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Summary of Opinion: People v. Guerrero, Michigan Court of Appeals, Docket No. 16412 (Jan. 6, 1975)

Factual and Procedural Background

Eliseo Guerrero pleaded guilty to breaking and entering an occupied dwelling with intent to commit larceny on December 8, 1972. He was sentenced to a prison term of 7-1/2 to 15 years. Guerrero appealed as of right, claiming his plea was involuntary because of alleged unfulfilled promises by the prosecutor and raising additional challenges to the sufficiency of the factual basis and the constitutionality of the statutory sentencing distinction for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling. The appeal was submitted November 13, 1974, and decided January 6, 1975.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether Guerrero's guilty plea was involuntary due to alleged prosecutorial promises (that he would be pleading to receiving stolen property, would receive a 3–5 or 4–6 year sentence, and that charges against his spouse would be dropped or reduced).
  2. Whether a sufficient factual basis for the plea was established on the record.
  3. Whether the statutory provision imposing a greater maximum sentence for breaking and entering an "occupied dwelling" (including habitually occupied residences not physically occupied at the time) violates equal protection.
  4. Whether conflicting sworn affidavits (defendant's vs. prosecutors') require remand for an evidentiary hearing on the alleged unrecorded promise regarding the spouse's charges.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments

  • Guerrero asserted by sworn affidavit that prosecutorial promises induced his guilty plea: specifically, that he would be pleading to receiving stolen property rather than breaking and entering; that he would receive a shorter sentence (3–5 or 4–6 years); and that charges against his spouse would be dropped or reduced.
  • He also contended the trial court failed to adduce sufficient facts to establish his guilt at the plea proceeding.
  • He argued the statutory sentencing distinction for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling is constitutionally infirm under equal protection when the premises are not actually occupied at the time of the offense.

Respondent (People) / Prosecutorial Position

  • The record of the plea hearing showed Guerrero acknowledged pleading freely, voluntarily, and knowingly and that he understood the charge and maximum penalty; the written/oral plea agreement was affirmatively placed on the record, undermining Guerrero's claims that different promises were made.
  • Prosecutors submitted sworn affidavits denying the alleged unrecorded promise to dismiss or reduce charges against Guerrero's spouse; because of the conflicting affidavits, the appellate court should not resolve credibility or remand without a proper showing.
  • The People relied on prior authority interpreting "occupied dwelling" to include habitually used residences and argued the sentencing classification is reasonably related to protecting individuals in their homes, thus constitutional.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
People v. Chester Davis, 41 Mich. App. 224; 200 N.W.2d 109 (1972), lv den 388 Mich. 781 (1972) On-record plea statements are more credible than subsequent contradictory affidavits. Used to support the conclusion that Guerrero's on-the-record admissions that his plea was voluntary and that he understood the charge and maximum penalty rebut his later affidavit claims.
People v. James, 52 Mich. App. 422; 217 N.W.2d 408 (1974) Conflicting sworn statements (defendant vs. prosecutor) do not necessarily require appellate review or remand for evidentiary hearing on credibility grounds. Applied to hold that because prosecutors denied the alleged promise regarding the spouse via affidavit, the conflict does not entitle the defendant to appellate relief or an automatic remand.
People v. Martin, 26 Mich. App. 359; 182 N.W.2d 625 (1970) An "habitually occupied" residence may be treated as an occupied dwelling even if not physically occupied at the time of the offense. Cited as supporting precedent for treating the charged premises as an occupied dwelling despite lack of physical presence at the moment of the breaking and entering.
People v. Collins, 20 Mich. App. 571; 174 N.W.2d 285 (1969) Same principle regarding "habitually occupied" residences constituting occupied dwellings. Relied upon to sustain the statutory classification distinguishing occupied dwellings for sentencing purposes.
People v. Larson, 20 Mich. App. 301; 174 N.W.2d 82 (1969) Same principle regarding occupied dwellings. Used as supporting authority for the court's interpretation of the statute.
People v. Birts, 16 Mich. App. 237; 167 N.W.2d 829 (1969) Same principle regarding occupied dwellings. Cited among prior decisions upholding the "habitually used as a place of abode" language.
Township of Dearborn v. Dearborn Township Clerk, 334 Mich. 673, 680; 55 N.W.2d 201 (1952) Statutory classifications are not to be struck down under the Constitution unless the conflict is "clear and inevitable." Applied to conclude the sentencing classification is not so clearly unconstitutional as to be invalidated.
People v. Serra, 55 Mich. App. 514; 223 N.W.2d 28 (1974) Referenced for comparison (cf.). Used as a comparison point in discussing the statute and prior treatment of similar issues.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court addressed each of Guerrero's claims in turn:

  1. Voluntariness of Plea: The court found Guerrero's on-the-record statements during the plea proceeding—that he was pleading freely, voluntarily, and knowingly and that he understood both the charge and the maximum penalty—contradicted his later sworn affidavit alleging unfulfilled promises about the charge and sentence. The plea record included affirmative inquiry by the trial court and an on-the-record agreement between defendant and prosecutor. Relying on authority that on-the-record admissions carry more weight than later contradictory affidavits, the court concluded the record belied Guerrero's first two assertions.
  2. Alleged Promise Regarding Spouse's Charges: Guerrero's claim that an unrecorded prosecutorial promise would result in dismissal or reduction of charges against his spouse rested on his affidavit; prosecutors filed sworn affidavits denying that promise. Because the record contained conflicting sworn statements, the appellate court determined the question of credibility was not properly before it and that the defendant's affidavit alone did not require remand for an evidentiary hearing.
  3. Sufficiency of Factual Basis: The court found the record reflected an adequate factual basis for the plea: Guerrero admitted breaking and entering the residence and taking two jewelry boxes. Thus the claim that the trial court failed to adduce sufficient facts was rejected.
  4. Constitutional Challenge to Statutory Classification: Guerrero argued the enhanced sentencing for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling (including habitually occupied residences not physically occupied at the time) violated equal protection. The court relied on multiple prior decisions holding a habitually occupied residence may be treated as occupied even if not physically occupied at the time of the offense. It concluded that the statutory classification is reasonably related to the legitimate objective of protecting individuals in their homes and treats similarly situated persons alike, and therefore the statutory scheme was not "clear and inevitable" grounds for constitutional invalidation.

