State v. Davenport

[Cite as State v. Davenport, 2018-Ohio-3949.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : No. 18AP-228
(C.P.C. No. 10CR-2709)
v. :
(REGULAR CALENDAR)
Carlos Davenport, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on September 27, 2018
On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Steven L.
Taylor, for appellee.
On brief: Carlos Davenport, pro se.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
LUPER SCHUSTER, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Carlos Davenport, appeals from a decision and entry of
the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion to vacate a void judgment.
For the following reasons, we affirm.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 2} By indictment filed May 4, 2010, plaintiff-appellee, State of Ohio, charged
Davenport with one count of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01, a felony of the first
degree; and two counts of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02, both felonies of the first degree.
Following a trial, a jury found Davenport guilty of all three counts. The trial court merged
the kidnapping count for purposes of sentencing and imposed consecutive indefinite
sentences of 25 years to life on the rape counts, journalizing Davenport's convictions and
sentence in a November 30, 2011 judgment entry.
No. 18AP-228 2
{¶ 3} Davenport filed a timely notice of appeal on December 30, 2011. As part of
his direct appeal, the transcripts of Davenport's trial were transmitted to the court of
appeals on March 26, 2012. This court affirmed Davenport's convictions in a November 8,
2012 decision. State v. Davenport, 10th Dist. No. 11AP-1159, 2012-Ohio-5192. Davenport
appealed this court's decision to the Supreme Court of Ohio, and the Supreme Court
declined to accept jurisdiction of the appeal.
{¶ 4} The statute governing petitions for postconviction relief in effect at the time
of Davenport's conviction and appeal required a defendant who pursued a timely direct
appeal to file a petition for postconviction relief within 180 days after filing the trial
transcripts with the court of appeals. Former R.C. 2953.23(A). As it relates to Davenport,
the 180-day deadline to file a petition for postconviction relief was September 22, 2012,
which was a Saturday. Thus, Davenport had until the following Monday, September 24,
2012, to file a timely postconviction petition.
{¶ 5} On September 24, 2012, Davenport did not file a petition for postconviction
relief. Instead, on that date, Davenport filed a document giving "notice" of an ongoing
investigation, giving "notice" of his intent to a file a petition for postconviction relief in the
future, and making a "motion for extension of statute of limitations," seeking an additional
60 days to file his petition. The state opposed any preemptive extension of time to file a
petition for postconviction relief.
{¶ 6} Eventually, on May 20, 2014, nearly 20 months after his filing seeking an
extension of time, Davenport filed a petition for postconviction relief. In his petition,
Davenport argued he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. The state
opposed Davenport's petition for postconviction relief, arguing the petition was untimely
and that Davenport did not support the petition with evidentiary documentation.
{¶ 7} In a January 15, 2015 entry, the trial court denied Davenport's petition for
postconviction relief without a hearing. The trial court concluded Davenport's petition was
untimely, that he did not demonstrate he was unavoidably prevented from filing a timely
petition, and that he lacked supporting evidentiary documentation. Davenport filed an
appeal from the trial court's denial of his petition for postconviction relief, and this court,
in a December 10, 2015 decision, affirmed the denial of his petition. State v. Davenport,
10th Dist. No. 15AP-96, 2015-Ohio-5120. The Supreme Court of Ohio declined review.
No. 18AP-228 3
{¶ 8} On June 20, 2016, Davenport filed a motion for leave to file a delayed motion
for new trial. Davenport argued in this motion that an alleged forgery on a substitution-of-
counsel form that was the subject of his petition for postconviction relief showed a fraud by
the court. The trial court denied the motion in an August 5, 2016 entry. Davenport did not
appeal that decision.
{¶ 9} Davenport next filed a "motion to correct illegal sentence" on September 9,
2016, again asserting his forgery theory. The trial court denied that motion in a January 4,
2017 entry, and Davenport did not appeal.
{¶ 10} Subsequently, on April 19, 2017, Davenport filed a "motion to vacate a void
judgment," again relying on his forgery theory. The state opposed the motion. The trial
court, in a March 16, 2018 decision and entry, construed Davenport's motion as a petition
for postconviction relief and denied the petition without a hearing. The trial court found
the petition was both untimely and barred by res judicata. Davenport timely appeals.
II. Assignments of Error
{¶ 11} Davenport assigns the following errors for our review:
[1.] The trial court erred (and continue to do so.) When it
participates in criminal acts against the constitutional
guarantees of the appellate. These egregious, purposeful acts,
specifically the Fourteenth Amendment.
[2.] The trial court erred when it violated the "Due Process
Clause" of the Fourteenth Amendment by Suppression of
Evidence.
[3.] Ineffective assistance of counsel.
