State v. Carey Mitchell Baker

Summary

The Idaho Supreme Court considered whether a plea agreement entered with the Boise City Attorney barred subsequent prosecution by the Coeur d’Alene City Attorney for related protection-order violations in Kootenai County. The court held that the agreement bound the Kootenai County prosecutor because both prosecutors acted as agents of the State of Idaho, and it affirmed vacatur of the eleven convictions as specific performance of the agreement.

Holdings

1. A plea agreement entered by the Boise City Attorney, acting as an agent of the State of Idaho, bound the Coeur d'Alene City Attorney because both prosecutors were members of the State's prosecutorial branch and had authority to prosecute the same charges in either county.
2. The plea agreement was ambiguous concerning the meaning of the term "the State," and the ambiguity was properly resolved in Baker's favor to cover the Kootenai County charges.
3. Specific performance enforcing the plea agreement was an appropriate remedy, and the district court did not abuse its discretion by vacating the eleven Kootenai County convictions rather than requiring Baker to withdraw his Ada County guilty plea.

Questions Presented

1. Whether a plea agreement entered by the Boise City Attorney in Ada County bound the Coeur d'Alene City Attorney in Kootenai County when venue for the offenses was proper in either county.
2. Whether the plea agreement was ambiguous and therefore required construction in Baker's favor.
3. Whether dismissal or specific performance was an appropriate remedy for the State's prosecution of charges covered by the plea agreement.

Disposition

affirmed