Holding and Implications

Affirmed.

Holding: The Court of Appeals affirmed Guerrero's conviction and sentence. It held that (1) the plea record rebutted the defendant's asserted promises as to the specific charge and sentence; (2) the conflicting sworn affidavits regarding an alleged unrecorded promise about the spouse's charges did not warrant appellate relief or remand for an evidentiary hearing; (3) the record contained a sufficient factual basis for the plea; and (4) the statutory sentencing distinction for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling (including habitually occupied residences) did not violate equal protection as applied.

Implications: The direct effect is the affirmation of the conviction and sentence. The opinion applies existing precedents to reject the defendant's challenges and does not purport to establish a new rule of law; it relies on prior Michigan decisions interpreting "occupied dwelling" and on precedent concerning the weight of on-the-record plea statements versus later affidavits.

PEOPLE v. GUERRERO

V.J. BRENNAN, J.

On December 8, 1972, defendant was convicted upon his plea of guilty to breaking and entering an occupied dwelling with intent to commit larceny, was sentenced to a 7-1/2 to 15 year prison term, and appeals of right.

MCLA 750.110; MSA 28.305.

Without moving to withdraw his plea in the trial court, defendant seeks relief on the basis of his sworn affidavit from the alleged unfulfilled promises of leniencies by the prosecutor which he claims rendered his plea involuntary. Defendant contends that the prosecutor specifically promised that defendant would be pleading guilty to the offense of receiving stolen property, that his sentence would be 3 to 5 or 4 to 6 years, and that charges against his spouse would be dropped or reduced. The record of the plea proceeding belies defendant's first two claims. Defendant expressly stated that he was pleading guilty freely, voluntarily, and knowingly. On several occasions during the plea proceedings the trial court inquired of the defendant whether he understood the charge to which he was pleading guilty, and whether he understood the maximum penalty. Each time the defendant responded affirmatively. There is nothing in the record to indicate that his present assertion ought to be regarded as more credible than his on-the-record plea. People v Chester Davis, 41 Mich. App. 224; 200 N.W.2d 109 (1972), lv den, 388 Mich. 781 (1972). This becomes even more evident in light of the fact that the agreement between defendant and the prosecutor was affirmatively spread upon the record.

As to defendant's claim that he was improperly induced by the unrecorded prosecutorial promise that charges against his wife would be dropped or reduced, there is nothing for this Court to review. The defendant states that a prosecutor made the promise, while the prosecutors via sworn affidavit deny the claim. Thus the question is not properly before this Court for review, People v James, 52 Mich. App. 422; 217 N.W.2d 408 (1974), and the defendant's sworn affidavit per se is insufficient to require that we remand for an evidentiary hearing.

Defendant's contention that the trial court failed to adduce sufficient facts to establish his guilt is entirely unmeritorious. The record of the plea proceeding shows that he admitted breaking and entering the residence and taking two jewelry boxes.

Finally, defendant claims that the statutory provision imposing a greater sentence for the commission of breaking and entering an occupied dwelling residence, even if the premises are in fact unoccupied, than for committing the same offense in other structures is constitutionally infirm. Apparently, defendant's contention is that such a classification constitutes a denial of equal protection. Prior decisions of this Court have made it clear that an habitually occupied residence need not in fact be occupied when the offense takes place in order to constitute a breaking and entering of an occupied dwelling. People v Martin, 26 Mich. App. 359; 182 N.W.2d 625 (1970); People v Collins, 20 Mich. App. 571; 174 N.W.2d 285 (1969); People v Larson, 20 Mich. App. 301; 174 N.W.2d 82 (1969); People v Birts, 16 Mich. App. 237; 167 N.W.2d 829 (1969). The classification being reasonably related to the legitimate objective of protecting the individual in his home, and treating all individuals who fall within the class alike, we must conclude that the purported conflict between the statute and the constitutional provision is not so "clear and inevitable" as to be struck down "as unconstitutional". Township of Dearborn v Dearborn Township Clerk, 334 Mich. 673, 680; 55 N.W.2d 201 (1952). Cf. People v Serra, 55 Mich. App. 514; 223 N.W.2d 28 (1974).

"Any person who shall break and enter with intent to commit any felony, or any larceny therein, any tent, hotel, office, store, shop, warehouse, barn, granary, factory or other building, structure, boat or ship, railroad car or any private apartment in any of such buildings or any unoccupied dwelling house, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not more than 10 years. Any person who breaks and enters any occupied dwelling house, with intent to commit any felony or larceny therein, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 15 years. For the purpose of this section `any occupied dwelling house' includes one that does not require the physical presence of an occupant at the time of the breaking and entering but one which is habitually used as a place of abode." MCLA 750.110; MSA 28.305.

Affirmed.

All concurred.

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PEOPLE v. GUERRERO
(Jan 6, 1975)