State v. Johnson

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
v. ) Case ID No.: 1602004456A
)
JONATHAN JOHNSON, )
)
Defendant. )
ORDER
Submitted: January 3, 2024
Decided: March 25, 2024
AND NOW TO WIT, this 25th day of March, 2024, upon various and
multiple filings, this Court again considers Defendant Jonathan Johnson
(“Defendant”)’s application for relief. Defendant files a “Motion to Amend
Reargument,” to set aside his postconviction orders,1 a “Certification of Question of
Law” and “Motion to Compel,”2 and several Motions under Superior Court Civil
Court Rule 60(b) to “Set Aside Judgment Order(s).3 In a nutshell, Now, through
these filings, Defendant now seeks to have this Court 1) vacate its orders, 2) enter
default judgment against the State, 3) release him immediately from prison, 4)
appoint counsel, 5) certify a select question to the Delaware Supreme Court, and 6)
1
D.I. 182. References the docket items in this Court’s Criminal Case ID 1602004456A.
2
D.I. 189 and 190.
3
D.I. 183, 184, 191 and 193.
1
compel the production of a 2017 email. For all the reasons previously stated, having
considered all pleadings to date, his requests are denied for the following reasons:
1. Defendant was charged with multiple offenses after law enforcement
executed a search warrant of his home and located firearms, ammunition, heroin,
cocaine, and marijuana.4 In January 2017, Defendant filed a Motion to Suppress,5
which was later denied by the late Hon. John A. Parkins.6
2. On the day of trial, in April 2017, Defendant pleaded guilty to one count
of Drug Dealing and one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission
of a Felony (“PFDCF”).7 Prior to sentencing, the State filed a Motion to Declare
Defendant a Habitual Offender and to be sentenced on the PFDCF charge under 11
Del. C. § 4214.8 On October 27, 2017, the Court granted the State’s motion,9 and
sentenced Defendant to the minimum mandatory twenty-five years at Level V for
the PFDCF charge, and to probation for drug dealing.10 Defendant did not appeal.
4
On September 12, 2016, a Superior Court grand jury returned an indictment against Defendant
for the following charges: Drug Dealing (two counts), Aggravated Possession (two counts),
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (two counts), Carrying a Concealed
Deadly Weapon (one count), Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (two counts),
Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (two counts), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,
and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (four counts).
5
D.I. 21.
6
D.I. 29.
7
D.I. 39.
8
D.I. 41; see 11 Del. C. § 4214.
9
D.I. 42.
10
D.I. 43.
2
Defendant’s Prior Filings11
3. In October of 2018, Defendant filed his first Motion for Postconviction
Relief under Superior Court Criminal Rule 61 (Rule 61 Motion.)12 The Court denied
that motion.13 Defendant filed a Motion for Reconsideration,14 which this Court
dismissed as untimely.15 On August 23, 2019, Defendant filed a motion for
postconviction discovery.16 This Court denied that motion on September 19, 2019.17
4. Between October 2019 and January 2020, Defendant also filed a
Petition for Writ of Mandamus with this Court,18 a Petition for an Evidentiary
Hearing,19 and a Motion to Stay the consideration of his Rule 61 Motion.20 These
requests were also denied.21 During the pendency of that Rule 61 Motion, Defendant
also filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus with the Delaware Supreme Court which
was denied in April of 2020.22 This Court denied Defendant’s Rule 61 Motion in
April 2021.23 Defendant appealed and argued the Court erred by accepting his guilty
11
Defendant files incessantly and unsuccessfully. The recitation of the procedural history is a
selection only of the relevant court filings to contextualize Defendant’s latest submissions and
does not include all filings to date.
12
D.I. 44.
13
D.I. 109 (Corrected Order).
14
D.I. 111.
15
D.I. 116.
16
D.I. 70.
17
D.I. 72.
18
D.I. 75.
19
D.I. 78.
20
D.I. 81.
21
D.I. 94.
22
See Matter of Johnson, 228 A.3d 139, 2020 WL 1881069 (Del. 2020) (TABLE).
23
State v. Johnson, 2021 WL 1407362, at *3 (Del. Super Ct. April 13, 2021).
