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Docket Number

No. 99,280.

Attorney(S)

Matthew M. Dwyer, of Maughan Maughan LC, of Wichita, argued the cause, and Carl F.A. Maughan, of the same firm, and David L. Woodward, appellant pro se, were with him on the briefs for appellant. Julie A. Koon, assistant district attorney, argued the cause, and Nola Tedesco Foulston, district attorney, and Stephen N. Six, attorney general, were with her on the brief for appellee.

Judges

Lee A. Johnson

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Smart Summary

State of Kansas v. David L. Woodward — Supreme Court of Kansas (March 6, 2009)

Factual and Procedural Background

In 1991 David L. Woodward pled guilty to multiple offenses arising from the death of a 5-year-old child and the sexual molestation of an 8-year-old child: kidnapping, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, rape, indecent liberties with a minor, and felony murder. On direct appeal his sentence was affirmed. A 1995 K.S.A. 60-1507 motion was summarily denied, that denial was affirmed by the Court of Appeals, and review was denied by this Court. In 2007 Woodward moved to vacate his guilty pleas and dismiss the indictment based on newly discovered evidence; the district court summarily denied the motion, and Woodward appealed. His appeal challenges (1) whether the State breached a plea agreement by how the prosecutor presented the sentencing recommendation, resulting in a harsher sentence than bargained, and (2) whether statements he made to law enforcement under a purported promise of diversion were inadmissible under K.S.A. 22-2910 and thus require vacatur/dismissal. The Supreme Court of Kansas affirmed the district court's denial of relief.

Legal Issues Presented

Whether the State breached its obligations under the plea agreement by the manner in which the prosecutor presented the negotiated sentencing recommendation at sentencing.
What standard of appellate review applies: whether the determination of a plea-agreement breach is reviewed de novo while denial of a post-sentencing motion to withdraw a plea is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
Whether the use of statements Woodward provided to a detective under an asserted promise of diversion violated K.S.A. 22-2910 and, if so, whether that constitutes newly discovered evidence justifying vacatur of pleas or dismissal of the indictment.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments

Counsel argued the abuse-of-discretion standard for post-sentencing plea-withdrawal motions should be abandoned in favor of de novo review where the defendant alleges the State's breach of a plea agreement denied due process; on the merits counsel contended the prosecutor did not make a good-faith presentation of the plea agreement's sentence recommendation and effectively influenced the sentencing judge to reject the recommendation.
Counsel also urged that issues raised in Woodward's supplemental brief be given weight and consideration.
Woodward, pro se, alleged the prosecutor "reneged" on the plea agreement and that statements he made to a detective under a promise of diversion were used in prosecution in violation of K.S.A. 22-2910; he claimed recent discovery of that statute and characterized the issue as newly discovered evidence.

Appellee's Arguments

The State (as reflected by the prosecutor's remarks at sentencing and by the Court's recounting) argued it did recommend the bargained sentence (a controlling sentence of life plus 10 years to life) and that the prosecutor's further comments responding to defense mitigation did not undermine the recommendation.
The State also relied on procedural and statutory points: Woodward should have raised the K.S.A. 22-2910 argument earlier (direct appeal or 60-1507), ignorance of the statute is not newly discovered evidence, guilty-plea waivers preclude raising prior irregularities, diversion may be proposed only after a complaint is filed and the detective lacked authority to propose diversion, and diversion is prohibited for class A/B felonies (the charges here).

