State v. Cooper

CARLEY, Justice.

Acting pursuant to a plea bargain, Marion Cooper entered guilty pleas to two drug charges in 1992. After conducting a hearing, the trial court accepted the pleas and imposed the negotiated sentences. In 2005, Cooper petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus, alleging that the 1992 convictions were invalid and were being used to enhance his sentence for a federal offense. The habeas court granted Cooper’s petition, finding that he

was not adequately advised of his constitutional rights when he entered his guilty plea[s] and that he did not thereby make a knowing, voluntary, and…