3
plea when he was under the influence of medication for mental health issues and that
his trial counsel was ineffective for not requesting a competency hearing. 24 The
Supreme Court found Defendant “was bound by his representation during the plea
colloquy” in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.”25 The
Supreme Court further noted that Defendant had “not express[ed] any confusion or
lack of understanding during his guilty plea colloquy” and had represented during
the colloquy that “he was taking medication, but that it was not hindering his
thoughts.”26
5. In July of 2021, Defendant filed an “Affidavit of Fact: Notice of Fault
and Opportunity to Cure/Writ of Revocation of Plea Contract & Affidavit of Facts”
and demanded “to have a scheduled special appearance and/or phone/video
conference” with the Court and a payment of $10 million.27 Denied.28
6. In February 2022, Defendant filed another Rule 61 Motion29 and a
Motion for Appointment of Counsel.30 Again, Defendant claimed his plea was
coerced and his counsel ineffective. The claims were barred under Superior Court
24
Johnson, 2021 WL 4699252, at *1.
25
Id. at *2.
26
Id.
27
D.I. 119.
28
D.I. 121.
29
D.I. 131.
30
D.I. 132.
4
Criminal Rules 61(i)(2) and 61(i)(4),31 and this Court summarily dismissed them.32
The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed on August 25, 2022.33
7. Within three months in 2022, Defendant filed over twenty requests, to
have this Court vacate his sentence, set aside his plea agreement, hold a suppression
hearing, grant default judgment against the State, and order the State to pay him
$1,830,000.00.34
8. In November of 2022, this Court again determined Defendant’s
motions were procedurally barred and did not satisfy any pleadings requirements of
Superior Court Criminal Rules.35 In that November 2022 ruling, this Court
31
See Del. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(4) (“Any ground for relief that was formerly adjudicated,
whether in the proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction, in an appeal, in a postconviction
proceeding, or in a federal habeas corpus proceeding, is thereafter barred.”).
32
D.I. 134.
33
Johnson v. State, 2022 WL 3695880 (Del. August 25, 2022).
34
On August 31, 2022, Defendant filed a Motion to File out of Time: (1) Motion for Reargument
of Suppress Denial, (2) Direct Appeal of Suppress Denial, (3) Motion of Withdrawal of Plea, (4)
Motion for Reargument of Conviction and Sentence, and (5) Direct Appeal of Conviction and
Sentence. D.I. 141. On September 8, 2022, Defendant filed a Motion for Correction of Illegal
Sentence. D.I. 153. On September 20, 2022, Defendant filed (1) Supplemental Demand Relief to
Motions to File Out of Time, (2) Supplemental Demand Relief to Motion for Correction of Illegal
sentence, (3) Motion for Withdrawal Plea, (4) Motion to File Out of Time to File a Motion to
Suppress, and (5) Motion to Suppress. D.I. 143. On September 29, 2022, Defendant filed
“summonses” to his attorneys, a Deputy Attorney General, and the State for two separate cases.
D.I. 155–59.
On October 4, 2022, Defendant filed a Motion for Correction of Illegal Sentence, same as D.I. 153
that was filed on September 8, 2022. D.I. 154. On October 13, 2022, Defendant filed a Notice of
Writ of Declaratory Judgment. On October 27, 2022, Defendant filed a Notice of Fault and
Opportunity to Cure Motion for Correction of Illegal Sentence, Withdrawal Plea, and a Motion to
File Out of Time and Summons by November 1, 2022. D.I. 161. On November 7, 2022, Defendant
filed a Default Judgment. D.I. 162. On November 10, 2022, Defendant filed Affidavit of the
Amount Due $1,830,000.00. D.I. 163.
35
D.I. 164.
5
requested that the Supreme Court consider enjoining Defendant from future filings
without leave of the Court.36 In December of 2022, Defendant filed again, rehashing
previously raised demands.37
9. On January 5, 2023, the Supreme Court warned Defendant against non-
meritorious future filings after it dismissed his petition for the issuance of a writ of
mandamus and granted the State’s Motion to Dismiss.38 And the Supreme Court
further affirmed this Court’s November 2022 Order on March 28, 2023.39
10. On July 10, 2023, this Court summarily dismissed Defendant’s third
motion for postconviction relief and other motions.40 On July 24, 2023, Defendant
filed a motion seeking reargument.41 On August 9, 2023, this Court denied
Defendant’s motion for reargument as untimely.42
36
Id.37
D.I. 171, at 4. Defendant seeks an in-person or video “meeting of the minds,” and to have this
Court again vacate his sentence, withdraw his plea, release him on bond, hold a suppression
hearing, and provide stand-by counsel. Id.38
In the Matter of the Petition of Jonathan Johnson for a Writ of Mandamus, 2023 WL 116481(Del. Jan. 5, 2023) (“In the last three years, Johnson has filed three appeals and two writ petitions
relating to his convictions in this Court. We warn Johnson that if he continues to file appeals or
writs making repetitive claims, he could be enjoined from filing future appeals or writs without
leave of the Court.”).
