Adams v. State

Per Curiam. Appellant entered a plea of guilty generally to a three count indictment charging larceny of an automobile, receiving stolen goods, and larceny of use of the automobile. He urges that the court erred in accepting the plea of guilty generally and in sentencing him for a period greater than the maximum statutory sentence for larceny of use. We find no error. “Ordinarily, a plea of guilty by a defendant represented by counsel and capable of participating in his own defense is accepted as a matter of course. 14 Am.

Jur., Criminal Law, § 271. But in a capital case or other serious case, such as this, a trial court is required to be satisfied of the voluntary character of the plea and that the defendant understands the nature and effect of a plea of guilty. Lowe v. State, 111 Md. 1 , 73 Atl. 637 (1909). On review, however, in the absence of a showing to the contrary, the trial court will be presumed to have done all that was required of it in receiving the plea.” Jones v. State, 221 Md. 141, 144.

The record before us does not shake the presumption, rather it buttresses it. The appellant had pleaded not guilty when ¹⁴³ arraigned. At the trial his attorney explained that after consultation with him the accused wished to change his plea to “guilty generally.” The clerk echoed “Plea of guilty generally.” The