Vanden Hoek v. Weber

[¶ 1.] Ryan Lee Vanden Hoek (Vanden Hoek) pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and one count of rape. He received 90 years for the kidnapping charge with 30 years suspended and 25 years for the rape charge, to be served concurrently. On appeal, he raises two issues. We reverse the sentence and remand for resen-tencing.

FACTS

[¶ 2.] In July of 1998, sixteen-year-old Vanden Hoek raped a female employee of the “Readers Den” in Mitchell, South Dakota. He used a knife to force the young woman into a back room of the store where he compelled her to commit various sexual acts. After being apprehended, he was indicted as an adult with two counts of attempted rape, three counts of rape, and one count of kidnapping.

[¶ 3.] Vanden Hoek made a motion to transfer the case to juvenile court. In preparation for the transfer hearing, the court ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Human Services Center (HSC) in Yankton, South Dakota. The HSC psychiatric evaluation indicated Van-den Hoek was not an ideal candidate for transfer, that rehabilitation would likely be frustrated, and “denying [him] access to victims would be far more effective in preventing damage to the population.” Van-den Hoek’s trial counsel did not obtain an independent psychiatric evaluation, nor did Vanden Hoek see the HSC report. After the HSC report, the transfer motion was withdrawn and Vanden Hoek decided to seek a plea agreement.

[¶ 4.] Vanden Hoek, his trial counsel and Assistant Attorney General Ronald D. Campbell (Campbell) entered into a written plea agreement. The terms of the agreement specified Vanden Hoek would plead guilty to kidnapping and second degree rape. In exchange for his guilty plea *861to these two charges, the State promised to dismiss the remaining counts on the indictment and to recommend sentences of 50 years for the kidnapping and 25 years for the rape, with the sentences to run concurrently. While the State was required to recommend this sentence, Van-den Hoek could argue for any appropriate sentence.

[¶ 5.] Prior to the sentencing hearing, a pre-sentence report (PSR) was compiled. This PSR contained a letter from the victim’s parents requesting Vanden Hoek receive a life sentence and the HSC psychiatric evaluation. The PSR also contained information on Vanden Hoek’s prior record and personal history. Vanden Hoek did not see the PSR prior to sentencing.

[¶ 6.] At the beginning of the sentencing hearing, Assistant Attorney General Anthony M. Sanchez (Sanchez)1 filed the written plea agreement with the court. However, during the State’s argument Sanchez never recommended the agreed upon term of years. Instead, Sanchez read from the victim’s statement, which argued society should be protected from Vanden Hoek and he should “live with the consequences for the rest of his life.... ” Sanchez also referred to Vanden Hoek as a sociopath, and the boogie man who is “our community’s worst nightmare” and “we need to banish him from all our dreams.” Vanden Hoek’s trial counsel did not object to Sanchez’s sentencing argument, or his failure to recommend the agreed upon term of years. Vanden Hoek was sentenced to 90 years for kidnapping with 30 years suspended and 25 years for the rape to run concurrent with the kidnapping sentence.

[¶ 7.] Vanden Hoek’s trial counsel did not directly appeal his sentence. Instead, Vanden Hoek obtained a new habeas counsel and filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus on November 20, 2000. A provisional writ of habeas corpus was issued by the court on July 10, 2001. After extensive discovery was conducted, a hearing on the amended petition for writ of habeas corpus was held on July 8, 2005. Vanden Hoek’s amended petition for writ of habeas corpus and the motion for issuance of certificate of probable cause were denied. This Court issued a certificate of probable cause and Vanden Hoek raised two issues. He argues: 1) the State breached its duty to recommend a specific term of years and violated the written plea agreement; and 2) Vanden Hoek’s trial counsel was ineffective and deprived him of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

[¶ 8.] “Our standard of review for a habeas appeal is well established.” Crutchfield v. Weber, 2005 SD 62, ¶ 8, 697 N.W.2d 756 (quoting Jackson v. Weber, 2001 SD 136, ¶ 9, 637 N.W.2d 19, 22) (additional citations omitted). Our review of habeas corpus proceedings is limited because it “is a collateral attack on a final judgment.” Id. The review is limited to jurisdictional errors. Boyles v. Weber, 2004 SD 31, ¶ 6, 677 N.W.2d 531, 536 (citing Hays v. Weber, 2002 SD 59, ¶ 11, 645 N.W.2d 591, 595). In criminal cases, a violation of the defendant’s constitutional rights constitutes a jurisdictional error. Id. The defendant has the burden of proving he is entitled to relief by a preponder-*862anee of the evidence. Id. (citing Siers v. Class, 1998 SD 77, ¶ 10, 581 N.W.2d 491, 494) (additional citations omitted).

[¶ 9.] The findings of fact shall not be disturbed unless they are clearly erroneous. Id. A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel presents a mixed question of law and fact. Id. ¶ 7 (citing Hays, 2002 SD 59, ¶ 11, 645 N.W.2d at 595) (additional citations omitted). The habeas court’s conclusions of law are reviewed de novo. See id. (noting this court “may substitute its own judgment for that of the circuit court as to whether defense counsel’s actions or inactions constituted ineffective assistance of counsel”).

