Dotson v. State
Decision Date | 27 April 2021 |
Docket Number | NO. 2020-CP-00495-COA,2020-CP-00495-COA |
Citation | 317 So.3d 976 |
Court | Mississippi Court of Appeals |
Parties | George S. DOTSON, Jr. a/k/a George S. Dotson, Appellant v. STATE of Mississippi, Appellee |
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: GEORGE S. DOTSON JR., (PRO SE)
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: MICHAEL DEWAYNE WILSON SR.
BEFORE WILSON, P.J., GREENLEE AND WESTBROOKS, JJ.
WESTBROOKS, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. After being convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to serve eighteen years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, George Dotson now appeals arguing that he is entitled to earned time credit pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 47-5-138(5) (Rev. 2015). Dotson asserts that the application of the earned credit should cause his sentence to be expired; thus, he argues he is being illegally detained. We disagree and affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. On February 8, 2008, Dotson was indicted by an Attala County grand jury for armed robbery. The indictment alleged that Dotson robbed Ella's Country Store at gunpoint, taking approximately $358. On February 28, 2008, Dotson entered a plea of guilty, which the court accepted. Dotson was then sentenced to serve eighteen years and to pay all court costs and assessments at a rate of $50 per month until paid in full, beginning within thirty days of his release from incarceration.
¶3. On April 2, 2020, Dotson filed a motion for post-conviction collateral relief in the Attala County Circuit Court. Dotson contends that he is entitled to earned time credit pursuant to section 47-5-138(5). Furthermore, Dotson asserts that the application of the earned credit should cause his sentence to be expired; thus, he argues he is being illegally detained and requests immediate release.
DISCUSSION
¶4. Dotson argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion for post-conviction collateral relief. We disagree. "This Court will reverse a trial court's denial of post-conviction relief only upon a finding that the trial court's decision was clearly erroneous." Wells v. State , 936 So. 2d 479, 480 (¶4) (Miss. Ct. App. 2006). Dotson maintains that he should be released on earned time credit pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated sections 47-5-138, 47-5-138.1 (Rev. 2015), and 47-5-142 (Rev. 2015).
¶5. Under section 47-5-138.1(2)(d), "[a]n offender in trusty status shall not be eligible for a reduction of sentence under this section if ... [t]he offender has not served the mandatory time required for parole eligibility, as prescribed under Section 47-7-3, for a conviction of robbery or attempted robbery through the display of a deadly weapon ...."
¶6. Dotson presents an issue that has been addressed previously by this Court. Neal v. MDOC Records Department , citing Wells v. State , highlights the issue surrounding earned time credit for armed robbery, stating:
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