State v. Williams

The defendant, Rebecca Williams, was indicted for robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. At her arraignment in the Superior Court, she pleaded not guilty to both charges. Before the case was reached for trial, however, she requested leave to substitute pleas of guilty for her prior pleas. At the hearing that followed, the trial justice engaged in an extensive exchange with defendant and her counsel concerning the nature of the offenses charged and the consequences of her proposed change of pleas. Following that exchange he said that he was satisfied that there was a factual basis for the…