Mathews v. State

Gilbert, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. This appeal squarely raises the question of whether or not the record must affirmatively demonstrate that an accused has been apprised of the maximum sentence to which he subjects himself by a plea of guilty. ⁶⁸⁷ Winfred James Mathews 1 pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County to feloniously breaking into a dwelling in the daytime (Art. 27, § 30(b)) and was sentenced to a term of 10 years under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correctional Services. Before accepting the guilty plea, the court proceeded to satisfy itself that the plea was being entered in accordance with that portion of the mandate of Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U. S. 238 , 89 S. Ct. 1709 , 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969), wherein Mr. Justice Douglas, speaking for the Court, said: “Several federal constitutional rights are involved in a waiver that takes place when a plea of guilty is entered in a state criminal trial. First, is the privilege against compulsory self-incrimination guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment and applicable to the States by reason of the Fourteenth.

Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U. S. 1 , 84 S. Ct. 1489 , 12 L. Ed. 2d 653 . Second, is the right to trial by jury. Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U. S. 145 , 88 S. Ct. 1444 , 20 L. Ed. 2d 491 . Third, is the right to confront one’s accusers.

Pointer v. Texas, 380 U. S. 400 , 85 S. Ct. 1065 , 13 L. Ed. 2d 923 .” Additionally, in the instant case, there was an underlying factual basis for the plea of guilty as required by our holdings in McCall v. State, 9 Md. App. 191 , 263 A. 2d 19 (1970), and Williams v. State, 10 Md. App. 570 , 271 A. 2d 777 (1970). In Williams , we said: “A plea of guilty can be effectively accepted by a court only under the standard applicable ⁶⁸⁸ to waiver of constitutional rights. To satisfy this standard the record must affirmatively show that the plea of guilty was entered by an accused : (1) voluntarily, that is not through coercion, terror, inducements, or subtle or blatant threats; and (2) with an intelligent understanding, that is not through ignorance or incomprehension : (a) of the nature of the offense to which he is pleading guilty; and (b) of the possible consequences of such a plea; and (3) unconditionally, that is without any condition or qualification.” Appellant, however, argues that notwithstanding the trial court’s efforts to comply with Boykin v. Alabama, supra, McCall v. State, supra, and Williams v. State, supra, we should reverse because of our holding in Duvall v. State, 5 Md. App. 484 , 248 A. 2d 401 (1968), wherein Chief Judge Murphy, speaking for this Court, said at page 487: “* * * the record before us does not show that any inquiry was made, either by the court or by defense counsel, as to whether appellant understood the nature of the charge and the possible consequences of a plea of guilty, particularly as to the length of the sentence that could be imposed upon him by the court. We recognize, of course, that defense counsel ordinarily advises an accused in detail concerning the nature of the crime charged, as well as the consequences of a guilty plea.

We are unwilling, however, to conclude on a silent record that defense counsel did in fact so advise the accused, and we hold that appellant’s guilty plea was not satis ⁶⁸⁹ factorily shown to be freely and intelligently entered.” 2 (Emphasis supplied). The record pertaining to the “possible consequences of a plea of guilty, particularly as to the length of the sentence that could be imposed upon [appellant] by the court” in the instant case is as follows: ⁶⁹⁰ “THE COURT: Do you also understand that the Court may sentence you to the maximum on this charge? DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Do you understand that?

DEFENDANT: Yes, I do. THE COURT: Do you know what that is? DEFENDANT: No, I am not sure, sir. THE COURT: Has anyone promised you that you would receive probation or receive any leniency in this case?

DEFENDANT: No, they haven’t. THE COURT: You understand that the Court can sentence you up to the maximum on it? DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: And you know what the maximum is ?

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. * * * “THE COURT: Do you fully understand what the effect of entering the plea is? DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Are you satisfied with the manner in which your attorney has handled the case? DEFENDANT: Yes, I am.

THE COURT: Your case. And the advice he has given you concerning entering a plea of guilty? DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: Are there any questions you would like to ask the Court concerning the effect of a plea of guilty?

DEFENDANT: No, sir.” (Emphasis supplied). ⁶⁹¹ In the instant case, the appellant firstly stated that he was “not sure” of the maximum sentence to which he subjected himself by virtue of a plea of guilty. We think appellant’s response to the trial judge’s question as to whether or not appellant knew the maximum sentence that could be imposed was couched in such language that it, the response, operated, or should have operated, as a signal to the judge so as to necessitate further inquiry as to whether or not appellant’s counsel had apprised appellant of the maximum penalty that could be meted under the statute, or, in the alternative, for the court to so advise the appellant. It has not been constitutionally mandated that a trial court should personally conduct the examination of a defendant so as to determine the defendant’s understanding of, and the effect of, a guilty plea, Smith v. Director, 13 Md. App. 53 , 280 A. 2d 910 (1971), and there is no Maryland Rule to that effect, although an on the record personal inquiry by the trial judge, we think, is the better practice. McCall v. State, supra.

In Boykin v. State, supra, the Court said: “What is at stake for an accused facing death or imprisonment demands the utmost solicitude of which courts are