39
Johnson v. State, 2023 WL 2671805 (Del. March 28, 2023).
40
D.I. 179.
41
D.I. 180.
42
D.I. 181.
6
Current Motions Before the Court
11. The next day, on August 10, Defendant filed a “Motion to Amend
Reargument.”43 On September 6, 2023, Defendant filed a “Motion to Set
Aside/Vacate Final Judgment Orders Filed.”44 On September 11, 2023, Defendant
filed a Letter “Addendum to Ex. A” seeking the same relief, without any attachment
or Ex.A.45 The Court addresses them in order.
12. The first motion, a “Motion to Amend Reargument,”46 seeks that the
denial of his postconviction orders of September 2019 and April 2021 be set aside
due to “excusable neglect” under Superior Court Civil Rule 60(b) because “the Court
over-looked Movant’s meritorious defense within [a prior] ‘Ground Eight’ of
postconviction motion.”47 He further asserts that the second postconviction Order
should be set aside “due to excusable neglect…and party’s failure to submit all fact
and newly discovered evidence because. . .[it] failed to provide movant with notice
. . . of prior order. . . .”48 He contends he only became aware of the first
postconviction order dated September 19, 2019 “by verbal call to prothonotary May
2023.”49
43
D.I. 182.
44
D.I. 183.
45
D.I. 184.
46
D.I. 182.
47
Id.48
Id. at 2.
49
Id.
7
13. Defendant’s second motion filed on September 6, 2023, is another
“Motion to Set Aside/Vacate” this Court’s July 10, 2023 Order, which denied
Defendant’s Motion for Reargument as untimely. In this request, Defendant argues
that the Court should vacate the ruling because DOC did not timely provide him the
Order due to a misspelling of his last name such that Defendant did not receive the
order until July 21, well after the time period had run for filing his motion. 50 This
second motion is currently pending appeal with the Supreme Court and, therefore,
this Court does not address it.51
14. Defendant filed a third request on September 11, 2023. This time, a
Letter “Addendum to Ex. A” seeking the same relief.52 Nothing was attached to the
filing, and it is unclear what is meant by Ex. A. As such, this Court does not address
it.
15. Because the State conceded that Defendant had demonstrated his
failure to file a timely appeal as to the July 2023 Order was attributable to court-
related personnel, the Court asked the State to respond to Defendant’s three filings
by December 5, 2023.53 The State did not respond by the requested date.
50
D.I. 183.
51
Johnson v. State, No., 296, 2023. (On August 21, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court issued its
Order that “the State conceded Defendant had demonstrated that his failure to file a timely notice
of appeal is attributable to court-related personnel and that this Court should therefore consider the
appeal.”). Id at 2.
52
D.I. 184.
53
D.I. 188.
8
16. On December 19, 2023, Defendant took issue with the State’s failure to
meet the deadline as a basis to claim actual innocence. He filed an “Affidavit of
Fact, Petition for Default Judgments, Petition to Set Aside/Vacate Plea Agreement,
Petition for Release on Prior Paid Bond.”54 Defendant asserts the State’s missed
deadline requires the second postconviction Order to “be set aside…[which] creates
a strong inference that the Movant is actually innocent…because service from this
Court Order dated September 19 2019 (D.I. 72) failed to provide movant with notice
of Order.”55
17. In the December 19th filing, his requested relief was for the entry of
default judgment, another “in person meeting of the minds,”56 and he “demand[ed]
a clear response within 5 days. . . and to be released as soon as possible. . . .[The
Court’s] [f]ailure to comply with said will result in possible damages owed to [him].
Reply within (5) days or by Dec. 22, 2023.”57 This Court did not respond.
18. After the Court granted a request for an extension, the State filed its
Response to Amend Reargument and to Set Aside/Vacate Final Judgment Orders on
January 3, 2024.58
19. Defendant also filed a request for counsel on the basis of “newly
54
D.I. 191.
