigan, 429 U.S. 1108; 97 S.Ct. 1142; 51 L.Ed.2d 561 (1977). It is undisputed that the felony-firearm statute imposes a mandatory two-year prison sentence, not a sentence of up to two years. Therefore, the trial court erred in misinforming the defendant of the certain consequences of his conviction.
Furthermore, the statute requires that the felony-firearm sentence be served consecutively to that imposed for conviction of the underlying felony, MCL 750.227b(2); MSA 28.424(2)(2). There is no court rule which explicitly requires the court to inform the defendant at the guilty-plea proceeding that the sentence will be consecutive. In People v Larkins, 59 Mich. App. 199; 229 N.W.2d 378 (1975) and in People v Bennett, 76 Mich. App. 264; 256 N.W.2d 459 (1977), this Court held that the trial court did not have a duty to inform the defendants before accepting their guilty pleas that it was within the court's discretion to sentence them to either concurrent or consecutive sentences.
Those cases are distinguishable from the case at bar for two reasons. First, the trial court in Bennett and Larkins remained silent on the issue rather than misinforming the defendants. Second, the charges in those cases did not require consecutive or specific mandatory sentences as does the felony-firearm statute.
In Larkins, supra, the defendant pled guilty to attempted assault with intent to commit gross indecency, MCL 750.85; MSA 28.280. Bennett pled guilty to larceny in a building, MCL 750.360; MSA 28.592, and larceny over $100, MCL 750.356; MSA 28.588. In both offenses, the trial court had discretion to establish the sentence within the parameters of the statutes.
The purpose of the mandatory sentencing rule is to apprise the defendant of the minimum time he will serve in prison so that his plea of guilty is given with full knowledge of the consequences. Guilty Plea Cases, supra, 118. We hold that, where consecutive and/or mandatory sentencing is ordered by statute, the defendant must be informed of that fact so that he has full knowledge of the true minimum time he will serve by pleading guilty.
The matter is remanded to the trial court. The court shall advise the defendant that the advice he initially received as to the sentence consequences of his pleas was incorrect and that a felony-firearm conviction carries a mandatory two-year sentence which must be served before, rather than concurrently with, any sentence imposed with regard to his plea on the murder charge. Defendant shall then be given an opportunity to affirm or withdraw his prior plea. In the event the defendant elects to affirm his plea, the convictions and sentences appealed shall stand affirmed. If the defendant elects to withdraw his plea, he shall then proceed to trial on the original charges.
Remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. We retain no further jurisdiction.