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent	Rule or Principle Cited For	Application by the Court
State v. Woodward, No. 68,957 (unpublished, Jan. 21, 1994)	Appellant's prior direct appeal and sentence affirmed.	Noted as part of procedural history.
Woodward v. State, No. 77,762 (unpublished, Jan. 8, 1999), rev. denied 266 Kan. 1117 (1999)	Prior summary denial of K.S.A. 60-1507 motion.	Noted as part of procedural history showing prior collateral attack denied.
State v. Shopteese, 283 Kan. 331, 340, 153 P.3d 1208 (2007)	Denial of a post-sentencing motion to withdraw a plea lies within trial court's discretion.	Cited to support that appellate courts should not disturb a trial court's denial absent abuse of discretion.
State v. Harned, 281 Kan. 1023, 1042, 135 P.3d 1169 (2006)	Appellant bears the burden of establishing abuse of discretion.	Cited to state who bears burden on appeal of discretionary denial.
State v. Marshall, 21 Kan. App. 2d 332, 336, 899 P.2d 1068, rev. denied 258 Kan. 861 (1995)	Standard of review for evaluating an alleged breach of a plea agreement is de novo.	Used to explain that breach determinations are subject to unlimited review, though withdrawal decisions are discretionary.
State v. Boley, 279 Kan. 989, 992, 113 P.3d 248 (2005)	Plea agreements carry an expectation that each party will honor their terms.	Quoted to frame the general principle that promises in plea agreements must be fulfilled.
Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262 (1971)	Plea agreement is a promise that must be fulfilled; if State fails to perform, court must decide whether to enforce promise or allow plea withdrawal.	Identified as the foundational precedent for plea-agreement breach analysis.
United States v. Grandinetti, 564 F.2d 723, 725 (5th Cir. 1977)	Example that a prosecutor can breach a plea agreement by effectively arguing against the agreed sentencing recommendation.	Cited as an example of how a breach may occur when a prosecutor indicates problems with the agreed recommendation.
State v. Crawford, 246 Kan. 231, 237, 787 P.2d 1180 (1990)	If the State actually makes the promised sentence recommendation, further comments do not breach the agreement so long as they do not effectively undermine the recommendation.	Applied to conclude that a prosecutor may comment in support of the recommended sentence without breaching so long as the recommendation itself is made and not undermined.
United States v. Benchimol, 471 U.S. 453, 455-56 (1985)	Prosecutor is not required to be demonstratively enthusiastic about plea terms or to provide reasons for recommendation.	Used to support the principle that reasonable commentary accompanying a recommendation does not constitute breach.
State v. Hill, 247 Kan. 377, 385, 799 P.2d 997 (1990)	Plea-bargain terms are not binding on the trial court.	Cited to explain that the sentencing court retains discretion to impose a sentence different from the plea recommendation.
State v. Flores, 283 Kan. 380, 384, 153 P.3d 506 (2007)	Claims not raised at trial or on direct appeal are generally defaulted and cannot be raised later in collateral proceedings.	Applied to conclude Woodward should have advanced his statutory argument earlier.
In re K.M.H., 285 Kan. 53, 75, 169 P.3d 1025 (2007)	Illustrates the maxim that ignorance of the law is no excuse.	Cited to reject the notion that recent discovery of a statute constitutes newly discovered evidence.
State ex rel. Murray v. Palmgren, 231 Kan. 524, 536, 646 P.2d 1091 (1982)	Supports the principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse.	Used similarly to deny that the defendant's late awareness of a statute is newly discovered evidence.
State v. Anderson, 40 Kan. App. 2d 69, 71, 188 P.3d 38 (2008)	Observes the long-standing rule that ignorance of the law is no excuse.	Cited to reinforce the point on ignorance of law.
Jones v. State, 207 Kan. 622, 625, 485 P.2d 1349 (1971)	When a defendant enters a voluntary guilty plea, he is deemed to have waived prior irregularities.	Cited to show Woodward waived procedural irregularities by pleading guilty.
Trotter v. State, 218 Kan. 266, 270, 543 P.2d 1023 (1975)	Similar principle regarding waiver of irregularities by guilty plea.	Used to support the waiver argument.
State v. Melton, 207 Kan. 700, 713, 486 P.2d 1361 (1971)	Holding that voluntary guilty plea waives prior procedural irregularities even if defects reach constitutional dimensions.	Cited to reinforce that plea waivers bar the present claims about pre-plea irregularities.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court first clarified the applicable standards of review: whether the State breached its obligations under a plea agreement is a question of law reviewed de novo, whereas the district court's denial of a post-sentencing motion to withdraw a plea based on manifest injustice is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. The Court therefore separately analyzed (A) whether a breach occurred and (B) whether, if breach occurred, the district court abused its discretion in denying withdrawal.

(A) Breach-of-plea-agreement analysis: The Court explained that a plea agreement creates mutual expectations that each party will honor its terms, citing Santobello and Kansas precedent. A prosecutorial breach can occur if the State effectively argues against the negotiated recommendation; however, if the State actually makes the promised recommendation, subsequent comments in support of that recommendation do not constitute a breach so long as they do not effectively undermine the recommendation.

The Court examined the sentencing transcript. It found the prosecutor: (1) outlined the specific recommended sentence for each non–felony-murder count and asked that those sentences run concurrent; (2) requested the mandated life sentence on the felony-murder charge and asked that it run consecutive to the controlling 10-to-life on the other counts; and (3) explicitly asked the court to impose the sentence the parties had agreed to. The prosecutor also rebutted defense mitigation themes by describing facts and emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses. The Court concluded these rebuttal remarks were directly responsive to defense argument and were not intended to, nor did they, undermine the State's clear recommendation.