55
Id. at 1.
56
Id. at 3.
57
Id.
58
D.I. 194.
9
discovered evidence,” namely the State’s failure to timely respond.59 And then he
filed another motion “To Set Aside Judgment Order Dated February 17, 2017”60
seeking to vacate the late Judge Parkins’ suppression ruling on the basis that the
State failed to provide an arrest approval sheet and report submitted by the actual
seizing officer.61 Defendant suggests that had J. Parkins known that the seizing
officer was not available during the suppression hearing, the outcome would have
been different.62
20. On January 16, 2024, Defendant filed a Motion to Strike the State’s
Response, and again reiterated that the failure of the State to timely file its response
“has provided the Defendant with newly discovered evidence. . . .”63
Defendant’s Request Under Rule 60(b) Improper
21. Defendant files this Motion for Relief from his Judgment (“Motion”)
under Delaware Superior Court Civil Rule 60(b). His filings simply request to “set
aside/vacate” without citing a rule and at other times, he requests specific relief64
under Rule 60(b)(1)(2) and (3).65 Defendant further cites to Superior Court Criminal
59
D.I. 192.
60
D.I. 193.
61
Id. at 2.
62
Id.
63
D.I. 195.
64
See, D.I. 193 (“Pursuant to Del. Super Ct. Crim. R. 57(d) Petition Pursuant Del. Super. Ct. Civ.
R. 60(b)(1)(2) and (3) To Set Aside Judgment Order Dated Feb. 17, 2017 DK #29”).
65
DEL. SUPER. CIV. R. 60(b). (“On motion and upon such terms as are just, the Court may relieve
a party. . . from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following reasons: (1) Mistake,
inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due
10
Rule 57(d) as the mechanism to file under the civil rule.66 Defendant’s request is
improper.
22. Superior Court Criminal Rule 61 is the exclusive remedy for inmates
seeking to set aside a judgment of conviction on any ground that is a sufficient
factual and legal basis for a collateral attack on a criminal conviction.67 To the extent
that he does not seek to overturn his conviction by way of Rule 60(b) motion but
rather rescind prior Rule 61 rulings to give him a clean slate from which to refile a
Rule 61 motion, Rule 60(b) cannot be used in this fashion.68
23. In the flurry of filings, Defendant improperly pleads “actual
innocence”69 to vacate his postconviction Orders under Rule 60(b). For
completeness, the Court considers his request under Rule 61.
24. Under Rule 61, a motion for postconviction may be barred for time
limitations, successive motions, procedural default or former adjudication.70 A
diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under rule 59(b); (3) fraud
[] misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party. . . .”).
66
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 57(d) (“In all cases not provided for by rule or administrative order, the
court shall regulate its practice in accordance with the applicable Superior Court civil rule. . . .”).
67
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(a)(1) and (2).
68
See State v. Hobbs, 2019 WL 1902607, at *1 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 23, 2019) (ORDER) (“Since
the Superior Court Criminal Rules do provide for a procedure for addressing the Defendant's
claims for relief from his judgment of conviction, Superior Court Civil Rule 60 is not made
applicable by Criminal Rule 57(d). Hence, Civil Rule 60 cannot serve as a vehicle for obtaining
relief in the Defendant's criminal case.”), aff’d sub nom. Fatir v. State, 2019 WL 5295397 (Del.
Oct. 17, 2019) (TABLE) (“Superior Court Civil Rule 60(b) cannot be used to reopen judgments in
criminal cases.” (quoting Landry v. State, 2015 WL 4464772, at *1 (Del. July 20, 2015))).
69
See D.I. 191.
70
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i).
11
motion exceeds time limitations if it is filed more than a year after the conviction
becomes final, or if it asserts a retroactively applicable right that is newly recognized
after the judgement of conviction is final, more than one year after the right was first
recognized by the Supreme Court of Delaware or the Supreme Court of the United
States.71 A second or subsequent motion is considered successive and therefore
barred and subject to summary dismissal unless the movant was convicted after a
trial and “pleads with particularity that new evidence exists that the movant is
actually innocent” or “pleads with particularity a claim that a new rule of
constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on collateral review by the United
States Supreme Court or the Delaware Supreme Court, applies to the movant’s case
and renders the conviction. . . invalid.”72 Grounds for relief “not asserted in the
proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction” are barred as procedurally
defaulted unless the movant shows “cause for relief” and “prejudice” from the
violation.73 Grounds for relief formally adjudicated in the case, including
“proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction, in an appeal, in a post-
conviction proceeding, or in a federal habeas corpus hearing” are barred.74
25. These bars are inapplicable either to a claim that the court lacked
71
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(1).
