DELMAR HAMPTON, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Delmar Hampton appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to withdraw a no contest plea, arguing he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to counsel during this critical stage of criminal proceedings. The court reversed, holding that an indigent defendant is entitled to court-appointed counsel when filing a motion to withdraw plea, and that the trial court committed per se reversible error by proceeding without ensuring Hampton had adequate representation.
An indigent defendant is entitled to court-appointed counsel when filing a motion to withdraw plea, which is a critical stage of a criminal proceeding. The trial court committed per se reversible error by proceeding to consider and deny Hampton's motion without ensuring he had adequate legal representation or providing an evidentiary hearing.
[1] A motion to withdraw a plea is a critical stage of a criminal proceeding at which an indigent defendant is entitled to court-appointed counsel.
[2] A trial court's denial of a motion to withdraw a plea without providing the defendant assistance of counsel or an evidentiary hearing is per se reversible error.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“A motion to withdraw plea is a critical stage of a criminal proceeding at which an indigent defendant is entitled to court-appointed counsel.”
Establishes the fundamental holding that court-appointed counsel is required at the motion to withdraw plea stage
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceHampton was charged with sexual battery, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia. He pleaded no contest to lesser included offenses a…
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THREADGILL, EDWARD F., Senior Judge.
Delmar Hampton challenges the trial court’s denial of his motion to withdraw his no contest plea. Hampton was originally charged with sexual battery, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia. He was permitted to plead no contest to lesser included offenses and was sentenced to a total of eight years’ probation. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
Hampton filed his motion to withdraw plea after sentencing pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.170(Z), which allows a defendant who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to appeal an involuntary plea if preserved by a motion to withdraw plea. Although Hampton raises two issues on appeal, one is disposi-tive. Hampton argues that the trial court’s refusal to appoint counsel to assist him in preparation of his motion to withdraw plea denied him his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. We agree. A motion to withdraw plea is a critical stage of a criminal proceeding at which an indigent defendant is entitled to court-appointed counsel. Padgett v. State, 743 So. 2d 70 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).
Although Hampton was technically still represented by counsel and the court could have refused to consider his motion on that basis, see Harris v. State, 818 So. 2d 567 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002), the court nevertheless proceeded to consider and rule on Hampton’s motion without questioning him or his counsel regarding Hampton’s representation. The court denied Hampton’s motion without providing him assistance of counsel or an evidentiary hearing. This was per se reversible error. See Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824,17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967).
Citing Cunningham v. State, 677 So. 2d 929 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996), the State argues that Hampton was not entitled to counsel because Hampton merely had a conflict with his counsel. However, as the court observes in Padgett, 743 So. 2d at 73-74, Cunningham is factually distinguishable. In Cunningham, there was no factual dispute regarding counsel’s allegedly coercive behavior that occurred in private and off the record. By contrast, Hampton alleged in his pro se motion to withdraw plea that his trial counsel had “lied to” and “deceived” him, inducing him to enter the plea. This type of conflict requires the appointment of counsel. See Padgett, 743 So. 2d at 73-74.
We reverse and remand the judgment and sentence with directions to allow Hampton to file a new motion to withdraw his plea with the assistance of counsel.
FULMER and CASANUEVA, JJ., Concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18 (U.S. 1967)
- Padgett v. State, 743 So. 2d 70 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)
- Harris v. State, 818 So. 2d 567 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002)
- Jay Cunningham t/n Milford Pinckney v. State, 677 So. 2d 929 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996)