(Sic passim.)
III. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
{¶ 12} " '[A] trial court's decision granting or denying a postconviction petition filed
pursuant to R.C. 2953.21 should be upheld absent an abuse of discretion; a reviewing court
should not overrule the trial court's finding on a petition for postconviction relief that is
supported by competent and credible evidence.' " State v. Sidibeh, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-498,
2013-Ohio-2309, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377, 2006-Ohio-6679, ¶ 58.
Further, we review a trial court's decision to deny a postconviction petition without a
No. 18AP-228 4
hearing under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Boddie, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-811,
2013-Ohio-3925, ¶ 11, citing State v. Campbell, 10th Dist. No. 03AP-147, 2003-Ohio-6305,
¶ 14. An abuse of discretion connotes a decision that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or
unconscionable. Boddie at ¶ 11, citing Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219
(1983).
{¶ 13} As a general matter, a petition for postconviction relief is a collateral civil
attack on a criminal judgment, not an appeal of the judgment. Sidibeh at ¶ 8, citing State
v. Steffen, 70 Ohio St.3d 399, 410 (1994). A petition for postconviction relief " 'is a means
to reach constitutional issues which would otherwise be impossible to reach because the
evidence supporting those issues is not contained in the record.' " Sidibeh at ¶ 8, quoting
State v. Murphy, 10th Dist. No. 00AP-233 (Dec. 26, 2000). Thus, a postconviction petition
does not provide a petitioner a second opportunity to litigate his or her conviction. Sidibeh
at ¶ 8, citing State v. Hessler, 10th Dist. No. 01AP-1011, 2002-Ohio-3321, ¶ 23. Instead,
R.C. 2953.21 affords a petitioner postconviction relief " 'only if the court can find that there
was such a denial or infringement of the rights of the prisoner as to render the judgment
void or voidable under the Ohio Constitution or the United States Constitution.' " Sidibeh
at ¶ 8, quoting State v. Perry, 10 Ohio St.2d 175 (1967), paragraph four of the syllabus.
{¶ 14} Pursuant to R.C. 2953.21(A)(2), a petition for postconviction relief must be
filed no later than 365 days after the expiration of the time for filing an appeal. A trial court
may not entertain an untimely postconviction petition unless the petitioner initially
demonstrates either (1) he was unavoidably prevented from discovering the facts necessary
for the claim for relief, or (2) the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal or
state right that applies retroactively to persons in the petitioner's situation. R.C.
2953.23(A)(1)(a). If the petitioner can satisfy one of those two conditions, he must also
demonstrate that but for the constitutional error at trial no reasonable finder of fact would
have found him guilty. R.C. 2953.23(A)(1)(b). These requirements are jurisdictional. See
State v. Hollingsworth, 10th Dist. No. 08AP-785, 2009-Ohio-1753, ¶ 8.
{¶ 15} The doctrine of res judicata places another significant restriction on the
availability of postconviction relief. Sidibeh at ¶ 12. " 'Under the doctrine of res judicata, a
final judgment of conviction bars a convicted defendant who was represented by counsel
from raising and litigating in any proceeding except an appeal from that judgment, any
No. 18AP-228 5
defense or any claimed lack of due process that was raised or could have been raised by the
defendant at the trial, which resulted in that judgment or conviction, or on an appeal from
that judgment.' " (Emphasis omitted.) State v. Cole, 2 Ohio St.3d 112, 113 (1982), quoting
Perry at paragraph nine of the syllabus. "Res judicata also implicitly bars a petitioner from
're-packaging' evidence or issues which either were, or could have been, raised in the
context of the petitioner's trial or direct appeal." Hessler at ¶ 27.
{¶ 16} Further, a petitioner is not automatically entitled to an evidentiary hearing
on a postconviction petition. Sidibeh at ¶ 13, citing State v. Jackson, 64 Ohio St.2d 107,
110-13 (1980). To warrant an evidentiary hearing, the petitioner bears the initial burden of
providing evidence demonstrating a cognizable claim of constitutional error. Sidibeh at
¶ 13, citing R.C. 2953.21(D); Hessler at ¶ 24. The trial court may deny the petitioner's
postconviction petition without an evidentiary hearing "if the petition, supporting
affidavits, documentary evidence, and trial record do not demonstrate sufficient operative
facts to establish substantive grounds for relief." Sidibeh at ¶ 13, citing State v. Calhoun,
86 Ohio St.3d 279 (1999), paragraph two of the syllabus.
IV. First, Second, and Third Assignments of Error – Petition for
Postconviction Relief
{¶ 17} Davenport's three assignments of error are interrelated, and we address them
jointly. Taken together, these assignments of error assert the trial court erred in denying
Davenport's motion to vacate his conviction.
