03/06/2018
DA 16-0727
Case Number: DA 16-0727
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2018 MT 40N
STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
RANDY BILL RING,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Third Judicial District,
In and For the County of Powell, Cause No. DC 06-03
Honorable Ray Dayton, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Randy Bill Ring, Self-Represented, Deer Lodge, Montana
For Appellee:
Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General, C. Mark Fowler, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Lewis K. Smith, Powell County Attorney, Deer Lodge, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: January 24, 2018
Decided: March 6, 2018
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice James Jeremiah Shea delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating
Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not
serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this
Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana
Reports.
¶2 Randy Bill Ring (“Ring”) appeals the Powell County District Court’s Order denying
his Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty of two counts of forgery in violation of
§ 45-6-325(1)(b), MCA, and denying his Motion for Discovery. In 2006, the State charged
Ring with two counts of forging signatures on a car and motorcycle lien. On October 16,
2007, Ring signed a written Plea Agreement and Waiver of Rights pleading guilty to two
counts of forgery, and the District Court held a change of plea hearing the same day. At
the hearing, counsel presented the written Plea, and the District Court proceeded through a
colloquy, questioning Ring about whether he understood the rights he was waiving and
was entering his pleas freely and voluntarily. Ring acknowledged he understood the rights
he was waiving, and stated that he was entering his pleas freely and voluntarily, and the
District Court accepted Ring’s pleas. On April 3, 2008, the District Court entered a
judgment and sentenced Ring to ten years suspended on each forgery count, to run
concurrent with each other. In the judgment, the District Court specifically found that
Ring’s guilty pleas were freely and voluntarily entered.
¶3 In 2011, the State petitioned to revoke Ring’s forgery sentence; Ring admitted the
revocation allegations and, on February 28, 2012, the District Court entered a judgment on
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the Petition to Revoke. On March 1, 2012, the District Court entered an amended judgment
revoking the suspended portion of Ring’s sentence. Ring applied for sentence review. In
2013, the Sentence Review Division affirmed the District Court’s judgment.
¶4 On April 20, 2016, Ring filed a Motion to Withdraw his Guilty Plea and a Motion
for Discovery. On November 10, 2016, the District Court issued its order denying Ring’s
Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty and, because his Motion for Discovery was contingent
on his Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty, this Motion was also denied. The District
Court held that Ring’s Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty was time barred because he
failed to present a factual basis for newly discovered evidence. Further, the District Court
again held that Ring had entered valid guilty pleas based on the words of the signed plea
agreement and the colloquy conducted prior to entry of the plea, and that there was “no
factual basis presented to conclude [Ring] entered guilty pleas because defense counsel or
anyone else threatened him.” Ring appeals.
¶5 Upon a showing of good cause, a district court may allow a defendant to withdraw
a guilty plea before judgment or within one year after judgment of conviction becomes
final. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA. This Court reviews a district court’s ruling on a motion
to withdraw a plea to determine whether the plea was voluntary. State v. Muhammad, 2005
MT 234, ¶ 12, 328 Mont. 397, 121 P.3d 521. Determining the voluntariness of a plea is
not a discretionary matter, but a mixed question of law and fact to be reviewed de novo;
thus, we review underlying findings of fact for clear error, questions of law for correctness,
and the ultimate question of voluntariness de novo. State v. Warner, 2015 MT 230, ¶ 9,
380 Mont. 273, 354 P.3d 620 (citing State v. Warclub, 2005 MT 149, ¶¶ 17, 24, 327 Mont.
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352, 114 P.3d 254); see also State v. Lone Elk, 2005 MT 56, ¶ 19, 326 Mont. 214, 108 P.3d
500, overruled in part by State v. Brinson, 2009 MT 200, ¶ 9, 351 Mont. 136, 210 P.3d
164. Finally, a defendant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”) are mixed
questions of law and fact we review de novo. Whitlow v. State, 2008 MT 140, ¶ 9, 343
Mont. 90, 183 P.3d 861.
¶6 A guilty plea is valid if made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. State v.
Keys, 1999 MT 10, ¶ 12, 293 Mont. 81, 973 P.2d 812. However, a guilty plea may be
withdrawn for good cause, including involuntariness. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA; State
v. McFarlane, 2008 MT 18, ¶ 11, 341 Mont. 166, 176 P.3d 1057; Warclub, ¶ 16. In
determining the voluntariness of guilty pleas, we apply the United States Supreme Court’s
standard from Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 90 S. Ct. 1463 (1970), and we will not
overturn a district court’s denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea “if the defendant
was aware of the direct consequences of such a plea, and if his plea was not induced by
threats, misrepresentation, or an improper promise such as a bribe.” Warclub, ¶ 32 (citing
Brady, 937 U.S. at 755, 90 S. Ct. at 1472).
¶7 A motion to withdraw a guilty plea must be filed within one year after the judgment
becomes final. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA. A judgment becomes final “when the time
of appeal to the Montana Supreme Court expires . . . .” Section 46-16-105(2)(a), MCA.
