Opinion
Case No. 96-2807-CR.
Opinion Released: May 13, 1997. Opinion Filed: May 13, 1997. This opinion will not be published. See RULE 809.23(1)(b)5, STATS.
APPEAL from a judgment of the circuit court for Outagamie County: DEE R. DYER, Judge. Affirmed.
Before Cane, P.J., LaRocque and Myse, JJ.
David Pender, a six-time recidivist, appeals his latest conviction for bail jumping, having pleaded no contest to the charge and having received a ninety-day sentence to the county jail. The trial court dismissed two other charges for bail jumping and obstruction of an officer. At the start of the sentencing hearing, Pender attempted to withdraw his plea. He claimed that he had a valid defense to the charges and now wanted to proceed to trial. He also claimed prosecutorial breach of the plea agreement. In order to withdraw his plea before sentencing, Pender needed to give the trial court a fair and just reason. See State v. Canedy , 161 Wis.2d 565, 582, 469 N.W.2d 163, 170 (1991). On appeal, Pender has not pursued the plea breach argument, only briefly alluding to it. Instead, he concentrates on the claim that he has a valid defense to the charges and that this constituted a fair and just reason. While assertions of innocence are usually important factors, State v. Booth , 142 Wis.2d 232, 238, 418 N.W.2d 20, 22 (Ct.App. 1987), we must affirm the trial court's decision unless the court erroneously exercised its discretion. Canedy , 161 Wis.2d at 579, 469 N.W.2d at 169. We see no erroneous exercise of discretion and therefore affirm Pender's conviction.
Pender did not show a fair and just reason for withdrawing his plea. First, his plea admitted guilt, State v. Rachwal , 159 Wis.2d 494, 506, 465 N.W.2d 490, 494-95 (1991); Lee v. State Dental Bd ., 29 Wis.2d 330, 334, 139 N.W.2d 61, 63 (1966), and eliminated the presumption of innocence. See State v. Koerner , 32 Wis.2d 60, 67, 145 N.W.2d 157, 160-61 (1966). This directly refuted his assertions of innocence. Second, Pender gave the trial court no special circumstances; he had no new evidence and sought to withdraw his plea on the basis of the same knowledge he had had at the plea hearing. Having entered a knowing and voluntary plea, Pender had merely had a change of heart. Plea makers may not withdraw pleas on such grounds. State v. Garcia , 192 Wis.2d 845, 861-61, 532 N.W.2d 111, 117 (1995). They may vacillate before their pleas, not after, especially someone with Pender's criminal justice experience. See Nesbitt v. United States , 773 F. Supp. 795, 802 (E.D. Va. 1991). In sum, we have no basis to overturn the trial court's discretionary ruling.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.