State v. James

Defendant Ronald A. James appeals his conviction for first degree murder. He assigns error to a trial court decision granting the State's pretrial motion to amend the charge to first degree murder. The effect of this ruling was to deny his request to withdraw his not guilty plea and plead guilty to the original charge of second degree murder. James contends that the trial court violated CrR 2.1(e) because granting the amendment prejudiced his unconditional right to plead guilty, recognized by this court in State v. Martin, 94 Wn.2d 1, 614 P.2d 164 (1980). We reject James' argument and affirm…