State v. Theodore J. Krawczyk, 2003 WI App 6, PFR filed 1/21/03
For Krawczyk: John T. Wasielewski
Issue/Holding:
¶29. We conclude that Krawczyk’s plea to both felony murder and the underlying armed robbery, the latter conviction having been set aside, does not provide a basis for withdrawal of his plea to felony murder. First and foremost, the record is devoid of any evidence establishing that Krawczyk would not have pled guilty to felony murder (and to the other two offenses of which he remains convicted) had he known of the multiplicity of the felony murder and armed robbery charges. Krawczyk’s failure to testify that he would not have pled guilty to felony murder had he known of the multiplicity is not a minor omission. Had he so testified, he would have been subject to cross-examination on the point, and the State might have seen fit to present rebuttal testimony from Krawczyk’s trial counsel. Moreover, the failure to testify in this regard deprives us of the trial court’s assessment of the credibility of a claim by Krawczyk that he would not have pled guilty to felony murder had he known of the double jeopardy violation.
