Trending
The State Supreme Court has upheld a conviction for a man who admitted to killing his brother two years ago.
Adol-fo Contreras-
Castillo had appealed to the Supreme Court and asked to withdraw his guilty plea on the basis that his defense attorney did not adequately inform him regarding the implications a guilty plea would have to his immigration status. He claimed he had been coerced by his lawyer into entering the guilty plea and he believes he stabbed his brother, Ignacio Contreras-Castillo, on March 1, 2016 in self defense during an argument at their Minot residence.
The state argued that Contreras-Castillo was told at his initial appearance that a guilty plea could result in deportation for a foreign national and he said he understood his rights.
His new defense attorney, Kiara Kraus-Parr, had argued that a general warning was insufficient and Contreras-Castillo's former lawyer, Kyle Melia, did not properly advise him and had not consulted with an immigration lawyer regarding the case.
The Supreme Court ruled that the guilty plea will stand and that Contreras-Castillo was properly advised regarding his immigration status and the consequences of a guilty plea. Judge Todd Cresap also carefully explained that Contreras-Castillo did not have to plead guilty and had the option of going to trial.
Under the terms of a plea deal, Contreras-Castillo was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with 15 yers suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation. He is required to serve 85 percent of the sentence.
- Andrea Johnson