72
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(2); DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(d)(2).
73
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(3).
74
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(4).
12
jurisdiction or to a claim that pleads with particularity that new evidence exists that
creates a strong inference of actual innocence,75 or that a new retroactively applied
rule of constitutional law renders the conviction invalid.76
26. First, Defendant failed to properly plead under Rule 61(b)(1).77 Even if
he had, his motion is untimely as it is filed more than a year after his judgment of
conviction became final78 and is again repetitive.79 Further, his motions also do not
satisfy the pleading requirements of Rules 61(d)(2)(i) or (d)(2)(ii). His reasons for
pleading “actual innocence” are nonsensical where the basis is solely the State’s
delay in responding to this Court.
27. Defendant’s post-conviction challenges have been formally adjudicated
and procedurally barred, respectively. All arguments for relief under Rule 61 have
been properly considered, rejected, reconsidered, denied, and summarily dismissed
as untimely or without merit under the exclusive provisions of Rule 61.80 Albeit
creative, Defendant’s Motions to Vacate under Rule 60(b) are procedurally improper
and DENIED. Any request under Rule 61 is SUMMARILY DISMISSED.
75
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(5).
76
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(d)(2)(i) and (ii).
77
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(b)(1) (“Form of motion. - An application under this rule shall be
made by a motion for postconviction relief.”).
78
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(1).
79
DEL. SUPER. CRIM. R. 61(i)(2).
80
As previously noted, the Court does not address the July 10, 2023, Order, which is currently
pending appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court.
13
Defendant’s Remaining Motions Are Without Merit
28. On November 21, 2023, Defendant filed a Certification of Question of
Law asking this Court to certify the question of whether “a trial attorney [has] a duty
to inform and memorialize his advice to client on client’s right to plea and withdraw
plea pursuant to Delaware Superior Court Criminal Rule 32(d)?” 81 He argues that
the important and urgent reason for this certification is that when he entered his plea
he was not given “memorialized advice from attorney on right to withdraw.”82
29. Delaware Supreme Court Rule 41 governs the Certification of
Questions of Law.83 Under 41(a)(i), this Court may certify “a question or questions
of law arising in any case before it prior to the entry of final judgment if there is an
important and urgent reason for an immediate determination of such question or
questions by this Court and the certifying court has not decided the question or
questions in the case.”84 Neither applies here. This Court entered final judgment
when Defendant was sentenced. Defendant’s request is improper.
30. On November 21, 2023, Defendant also filed a “Motion to Compel”
and seeks a copy of an email allegedly sent in February of 2017 related to a
suppression issue,85 to confirm that J. Parkins decided “there would be no need for
81
D.I. 189.
82
Id.83
DEL. SUPR. CRIM. R. 41.
84
DEL. SUPR. CRIM. R. 41(a)(i).
85
D.I. 190.
14
an evidentiary hearing.”86 To what end? Defendant does not state. Regardless, for
the reasons previously stated, Defendant’s request is irrelevant, improper, and
without basis.
31. Finally, Defendant’s Motion to Strike, for this Court to enter a default
judgment against the State, and to appoint him counsel are also without merit. For
the reasons stated, the State’s delay in responding to this Court’s request does not
equate to a finding of actual innocence or warrant the appointment of counsel.
32. On March 20, 2024, the Supreme Court reiterated prior warnings to
Defendant that future filings may be rejected after dismissing yet another appeal.87
Those warnings fall on deaf ears as the excessive and frivolous filings continue to
unduly burden the Court. This Court will limit its time and attention if forced to
address another meritless filing. Defendant’s Motions to Vacate are DENIED.
Defendant’s Motions for Counsel, to Compel, for Default Judgment, to Strike and
Certification of Law, are DENIED. Anything filed that falls within the purview of
Rule 61 is SUMMARILY DISMISSED.
/s/ Vivian L. Medinilla
Vivian L. Medinilla
Judge
oc: Prothonotary
cc: Defendant
Allison Abessinio, Esquire
Investigative Services Office
86
Id.87
Johnson v. State, 2024 WL 1209526 (Del. March 20, 2024).
15