[¶ 10.] We examine the breach of the plea agreement issue as it is determinative.

[¶ 11.] 1. Whether the habeas corpus trial court erred when it concluded that the State did not breach the written plea agreement at sentencing.

[¶ 12.] “Generally, plea agreements are contractual in nature and are governed by ordinary contract principles.” State v. Waldner, 2005 SD 11, ¶ 8, 692 N.W.2d 187, 190 (quoting State v. Stevenson, 2002 SD 120, ¶ 9, 652 N.W.2d 735, 738). When the State breaches a plea agreement, “the defendant may seek specific performance or may seek to withdraw his plea.” Id. (quoting State v. Bracht, 1997 SD 136, ¶ 6, 573 N.W.2d 176, 178). Yanden Hoek argues that the State breached the written plea agreement by not specifically recommending the agreed upon term of years. The State disagrees and claims the agreement was fulfilled when the written plea agreement was filed with the trial court and the court was made aware of the agreement.

[¶ 13.] The contractual duties a prosecutor acquires when entering into plea agreements were set forth in Santobello v. New York. 404 U.S. 257, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971).2 In Santobello, the United States Supreme Court stated, “when a plea rests in any significant degree on a promise or agreement of the prosecutor, so that it can be said to be part of the inducement or consideration, such promise must be fulfilled.” Id. at 262, 92 S.Ct. at 499. The breach is not dependent on whether the sentencing judge would have been influenced by the breached term of the plea agreement. Id. Instead, “the interests of justice and appropriate recognition of the duties of the prosecution in relation to promises made in the negotiation of pleas of guilty will be best served by remanding the case ... for further consideration.” Id. at 262-63, 92 S.Ct. at 499.

[¶ 14.] “Like all contracts, [plea agreements] include[] an implied obligation of good faith and fair dealing.” United States v. Jones, 58 F.3d 688, 692 (D.C.Cir.1995) (citing Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 205 (1981)). See also United States v. Sparks, 20 F.3d 476, 479 (D.C.Cir.1994) (noting a prosecutor’s nonperformance of a plea agreement may be reviewed for bad faith); United States v. Crawford, 20 F.3d 933, 935 (8thCir.1994) (noting whether “the behavior of a party failing to perform ... comports with the standards of good faith and fair dealing” is an inquiry when deciding if a material breach occurred). Furthermore, a breach *863of a plea agreement implicates due process concerns. “[O]nce an accused agrees to plead guilty in reliance upon a prosecutor’s promise to perform a future act, the accused’s due process rights demand fulfillment of the bargain.” Waldner, 2005 SD 11, ¶ 13, 692 N.W.2d at 191-92 (citing State v. Williams, 249 Wis.2d 492, 637 N.W.2d 733, 744 (2002)) (internal quotations omitted).

[¶ 15.] The determinative inquiry in this case is, did Sanchez breach the terms of the written plea agreement by not specifically recommending the agreed upon term of years during his sentencing argument? If failing to verbalize the terms of the plea agreement, while arguing the terrible nature of Vanden Hoek’s crimes is a breach, then Vanden Hoek would be entitled to relief. A look at prior South Dakota cases regarding a plea agreement breach is helpful in this analysis.

[¶ 16.] In Bracht, the State agreed not to resist Bracht’s request for a suspended imposition of sentence and the plea agreement was explained to the trial court. 1997 SD 136, ¶¶ 2-3, 573 N.W.2d at 177. During sentencing, Bracht argued for a suspended imposition, but the State requested the court impose, “[t]he same or similar — a sentence similar to what you would impose in other cases.” Id. ¶ 4. After Bracht pointed out the State agreed not to resist the suspended imposition request, the State responded, “[w]ell, I’m not going to argue against that or resist that request if that’s what’s been put on the record, but I would just leave the sentence in the [c]ourt’s discretion.” Id. (first alteration in original). We held the State breached the plea agreement and remanded for resentencing since the State did not fulfill its promise. Id. ¶ 13.

[¶ 17.] Likewise, in Waldner, we vacated and remanded for resentencing due to the prosecution’s failure to recommend concurrent sentences. 2005 SD 11, ¶ 15, 692 N.W.2d at 193. In that case, the State and Waldner entered into a written plea agreement in which a guilty plea was exchanged for the State’s agreement, among other things, to recommend concurrent sentences. Id. ¶ 3. This agreement was filed with the sentencing court. Id. ¶ 2. The State failed to recommend concurrent sentences and instead, “argued the ‘atrocious’ nature of the[] crimes....” Id. ¶ 4.

[¶ 18.] In Waldner, we stated, “the terms of the plea agreement created an affirmative obligation for the State’s Attorney to recommend to the trial court that the sentences ... run concurrently....” Id. ¶ 10. The State did not meet this obligation when it failed to specifically request concurrent sentences.