Because the prosecutor made the unequivocal recommendation provided in the plea agreement and her additional comments did not effectively contradict that recommendation, the Court held no breach occurred and thus no manifest injustice resulted.

(B) K.S.A. 22-2910 / newly discovered evidence / procedural defaults: The Court rejected Woodward's contention that statements he provided under a purported promise of diversion were inadmissible under K.S.A. 22-2910. It found multiple defects in his theory: (1) the claim should have been raised earlier (direct appeal or 60-1507) and was therefore procedurally defaulted; (2) recent discovery of the statute does not equal newly discovered evidence—ignorance of the law is not excusable; (3) plea waivers accompanying his guilty pleas operate to waive prior procedural irregularities; (4) diversion may be proposed only after a complaint is filed and only the prosecutor (not a detective) may propose diversion; and (5) diversion is expressly prohibited for defendants charged with class A or B felonies, and Woodward was charged with such felonies. For these reasons the Court found the K.S.A. 22-2910 claim without merit.

Because no breach was found, the Court did not reach whether the district court abused its discretion in denying withdrawal. The Court determined the district court did not err in summarily denying Woodward's motion to withdraw his plea or in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment.

Holding and Implications

Affirmed.

Holding: The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the district court's summary denial of Woodward's 2007 motion to vacate his guilty pleas and dismiss the indictment. The Court held (1) the State did not breach the plea agreement because the prosecutor plainly recommended the bargained sentence and her additional remarks did not effectively undermine that recommendation, and (2) Woodward's statutory claim under K.S.A. 22-2910 failed for procedural, substantive, and statutory-requirement reasons.

Implications: The direct consequence is that Woodward's guilty pleas and the resulting sentence remain intact; the district court's denials of his motion to withdraw his plea and motion to dismiss the indictment were not erroneous. The Court applied established standards (de novo review for breach questions; abuse-of-discretion review for plea-withdrawal denials) and relied on existing precedent to resolve the dispute; the decision does not announce a new legal rule beyond those applications.

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STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee, v. DAVID L. WOODWARD, Appellant.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT1. CRIMINAL LAW — Plea Agreement — Determination Whether State Breached Agreement — Review of Denial of Defendant's Post-sentencing Motion to Withdraw Plea Based on State's Breach of Agreement — Appellate Review. The determination of whether the State breached its obligations under a plea agreement is subject to unlimited appellate review. However, the district court's denial of a post-sentencing motion to withdraw a plea, based upon an alleged manifest injustice created by a breach of the plea agreement, is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.

2. SAME — Plea Agreement — State's Breach of Agreement — Court's Determination of Defendant's Rights after Agreement Breached. If the State fails to perform its obligations under a bargained plea agreement, then the court must decide whether justice requires that the promise be fulfilled or whether the defendant should have die opportunity to wididraw his or her plea.

3. SAME — Plea Agreement — State's Breach of Agreement by Undermining Negotiated Sentencing Recommendation. The State can breach a plea agreement by effectively arguing against die negotiated sentencing recommendation. However, if die State actually makes die sentence recommendation that it promised, the prosecutor's further comments in support of the recommended sentence do not breach the plea agreement so long as the comments do not effectively undermine the recommendation.

4. SAME — Diversion Conference — Statements Made by Defendant or Counsel Regarding Diversion Are Not Admissible in Later Criminal Proceedings. K.S.A. 22-2910 provides that statements made by the defendant or counsel in any diversion conference or in any other discussion of a proposed diversion agreement are not admissible as evidence in criminal proceedings on crimes charged or facts alleged in the complaint. That provision does not apply to statements made to law enforcement officers prior to the filing of a complaint.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

JOHNSON, J.:

In 1991, David L. Woodward pled guilty to kidnapping, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, rape, indecent liberties with a minor, and felony murder in connection with the killing of a 5-year-old child and the sexual molestation of an 8-year-old child. In his direct appeal, we affirmed his sentence. State v. Woodward, No. 68,957, unpublished opinion filed January 21, 1994. The summary denial of Woodward's 1995 motion pursuant to K.S.A. 60-1507 was affirmed by the Court of Appeals and review was denied by this court. Woodward v. State, No. 77, 762, unpublished opinion filed January 8, 1999, rev. denied 266 Kan. 1117 (1999). Woodward returns to the appellate courts once more, appealing the summary denial of his 2007 motion to vacate his guilty pleas and dismiss the indictment based on newly discovered evidence. We affirm.

