Supreme Court of Minnesota

State of Minnesota, Respondent v. Joel David Theis, Appellant

December 27, 20072007 Minn. LEXIS 792

Summary

The court held that Theis’s Alford plea was inaccurate because the plea-hearing record did not establish a strong factual basis or show that he believed the State’s evidence was sufficient to support a conviction. Because an inaccurate plea is invalid and creates manifest injustice, the court required withdrawal of the plea and remanded for further proceedings.