Smith v. State

OPINION

By the Court,

Springer, J.:

Appellant Adrian Ricardo Smith (Smith) was charged with one count each of first degree murder, robbery and attempted sexual assault.

Smith pleaded guilty to first degree murder and signed a formal written pleading prepared by the district attorney’s office, called a “Guilty Plea Memorandum,” in exchange for the State’s dismissal of the robbery and sexual assault charges and for the State’s promise not to seek the death penalty. The transcript of the guilty plea canvass clearly reveals that Smith’s plea is the result of coercion rather than being an informed and…