State v. Smith

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals
The State, Respondent,
v.
John Julius Smith, Appellant.
Appellate Case No. 2014-001366
Appeal From Richland County
Robert E. Hood, Circuit Court Judge
Unpublished Opinion No. 2016-UP-505
Submitted November 1, 2016 – Filed December 7, 2016
AFFIRMED
Appellate Defender Laura Ruth Baer, of Columbia, for
Appellant.
Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Senior
Assistant Deputy Attorney General Deborah R.J. Shupe,
and Solicitor Daniel Edward Johnson, all of Columbia,
for Respondent.
PER CURIAM: John Julius Smith appeals the circuit court's order denying his
motion for a new trial, arguing the circuit court erred by (1) failing to apply
Jamison v. State,1 which articulated a new test for a new trial based on after-
discovered evidence following a guilty plea; (2) failing to provide further findings
of fact in its order denying Smith's motion for a new trial; (3) failing to find the
evidence presented met the traditional five-factor test for a new trial based on after-
discovered evidence; and (4) finding the standard for resentencing, set forth in
State v. South,2 only applied to capital cases. We affirm3 pursuant to Rule 220(b),
SCACR, and the following authorities:
1. As to Smith's argument regarding whether the circuit court erred in applying the
new test set forth in Jamison, we affirm. First, we note Jamison is not retroactive.
Second, the test set forth in Jamison only applies in the PCR context. See Jamison,
410 S.C. at 467, 765 S.E.2d at 128 ("[T]he narrow issue presented to this [c]ourt is
whether and to what extent an otherwise valid guilty plea may be vacated in PCR
proceedings on the basis of newly discovered evidence."). Finally, we note the
circuit court applied the correct test in denying Smith's motion for a new trial. See
State v. Harris, 391 S.C. 539, 545, 706 S.E.2d 526, 529 (Ct. App. 2011) ("In order
to warrant the granting of a new trial on the ground of after-discovered evidence,
the movant must show the evidence (1) is such as will probably change the result if
a new trial is granted; (2) has been discovered since the trial; (3) could not have
been discovered before the trial by the exercise of due diligence; (4) is material to
the issue; and (5) is not merely cumulative or impeaching.").
2. As to Smith's argument that the circuit court did not provide factual findings in
its order denying Smith's motion for a new trial: State v. Dunbar, 356 S.C. 138,
142, 587 S.E.2d 691, 693-94 (2003) ("Issues not raised and ruled upon in the
[circuit] court will not be considered on appeal.").
3. As to Smith's argument that the circuit court erred by finding the standard for
resentencing set forth in South only applies to capital cases: State v. Warren, 392
S.C. 235, 240, 708 S.E.2d 234, 236 (Ct. App. 2011) (finding an amendment to a
post-motion raising additional issues is subject to the Rule 29 deadlines); Rule
29(b), SCRCrimP ("A motion for a new trial based on after-discovered evidence
must be made within one (1) year after the date of actual discovery of the evidence
1
410 S.C. 456, 765 S.E.2d 123 (2014).
2
310 S.C. 504, 427 S.E.2d 666 (1993).
3
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.
by the defendant or after the date when the evidence could have been ascertained
by the exercise of reasonable diligence.").
AFFIRMED.
WILLIAMS, THOMAS, and GEATHERS, JJ., concur.