Patterson v. State

WALSH, Justice:

The appellant, Willard J. Patterson (“Patterson”) appeals from a decision of the Superior Court which denied his motion to withdraw a guilty plea prior to sentencing. The Superior Court ruled that the guilty plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered with the effective assistance of counsel. Our review of the record requires us to conclude that Patterson’s plea was based on erroneous advice by his lawyer, was entered in haste without sufficient opportunity for deliberation and was not supported by a sufficient inquiry concerning the elements of the offenses which were the…