Jones v. State

• Decision Date: 19 February 2019
• Docket Number: A18A1912
• Parties: JONES v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

348 Ga.App. 653

824 S.E.2d 575

JONES

v.The STATE.

A18A1912

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

February 19, 2019

James Jones, for Appellant.

Joshua Bradley Smith, Augusta, Henry Wayne Syms Jr., for Appellee.

Markle, Judge.

James Jones appeals from the trial court’s denial of his motion to modify his sentence, imposed following his plea of guilty to child molestation. For the reasons that follow, we dismiss the appeal.

"Whether to grant a motion to correct a sentence under OCGA § 17-10-1 (f) lies within the discretion of the trial court. So long as the sentence imposed by the court falls within the parameters prescribed by law, we will not disturb it." (Citation omitted.) Richardson v. State , 334 Ga. App. 344, 346, 779 S.E.2d 406 (2015).

So viewed, the record shows that in 2015, Jones entered a negotiated plea in which he pled guilty to the molestation of his stepdaughter. The trial court accepted the plea, finding it was entered into knowingly and voluntarily. The trial court sentenced Jones to thirteen years, with eight to serve, concurrent with "any sentence currently serving."¹ As one of the conditions of his probation, Jones was ordered to have no contact with the victim or his biological son, the birth of whom resulted from the molestation. The trial court added a caveat to the no contact condition that would allow Jones to have contact with the victim or child if ordered by a judge, leaving open the possibility that Jones could legitimate the child and obtain visitation. Per the terms of his plea agreement, Jones agreed to waive any right to modification of his sentence and his right to appeal.

Thereafter, Jones filed a motion to modify his sentence under OCGA § 17-10-1 (f), arguing that the special conditions of his probation were unlawful and that the trial court erred by imposing an indeterminate sentence under OCGA § 17-10-1 (a) (1) by prohibiting him from having any contact with his biological child. He also filed a motion to compel, apparently seeking to compel the trial court to rule on his motion for modification.² The trial court denied Jones’s motion to modify his sentence without a hearing. This appeal followed.

Jones argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to modify his sentence because (1) it was error to revoke his probation arising from his 1996 conviction; (2) the special condition of probation prohibiting contact with the victim or his biological child constituted an indeterminate sentence; and (3) he never agreed to certain conditions of probation that could not be imposed without his consent. We disagree.

1. Before we consider the merits of Jones’s appeal, we first address the State’s argument that the appeal should be dismissed because (a) the motion was untimely, and (b) Jones waived his right to file the motion as part of his guilty plea.

OCGA § 17-10-1 (f) provides:

Within one year of the date upon which the sentence is imposed, or within 120 days after receipt by the sentencing court of the remittitur upon affirmance of the judgment after direct appeal, whichever is later, the court imposing the sentence has the jurisdiction, power, and authority to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed.

Here, contrary to the State’s argument, Jones’s motion to modify his sentence was timely. Jones was sentenced on February 23, 2017, and he filed the instant motion on December 14, 2017, within one year of his sentencing. See OCGA § 17-10-1 (f). Thus, the trial court was authorized to consider the motion.

The State further contends that this Court should dismiss the appeal because Jones waived his right to seek modification of his sentence as part of his negotiated plea.

It is well established that a defendant can waive his right to seek post conviction relief as part of a negotiated plea agreement. See Rush v. State , 276 Ga. 541, 542, 579 S.E.2d 726 (2003). However, the waiver does not apply if the sentence imposed was illegal. See Sumner v. State , 284 Ga. App. 308, 312, 643 S.E.2d 831 (2007). As Jones raises a claim that the sentence imposed was illegal, we will consider the merits of his appeal to determine if he waived his right to file the motion to modify his sentence.

2. Jones first argues that the revocation of his probation in his earlier case and his sentence to consecutive terms of imprisonment was improper.

Jones did not raise this argument before the trial court, and we therefore decline to consider it. Daniels v. State , 244 Ga. App. 522, 523, 536 S.E.2d 206 (2000) (declining to review arguments for reduction in sentence that were not raised by the appellant in the court below). Moreover, the record on appeal is devoid of any documents related to that previous judgment. Therefore, there is nothing for this Court to review. Adams v. State , 282 Ga. App. 819, 822 (3) (a), 640 S.E.2d 329 (2006).

3. In his next two arguments, Jones contends that he received an indeterminate sentence based on the special condition that he have no contact with the victim or his biological child. He notes that the victim explicitly wished to remain in contact with him and to allow Jones to be involved in his biological child’s life, and he contends that the probation condition effectively terminates his parental rights. We address each in turn, finding no merit to either claim.

(a) Under OCGA § 17-10-1 (a) (1), a trial court is required to impose a determinate sentence. A determinate sentence is one that establishes a specific number of months or years. See OCGA § 17-10-1 (a) (1). Here, the trial court imposed both a specific term of imprisonment and a term of probation for a determinate number of years. Thus, the trial court did not impose an indeterminate sentence.³ See OCGA § 17-10-1 (a) (1). Moreover, nothing about the special conditions of probation transformed the sentence into one that was indeterminate given the specific term of probation imposed. Id. (b) The trial court’s inclusion of a no contact provision was also within the trial court’s discretion and would not cause the sentence to be illegal. See OCGA § 42-8-35 (a), (b) (1) ; Rooney v. State , 311 Ga. App. 376, 376-377...