Washington v. Superior Court

OPINION

FIDEL, Presiding Judge.

Petitioner Steven Washington pled no contest to two counts of leaving the scene of an injury accident. Washington brings this special action to challenge the trial court’s refusal to allow him to withdraw his plea. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion. We hold (1) that a no contest plea is subject to the same withdrawal standards as an Alford 1 plea, and (2) that Washington should have been permitted to withdraw his plea when a previously unknown witness came forward with exculpatory evidence after the plea but before the date of sentencing.

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