Boaz v. State

Jabez Boaz (“Boaz”) appeals his judgment and sentence after entering an open plea to four drug-related charges. Boaz argues the lower court abused its discretion by failing to address a letter in which Boaz requested a Nelson1 hearing. Because Boaz’s letter properly requested a Nelson hearing, and a lower court’s failure to conduct any inquiry is per se reversible error, we reverse and remand.

Boaz entered an open plea to four drug-related charges. The first — trafficking in hydrocodone — carried a minimum mandatory sentence of fifteen years. The three remaining charges carried minimum…