We are favored with two briefs of appellant: one filed by Woodward's counsel and one filed by Woodward. Counsel's brief states as its first issue the general, overarching question of whether the district court erred in denying Woodward's motion to vacate his guilty pleas and dismiss the indictment. As a purported second issue, counsel states that "[w]eight should be given to Defendant's supplemental brief and argument therein."

On the first issue, counsel devotes a portion of his argument to urging us to abandon the abuse of discretion standard of review on plea withdrawals in favor of a de novo review where the defendant alleges that the State's breach of a plea agreement denied him or her due process. On the merits, counsel argues that the prosecutor did not make a good faith presentation of the plea agreement's sentence recommendation, thereby influencing the sentencing judge to refuse the recommendation and deprive Woodward of the benefit of his bargain. On the second issue, counsel's one-sentence argument asks that the issues raised in Woodward's supplemental brief "be granted review and given their due weight and consideration."

Likewise, Woodward's pro se brief raises the issue of the "prosecutor's reneging of plea agreement." Additionally, Woodward asserts that the prosecutor violated K.S.A. 22-2910 and that this issue is based upon newly discovered evidence because he just learned of that statute's existence. We will attempt to simplify the analysis of the appellant's complaints.

BREACH OF PLEA AGREEMENT

As part of the plea agreement, the State agreed to recommend that the district court impose a consecutive sentence of 10 years to life on all of the counts other than felony murder, i.e., a controlling sentence of life, plus 10 years to life. The sentencing court ultimately imposed a "controlling sentence of life, plus an additional 30 years to life." Woodward attributes the court's rejection of the recommended sentence to the manner in which the prosecutor presented the bargained plea agreement recommendation at the sentencing hearing.

Standard of Review

Procedurally, Woodward's allegation that the State breached the plea agreement was presented in a motion to withdraw his plea. To correct manifest injustice after sentence has been imposed, a court may set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant to withdraw his or her plea. K.S.A. 22-3210(d). We have repeatedly said that the denial of a post-sentencing motion to withdraw a plea lies within the trial court's discretion and an appellate court should not disturb that ruling absent an abuse of discretion. See, e.g., State v. Shopteese, 283 Kan. 331, 340, 153 P.3d 1208 (2007). The appellant carries the burden of establishing an abuse of discretion. State v. Harned, 281 Kan. 1023, 1042, 135 P.3d 1169 (2006).

However, we have stated:

"Judicial discretion will vary depending upon the character of the question presented for determination. Generally, the trial court's decision is protected if reasonable persons could differ upon the propriety of the decision as long as the discretionary decision is made within and takes into account the applicable legal standards. However, an abuse of discretion may be found if the trial court's decision goes outside the framework of or fails to properly consider statutory limitations or legal standards." Shopteese, 283 Kan. at 340.

Here, the underlying complaint is that the State breached the plea agreement, which presents a question of law, subject to unlimited review. See State v. Marshall, 21 Kan. App. 2d 332, 336, 899 P.2d 1068, rev. denied 258 Kan. 861 (1995) (noting the standard of review for evaluating an alleged breach of plea agreement is de novo). Thus, our review of whether the State breached the plea agreement is unlimited, but the question of whether the district court should have permitted a plea withdrawal for the breach, if one occurred, is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.

Analysis

An expectation inherent in all plea agreements is that each party will honor the terms of the agreement. State v. Boley, 279 Kan. 989, 992, 113 P.3d 248 (2005). Our case law regarding plea agreement breaches is rooted in Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262, 30 L. Ed. 2d 427, 92 S. Ct. 495 (1971). In Santobello, the United States Supreme Court held that a plea agreement is a promise that must be fulfilled by both parties. 404 U.S. at 262. If the State fails to uphold its end of the bargain, then the court must decide whether justice requires that the promise be fulfilled or whether the defendant should have the chance to withdraw the plea. 404 U.S. at 262.