[¶ 19.] In this case, the State did not mention the terms of the plea agreement during the sentencing argument. Instead, Sanchez argued that Vanden Hoek was the “boogie man,” the “community’s worst nightmare” and the court should “banish [Vanden Hoek] from all our dreams.” He also read from the victim’s letter, which encouraged such a sentence that Vanden Hoek would have to “live with the consequences for the rest of his life....”

[¶ 20.] Sanchez’s argument did not fulfill the State’s affirmative obligation to recommend the terms of the plea agreement. In fact, it is clear from the record that Sanchez was never going to mention the terms of the plea agreement during his argument. In his deposition, he testified the 50-year sentence under the terms of *864the plea agreement was “too lenient.”3 Furthermore, it was his philosophy not to mention a term of years in case the judge would give a number less than the terms of the plea agreement.4 Although Sanchez testified he did not act with the intention of getting more time than the plea agreement proposed, his actions still constituted a breach, since he failed to specify the term of years. Even though “the breach ... may have been inadvertent ..., the defendant is still entitled to [relief].” Waldner, 2005 SD 11, ¶ 13, 692 N.W.2d at 192 (quoting State v. Howard, 246 Wis.2d 475, 630 N.W.2d 244, 250-51 (App 2001)).

[¶ 21.] The State argues, and the habe-as court agreed, that the terms of the plea agreement were fulfilled by making the judge aware of the plea agreement and filing the written agreement with the court. However, our case precedent requires more. The plea agreement in Waldner was filed and the court was aware of the agreement. 2005 SD 11, ¶ 2, 692 N.W.2d at 188. Likewise, in Bracht, the court was aware of the plea agreement, 1997 SD 136, ¶¶ 2, 4, 573 N.W.2d at 177-78, but in both instances we reversed the defendant’s sentences due to the prosecutions failure to perform his duties under the plea agreement. Waldner, 2005 SD 11, ¶ 15, 692 N.W.2d at 193; Bracht, 1997 SD 136, ¶ 15, 573 N.W.2d at 181.

[¶22.] Whether the court knew of the agreement or was affected by the breach “is of no legal significance.” Waldner, 2005 SD 11, ¶ 12, 692 N.W.2d at 191 (citing Bracht, 1997 SD 136, ¶ 7, 573 N.W.2d at 179). The defendant waives significant rights by entering into a plea agreement and that waiver is “not in exchange for the actual sentence or impact on the judge, but for the prosecutor’s statements in court.” Id. ¶ 12 (emphasis added). The inquiry is solely “whether the [State has] met [its] obligation.” Id. If the statements “are not adequate the waiver is ineffective.” Id. (quoting United States v. Clark, 55 F.3d 9, 14 (1stCir.1995)).

[¶ 23.] Looking at the government’s promise in the plea agreement, Sanchez was required to recommend a specific term of years. Vanden Hoek waived important rights in exchange “for the prosecutor’s statements in court.” Id. This duty was not fulfilled by merely drawing the court’s attention to the fact a plea agreement existed then turning around and impliedly arguing for a tougher sentence without mentioning the agreed term of years. Likewise, the State’s duty to act in good faith when performing its obligations under the plea agreement was not fulfilled by arguing the nature of the crimes but not specifically mentioning the bargained for recommendation of 50 years. The State’s “rhetoric was not rhetorical,” and instead amounts to a “transparent effort to influence the severity of the defendant’s sentence,” without fulfilling its end of the bargain. Bracht, 1997 SD 136, ¶ 9, 573 N.W.2d at 179 (quoting United States v. Miller, 565 F.2d 1273, 1276 (3dCir.1977) (Stern, District Judge, dissenting)).

[¶ 24.] The State’s failure to recommend a term of years during the sentenc*865ing hearing constitutes a breach of the plea agreement. This failure was a material breach of the agreement. The recommendation of a specific term of years was an important benefit Vanden Hoek relied upon when he entered into the plea agreement. “One of the most crucial issues in a plea agreement is the recommendation concerning the length of time to be served on each count,” so it certainly cannot be called immaterial. Waldner, 2005 SD 11, ¶ 11, 692 N.W.2d at 191 (citing Howard, 246 Wis.2d at 489-90, 630 N.W.2d at 250-51).

[¶ 25.] When the State breaches the terms of a plea agreement, the proper remedy is remand for resentencing before a new judge.5 “We emphasize that this is in no sense to question the fairness of the sentencing judge; the fault here rests on the prosecutor, not on the sentencing judge.” Id. ¶ 14, 630 N.W.2d 244 (citing Bracht, 1997 SD 136, ¶ 12, 573 N.W.2d at 180) (quoting Santobello, 404 U.S. at 263, 92 S.Ct. at 499)). Therefore, Vanden Hoek’s sentence is vacated and case remanded for resentencing by a different judge.

[¶ 26.] Based on our decision, it is unnecessary to address the ineffective assistance of counsel issue.