P. v. Best CA3
Defendant Darin Gavin Best, represented by retained counsel, Mandeep Sidhu, pleaded no contest to robbery in the second degree and grand theft for a stipulated sentence of five years eight months. Defendant failed to appear for sentencing. After numerous continuances, a civil attorney appeared seeking to substitute in as counsel and to move to withdraw defendant’s plea based on ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court denied substitution but granted another continuance. At the next appearance, Sidhu stated defendant wanted to move to withdraw his plea based on Sidhu’s ineffective assistance of counsel. The court questioned defendant personally about the grounds for the motion to withdraw the plea. The trial court ultimately denied defendant’s request to substitute counsel and imposed the stipulated sentence.
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