The State can breach a plea agreement by effectively arguing against the negotiated sentencing recommendation. See United States v. Grandinetti, 564 F.2d 723, 725 (5th Cir. 1977) (prosecutor told judge he had "serious problems" with agreed recommendation to run sentences concurrently). However, if the State actually makes the sentence recommendation that it promised, the prosecutor's further comments in support of the recommended sentence do not breach the plea agreement so long as the comments do not effectively undermine the recommendation. See State v. Crawford, 246 Kan, 231, 237, 787 P.2d 1180 (1990); see also United States v. Benchimol, 471 U.S. 453, 455-56, 85 L. Ed. 2d 462, 105 S. Ct. 2103 (1985) (prosecutor not required to be enthusiastic about the plea agreement terms or to give reasons for the recommendation).

Woodward concedes that the prosecutor asked the sentencing court to follow the plea agreement. The transcript reflects that the prosecutor outlined the specific recommended sentence for each of the five counts, other than felony murder, and asked that they "run concurrent with each other." The prosecutor then requested the mandated life sentence on the felony-murder charge and asked the court to "run that consecutive to the controlling 10 to life on the other counts." In concluding her remarks, the prosecutor reiterated: "I would ask the Court to impose the sentence that the parties have agreed to," which was the controlling sentence of life plus 10 years to life.

Woodward complains that the prosecutor "constructively reneged on the plea" by coupling her requests for the recommended sentence with "arguments as to why such a sentence should not be given." He contends that the prosecutor's "arguments could only serve to anger the judge, prejudice the sentence recommendation, and inflame the passions and sentiments against the defendant, inevitably resulting in a much harsher and more punitive sentence." Considering the context of the entire sentencing hearing, we disagree with Woodward's characterization of the prosecutor's remarks.

The hearing commenced with the defense counsel speaking on behalf of her client. Counsel pointed out that Woodward had been a law enforcement officer for approximately 20 of his 48 years of life; that he had "led an exemplary life until around the time of [the child's] death"; that he had been married for approximately 20 years and had two children; that he had the support of his family; and that the evaluation from Larned State Hospital diagnosing Woodward as a pedophile was flawed. Counsel indicated that the victims' families had been consulted about the sentence recommendation and had agreed to it. Although defense counsel asked the court to follow the plea agreement, she also asked that the court make provisions for her client to "get the treatment that is so deeply needed."

Defense counsel's remarks were followed by those of Woodward's wife, who said:

"I just more or less want to reiterate what she [defense counsel] said. I have been married to David for 22 years. He's a good man. He's been a good father. . . . He did not murder [the child]. It was an accident. He can't erase the seriousness of what he's done and everything; but he needs help, not to be punished and put away for the rest of his life. He needs help. And I was assured he would get help; and he does have the full support of his whole family, his sons, and myself."

After Woodward declined the opportunity to address the court directly, the court asked the State for its recommendation. The prosecutor commenced by clarifying that the sentencing recommendation was that of the district attorney's office, not that of the victims. The prosecutor then reminded the judge, who had also presided at trial, of the heinous nature of the offenses and the losses suffered by the victims' families. She referenced the diagnosis of pedophilia and opined that "the help that can be best afforded to Mr. Woodward is to make him not dangerous to the community and not dangerous to himself by incarcerating him." The prosecutor pointed to facts that called into question the defense statements that Woodward was a "good father." She described circumstances that refuted the assertion that the killing was accidental, such as Woodward's failing to call for emergency help, throwing the child's body in a ditch, and hiding the homicide for 5 years. She argued that Woodward's having been a law enforcement officer actually made the circumstances more egregious because of the trust that position should engender.

In essence, the prosecutor's arguments appear to have been directly tailored to address the defense's attempt to cast Woodward in a favorable light. The plea-bargained recommended sentence was not the minimum which the court could impose. If the sentencing court had found the defense's proffered mitigation to be compelling, it was not precluded from doing something less than recommended, such as running all of the convictions concurrently. See State v. Hill, 247 Kan. 377, 385, 799 P.2d 997 (1990) (plea bargain terms not binding on trial court). In that context, the State was free to argue why the recommended sentence was also the most appropriate sentence to impose under the circumstances. The plea agreement did not require the prosecutor to ignore the defense's attempts to minimize Woodward's culpability.

Accordingly, we find that the prosecutor made an unequivocal recommendation that the sentencing court impose a sentence of life plus 10 years to life, as provided in the plea agreement. Nothing the prosecutor said at the sentencing hearing was intended to undermine the State's recommendation or to suggest that the sentencing court impose a harsher sentence. The State did not breach the plea agreement, so there was no manifest injustice to correct. Accordingly, we need not consider whether the district court's denial of the plea withdrawal motion was an abuse of discretion. The district court did not err in summarily denying Woodward's motion to withdraw his plea.

