State v. Pierce

HAYS, Chief Justice.

The defendant, Phillip Cecil Pierce, was charged with one count of child molesting and one count of rape. Prior to trial, and pursuant to a plea bargain, the defendant plead guilty to rape in the second degree, the two initial charges against him being dismissed. The record clearly reflects that the defendant plead guilty because he felt that there was a high probability that if he went to trial, he would be found guilty. The defendant therefore elected to take advantage of the plea bargain. This procedure was specifically approved in North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25,…