{¶ 18} In his three assignments of error, Davenport raises arguments he sought to
litigate in his motion to vacate. Davenport does not provide any legal authority or rule that
authorizes the filing of a purported motion to vacate a void judgment. "A motion that is not
filed pursuant to a specific rule of criminal procedure 'must be categorized by a court in
order for the court to know the criteria by which the motion should be judged.' " State v.
Elkins, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-6, 2010-Ohio-4605, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Bush, 96 Ohio St.3d
235, 2002-Ohio-3993, ¶ 10. In his motion, Davenport argues the trial court violated his
constitutional rights through various actions during the pendency of his criminal case.
Because Davenport filed his motion after his direct appeal and raised constitutional claims
in an attempt to vacate his convictions, the trial court properly construed Davenport's
motion as an untimely petition for postconviction relief. Elkins at ¶ 10; State v. Chavis,
No. 18AP-228 6
10th Dist. No. 15AP-557, 2015-Ohio-5549, ¶ 13 (construing a motion to vacate a void
judgment as a petition for postconviction relief), citing State v. Schlee, 117 Ohio St.3d 153,
2008-Ohio-545, ¶ 12 (noting "[c]ourts may recast irregular motions into whatever category
necessary to identify and establish the criteria by which the motion should be judged");
State v. Campbell, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-109, 2012-Ohio-5195, ¶ 6 (a trial court does not err
in construing a motion filed after the opportunity for direct appeal had expired and
claiming a denial of constitutional rights as a petition for postconviction relief).
{¶ 19} As we outlined above, there are certain limits to an untimely petition for
postconviction relief. R.C. 2953.23(A). A trial court lacks jurisdiction to entertain an
untimely or successive petition for postconviction relief unless the petition establishes that
one of the exceptions in R.C. 2953(A) applies. Campbell at ¶ 9. As applicable here, a trial
court may not entertain an untimely postconviction petition unless the petitioner initially
demonstrates either (1) he was unavoidably prevented from discovering the facts necessary
for the claim for relief, or (2) the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal or
state right that applies retroactively to persons in the petitioner's situation. R.C.
2953.23(A)(1)(a). If the petitioner can satisfy one of those two conditions, he must
demonstrate that but for the constitutional error at trial, no reasonable finder of fact would
have found him guilty. R.C. 2953.23(A)(1)(b).
{¶ 20} Here, Davenport does not assert that the United States Supreme Court has
recognized a new federal or state right that applies retroactively to his situation. Therefore,
the court "may not entertain" Davenport's untimely postconviction petition unless he
demonstrates (1) that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering the facts necessary
for his claim for relief, and (2) that but for a constitutional error, no reasonable factfinder
would have found him guilty.
{¶ 21} In denying Davenport's untimely postconviction petition, the trial court
concluded Davenport did not satisfy the requirements of R.C. 2953.23(A) that would allow
the court to entertain his untimely petition. Davenport did not set forth any explanation
for his delay in seeking relief. Moreover, the arguments in his petition relied on the same
facts he has used to support his arguments in his various court filings throughout the past
several years. In other words, Davenport does not point to any new facts outside the record
that could even theoretically support a claim that he was unavoidably prevented from
No. 18AP-228 7
discovering them. Instead, through his petition, Davenport simply repeats the same
arguments he has been making to the trial court since his first petition for postconviction
relief filed May 20, 2014. Thus, Davenport did not demonstrate that he was unavoidably
prevented from discovering the facts necessary for his claim for relief.
{¶ 22} Because Davenport failed to establish the applicability of an exception that
would allow the trial court to consider his untimely, successive postconviction petition, the
trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain Davenport's petition. State v. Battin, 10th Dist.
No. 17AP-911, 2018-Ohio-2533, ¶ 19, citing State v. Ruark, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-142, 2015-
Ohio-3206, ¶ 14, citing State v. Russell, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-391, 2006-Ohio-383, ¶ 7.
Therefore, the trial court did not err in denying Davenport's petition. Furthermore, because
the trial court lacked jurisdiction to consider Davenport's petition, it was not required to
hold an evidentiary hearing. Battin at ¶ 19, citing Ruark at ¶ 14, citing State v. Burke, 10th
Dist. No. 02AP-677, 2002-Ohio-6840, ¶ 19.
{¶ 23} For these reasons, we overrule Davenport's first, second, and third
assignments of error.
V. Disposition
{¶ 24} Based on the foregoing reasons, the trial court did not err in denying
Davenport's untimely petition for postconviction relief. Having overruled Davenport's
three assignments of error, we affirm the judgment of the Franklin County Court of
Common Pleas.
Judgment affirmed.
KLATT and BRUNNER, JJ., concur.