K.S.A. 22-2910

In his pro se brief, Woodward attempts to fashion an argument, challenging the prosecutor's use of the incriminating statements Woodward made to a detective. Woodward claims the statements were elicited by the detective's proposal of "a diversion of psychiatric care (mental health placement) in lieu of prosecution and prison if [Woodward] would provide information without an attorney."

Apparently, at some point relatively recently, Woodward discovered K.S.A. 22-2910, which in 1991 read:

"No defendant shall be required to enter any plea to a criminal charge as a condition for diversion. No statements made by the defendant or counsel in any diversion conference or in any other discussion of a proposed diversion agreement shall be admissible as evidence in criminal proceedings on crimes charged or facts alleged in the complaint."

Woodward argues that it was manifest injustice for the State, in violation of K.S.A. 22-2910, to use information he "provided under the promise of a proposed diversion" to bring charges against him and to provide the factual basis for his subsequent guilty pleas. He further argues that he was "greatly prejudiced through the misconduct of both the police, by their obtaining incriminating information through a promise of a proposed diversion, and by the prosecutor through her use of this information to both charge and convict [him] of alleged criminal activity." Because of this manifest injustice, Woodward asserts that the district court erroneously denied his motion to withdraw his guilty pleas and that his indictment should be dismissed. However, he appears to clarify that he is not raising an issue as to whether his confession was coerced.

While perhaps creative for a nonlawyer, Woodward's arguments fail for a multitude of reasons. First, Woodward should have raised the issue in either his direct appeal or his 60-1507 motion. See State v. Flores, 283 Kan. 380, 384, 153 P.3d 506 (2007) (stating that where a defendant's claim has not been raised at trial or on direct appeal, such a default prevents the defendant from raising the claim in a second appeal or a collateral proceeding). His assertion that his recent discovery of a statutory provision constitutes "newly discovered evidence" is unavailing. The maxim that ignorance of the law is no excuse is well established, longstanding, and widely known. See In re K.M.H., 285 Kan. 53, 75, 169 P.3d 1025 (2007); State ex rel. Murray v. Palmgren, 231 Kan. 524, 536, 646 P.2d 1091 (1982); State v. Anderson, 40 Kan. App. 2d 69, 71, 188 P.3d 38 (2008) ("The legislature and the public are well aware of this rule; Kansas law has applied it since 1882, at least.").

Moreover, Woodward must contend with the waivers which accompanied his guilty pleas. "[W]hen an accused enters a voluntary plea of guilty, he is deemed to have waived any irregularities which may have occurred in the proceedings prior thereto." Jones v. State, 207 Kan. 622, 625, 485 P.2d 1349 (1971); see Trotter v. State, 218 Kan. 266, 270, 543 P.2d 1023 (1975); State v. Melton, 207 Kan. 700, 713, 486 P.2d 1361 (1971) (holding that a party is considered to have waived procedural irregularities upon entering a voluntary guilty plea "even though the defects may reach constitutional dimensions").

Finally, a review of the statutory scheme for diversions reveals that Woodward's reliance on K.S.A. 22-2910 is misplaced. A diversion agreement may be proposed only "[a]fter a complaint has been filed charging a defendant with commission of a crime . . . if it appears to the district attorney that diversion of the defendant would be in the interests of justice and of benefit to the defendant and the community." K.S.A. 22-2907(1). Woodward's claim that the prosecutor used his statements to bring charges against him runs counter to the requirement that the complaint must have been filed before the diversion is proposed. Moreover, the detective had no authority to propose a diversion, either before or after the filing of the complaint; that authority rests solely with the prosecutor. Most importantly, however, diversion agreements are expressly prohibited for defendants charged with a class A or B felony. K.S.A. 22-2908(2)(b) (Ensley 1988). Woodward was charged with both. See K.S.A. 1991 Supp. 21-3401 (felony murder is a class A felony); K.S.A. 21-3420 (Ensley 1988) (kidnapping is a class B felony).

We find no merit in Woodward's arguments that the use of his confession to commence criminal proceedings against him and to provide the factual basis for his guilty pleas violated the provisions of K.S.A. 22-2910. He has failed to establish manifest injustice, and the district court's denials of his motion to withdraw his plea and his motion to dismiss the indictment were not erroneous.

Affirmed.

STATE v. WOODWARD