Ferguson v. State

Appellant, Joseph G. Ferguson, appeals the summary denial of his petition for postconviction relief filed pursuant to A.R.Crim.P.Temp. 20. In his petition, he alleges that he is entitled to relief from his August 10, 1987, conviction of manslaughter and resulting sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment. He contends, inter alia, that his conviction was obtained by an involuntary plea of guilty, which he says was made without an understanding of the nature of the charge and its consequences; that he was denied effective assistance of counsel; and that the sentence imposed exceeded the maximum…