An appeal of a criminal judgment “must be taken within 60 days after entry of the judgment
from which the appeal is taken.” M. R. App. P. 4(5)(b)(i). A narrow exception applies
when a convicted person raises a claim of actual innocence supported by evidence, which
would result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice were he not allowed to withdraw his
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guilty plea. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA; see also State v. Montgomery, 2010 MT 193,
¶¶ 17–18, 357 Mont. 348, 239 P.3d 929. The burden remains on the convicted person to
make a showing of innocence. Section 46-16-105(2), MCA; Montgomery, ¶¶ 17–18.
¶8 A criminal defendant’s right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment of the United
States Constitution and Article II, Section 24, of the Montana Constitution includes the
right to effective assistance of counsel. Miller v. State, 2012 MT 131, ¶ 12, 365 Mont. 264,
280 P.3d 272. We apply the two-pronged test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984), to a defendant’s claim of IAC. Whitlow, ¶ 10. The first
prong of the Strickland test requires the defendant to show that his counsel’s performance
was deficient, which requires he prove that counsel’s performance fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness. Whitlow, ¶ 10 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct.
at 2064); Bishop v. State, 254 Mont. 100, 103–04, 835 P.2d 732, 734 (1992). The second
prong of the Strickland test requires the defendant to prove that his counsel’s deficient
performance prejudiced the defense, which requires he demonstrate a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would not have pled guilty and would have
insisted on going to trial. State v. Thee, 2001 MT 294, ¶ 9, 307 Mont. 450, 37 P.3d 741,
overruled on other grounds by Whitlow, ¶ 13; State v. Turner, 2000 MT 270, ¶ 65, 302
Mont. 69, 12 P.3d 934.
¶9 Ring argues on appeal that his plea was not entered voluntarily, intelligently, and
knowingly, and that he misunderstood the nature of the plea agreement and consequences
of the plea. Ring further asserts that the plea colloquy transcript is incomplete because he
had a private conversation with his counsel during the change of plea hearing where he
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stated that he believed he was innocent and therefore did not wish to plead guilty. Ring
also argues that his attorney told Ring that if he went to trial he would be convicted. Finally,
Ring argues that his motion to withdraw is not time barred because he had discovered new
evidence that supports his innocence and that sealed documents filed in the record contain
evidence supporting his innocence.
¶10 The State counters that Ring provides no evidence to support his claim of actual
innocence or to show a fundamental miscarriage of justice would occur should he not be
allowed to withdraw his guilty plea, entered in 2007. Further, the State contends that under
§ 46-16-105(2)(a), MCA, any motion to withdraw Ring’s guilty plea is time barred. We
agree.
¶11 Ring has not presented any evidence to support his claim of innocence; he merely
asserts that new evidence exists. Further, when Ring signed the agreement he agreed orally
and in writing that he entered the pleas knowingly, voluntarily, and competently and not
because of pressure, coercion, or threats by the State or anyone else. Ring acknowledged
that he reviewed the agreement and waiver of rights and that he was mentally competent
and not under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Ring has failed to support his claim
of innocence or to show that a fundamental miscarriage of juice would occur were he not
allowed to withdraw his pleas. See Montgomery, ¶¶ 17–18. Instead, he has proffered only
insufficient conclusory statements that do not overcome the steep hurdle to avoid the time
bar. See Montgomery, ¶ 18. Ring did not demonstrate good cause to withdraw his guilty
pleas made in 2007. See Warclub, ¶¶ 16, 35; McFarlane, ¶ 11. Since his claim of
innocence is not supported by evidence, Ring’s Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty must
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have been entered before the judgment or within one year after the judgment became final.
See § 46-16-105, MCA; M. R. App. P. 4(5)(b)(i); see also Montgomery, ¶ 16 (we have long
held that there must be some finality in criminal cases).
¶12 Further, we agree with the District Court that Ring fails to support his claim that
defense counsel acted coercively; instead, it appears defense counsel was merely advising
Ring of his choice to plead guilty or proceed to trial. See Turner, ¶ 65. “There is no factual
basis presented to conclude [Ring] entered guilty pleas because defense counsel or anyone
else threatened him.” His pleas were validly made. See Keys, ¶ 12.
¶13 Ring’s Motion to Withdraw was filed more than six years after his conviction
became final on June 3, 2008. It is therefore time barred under § 46-16-105, MCA. The
District Court did not err in dismissing Ring’s Motion to Withdraw his Guilty Plea and his
Motion for Discovery.
¶14 We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of our
Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. In the opinion of the
Court, the case presents a question controlled by settled law or by the clear application of
applicable standards of review. The District Court’s findings of fact are not clearly
erroneous, and the District Court’s interpretation and application of the law were correct.
¶15 Affirmed.
/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
We Concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ JIM RICE
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State v. Ring
Combined Opinion