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819 S.W.2d 97

Hoover v. State

Missouri Court of Appeals

Decided November 19, 1991

Missouri Court of Appeals · decided 1991-11-19

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently September 1993

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““Although a concept of constructive custody can be found in the case law in other contexts, the language of Rule 24.-035 is plain and not couched in terms of constructive custody. We, therefore, hold that the time limitations imposed in Rule 24.035 begin to run when a person under sentence is delivered, physically, into the custody of the Department of Corrections.” Id. at 365 .”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Johnston v. State

““A person convicted of a felony on a plea of guilty and delivered to the custody of the department of corrections ... may seek relief in the sentencing court pursuant to the provisions of this Rule 24.035.” (Emphasis added.)”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Johnston v. State

Relies on Thomas v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1991-11-19

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

FLANIGAN, Chief Judge.

¶1Movant Michael Hoover appeals from a denial, without evidentiary hearing, of his Rule 24.0351 motion seeking to vacate a judgment and sentence on a plea of guilty to a charge of sexual abuse in the first degree. Movant was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections, but execution of the sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation. Later probation was revoked and the sentence was ordered to be executed.

¶2Movant’s first point is that his original motion, filed pro se, was timely, and the trial court erred in ruling otherwise. “The motion shall be filed within ninety days after the movant is delivered to the custody of the department of corrections.” Rule 24.035(b).

¶3In Thomas v. State, 808 S.W.2d 364, 365[1] (Mo. banc 1991), the court held that the 90-day period begins to run “when a person under sentence is delivered, physically, into the custody of the Department of Corrections.” In so ruling, the court rejected the state’s argument that the date of sentencing, rather than the date of delivery to the Department of Corrections, was the significant date for measuring the 90-day period.

¶4In the case at bar, as in Thomas, movant was initially placed on probation and he was not delivered to the Department of Corrections until his probation was revoked following a subsequent hearing. Movant’s pro se motion was filed within the 90-day period after his delivery into the custody of the Department of Corrections, and the trial court did err in ruling otherwise. In fairness to the trial court, it should be stated that there was case law, antedating Thomas, which would have sustained the trial court’s ruling of untimeliness.

¶5*98The trial court did not base its denial solely on the issue of timeliness. The trial court appointed counsel, who filed a timely amended motion. The trial court considered both the pro se motion and the amended motion on their merits and denied them.

¶6Movant’s second point is that he was entitled to relief on one ground alleged in his pro se motion and re-alleged in the amended motion, and that the trial court erred in ruling otherwise. Movant asserts that the state reneged on a plea agreement. Movant claims that the plea agreement was that movant “would be sentenced to two years.”

¶7Appellate review of the trial court’s ruling on a Rule 24.035 motion is limited to a determination of whether the findings and conclusions of the trial court are clearly erroneous. Rule 24.035(j).

¶8The trial court reviewed the transcript of the plea hearing and held, correctly, that it refuted movant’s contention that the plea agreement contemplated a two-year sentence. The plea agreement reads as follows: “Defendant to plead guilty to the charge. If defendant is not placed on probation, he will receive no more than two years in the Department of Corrections (prison). State will not oppose probation if completion of sexual offender program at Fulton is a condition.”

¶9After the court read the plea agreement to movant, in the presence of his counsel at the plea hearing, the following colloquy took place between the court and movant:

THE COURT: First off, is that what you thought the agreement was?
MOVANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Perhaps I should put it this way. Is that what you think the agreement is?
MOVANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Now, as I understand this, you’ll enter a plea of guilty, which you are attempting to do right now; is that correct?
MOVANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Next, if I decide not to place you on probation, you will receive no more than two years in prison; correct?
MOVANT: Yes.
THE COURT: And if I decide that you should be placed on probation in this case, the State will not oppose that position if a condition of that probation is that you complete the sexual offender program?
MOVANT: Yes.
THE COURT: All right, other than this, Mr. Hoover, are there any other promises that have been made to you?
MOVANT: No.

¶10The state did not renege on its plea agreement. The finding of the trial court to that effect is not clearly erroneous and, indeed, is fully supported by the record.

¶11The judgment is affirmed.

SHRUM, P.J., and PARRISH, J., concur.

¶12. All references to rules are to Missouri Rules of Court, V.A.M.R.

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