State v. Pope

Quaere: Where, at the time a plea of guilty is entered pursuant to a plea agreement, defendant is misinformed as to the length of a mandatory minimum sentence prescribed by law, is the trial court required at defendant's election to allow specific performance of the plea agreement; or does the trial court have discretion to vacate the plea and allow defendant to plead anew?

The facts giving rise to this issue are as follows. On May 13, 1974, defendant, William Lang Pope, pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping and second-degree assault, both while armed with a deadly weapon. The plea…