Kelvin White v. State ( 2018 )


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  • Court of Appeals
    of the State of Georgia
    ATLANTA,____________________
    October 03, 2018
    The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
    A19D0096. KELVIN WHITE v. THE STATE.
    Kelvin White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, two counts of
    aggravated assault, and various other offenses. After the denial of his motion for new
    trial, White appealed, and his convictions were affirmed. See White v. State, 
    312 Ga. App. 421
     (718 SE2d 335) (2011). In 2018, White filed a motion challenging his
    sentence as void1 and a separate motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. The trial
    court denied the motions, and White filed this application for discretionary review.
    In his motion to dismiss, White argued that his trial was illegal because his
    indictment was not returned in open court. “In Georgia, a grand jury indictment must
    be returned in open court, and the failure to do so is per se injurious to the defendant.”
    Thompson v. State, __ Ga. __ (3) (816 SE2d 646, 651) (2018). Thus, the crux of
    White’s motion was a challenge to the validity of his convictions. See Jones v. State,
    
    290 Ga. App. 490
    , 494 (2) (659 SE2d 875) (2008). But “a petition to vacate or modify
    a judgment of conviction is not an appropriate remedy in a criminal case,” and any
    appeal from an order denying or dismissing such a motion must be dismissed.2
    Harper v. State, 
    286 Ga. 216
    , 218 (1) (2) (686 SE2d 786) (2009).
    According to the trial court’s order, White argued that his sentence was void
    1
    White did not include a copy of the motion challenging his sentence, as is
    required by Court of Appeals Rule 31 (e).
    2
    White could have challenged his indictment through a motion in arrest of
    judgment, but such motions must be filed within the same term of court in which the
    judgment was entered. See Jones, supra, 290 Ga. App. at 493 (1).
    because his trial was illegal. However, as discussed above, White is precluded from
    challenging the validity of his trial at this juncture. Moreover, a direct appeal may
    lie from an order denying or dismissing a motion to vacate a void sentence only if the
    defendant raises a colorable claim that the sentence is, in fact, void. See Harper v.
    State, 286 Ga. at 217, n.1 (686 SE2d 786) (2009); Burg v. State, 
    297 Ga. App. 118
    ,
    119 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). A sentence is void only if it imposes punishment that
    the law does not allow. Crumbley v. State, 
    261 Ga. 610
    , 611 (409 SE2d 517) (1991).
    “Motions to vacate a void sentence generally are limited to claims that – even
    assuming the existence and validity of the conviction for which the sentence was
    imposed – the law does not authorize that sentence, most typically because it exceeds
    the most severe punishment for which the applicable penal statute provides.” Von
    Thomas v. State, 
    293 Ga. 569
    , 572 (2) (748 SE2d 446) (2013). Here, White’s claim
    that his sentence was void because his trial was illegal is not a colorable void
    sentence argument.
    For the reasons discussed above, this application is hereby DISMISSED for
    lack of jurisdiction.
    Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
    Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
    10/03/2018
    I certify that the above is a true extract from
    the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
    Witness my signature and the seal of said court
    hereto affixed the day and year last above written.
    , Clerk.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: A19D0096

Filed Date: 10/17/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 10/17/2018