Wheeler v. State, S98A0820.

Decision Date04 May 1998
Docket NumberNo. S98A0820.,S98A0820.
Citation269 Ga. 547,499 S.E.2d 629
PartiesWHEELER v. The STATE.
CourtGeorgia Supreme Court

OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE

John D. Wheeler, Oglethorpe, for John Dean Wheeler.

H. Lamar Cole, Dist. Atty., Valdosta, Anthony Scott Gunn, Asst. Dist. Atty., Moultrie, for the State.

BENHAM, Chief Justice.

Facing prosecution for a number of charges arising from the September 1996 murder of a woman and the aggravated assault of her male companion, appellant John Dean Wheeler pled guilty to the murder charge in February 1997 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. 1 Nine months later, in December 1997, appellant filed a motion for out-of-time appeal in which he contended that his appellate rights had not been exercised in a timely fashion because his attorney did not file an appeal. Appellant brings this appeal from the trial court's denial of his motion.

As the movant for an out-of-time appeal, appellant had to establish a good and sufficient reason which entitled him to an out-of-time appeal. Smith v. State, 266 Ga. 687, 470 S.E.2d 436 (1996). To meet this burden of proof, appellant had to set forth the questions he would raise should the appeal be granted, and show that the questions could be resolved by facts appearing in the appellate record. Id. Appellant has alleged only that his attorney's inadequate performance was the reason why no timely appeal was filed; appellant has not set forth the questions he would raise in an out-of-time appeal and that the questions could be resolved by facts in the record. The trial court did not err when it denied the motion for outof-time appeal. Id.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.

1. The trial court granted the District Attorney's motion to nol pros the remaining charges.

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13 cases
  • Collier v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • October 21, 2019
    ...State , 273 Ga. 842, 843 (3), 545 S.E.2d 879 (2001) ; Grimmette v. State , 273 Ga. 552 (1), 544 S.E.2d 427 (2001) ; Wheeler v. State , 269 Ga. 547, 548, 499 S.E.2d 629 (1998) ; Smith v. State , 269 Ga. 21, 22, 494 S.E.2d 668 (1998) ; Stewart v. State , 268 Ga. 886, 887, 494 S.E.2d 665 (1998......
  • Cain v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • November 25, 2002
    ...he had an absolute right to file a timely direct appeal. Smith v. State, 266 Ga. 687, 470 S.E.2d 436 (1996). Compare Wheeler v. State, 269 Ga. 547, 499 S.E.2d 629 (1998) (guilty plea); Syms v. State, 240 Ga.App. 440(1), 523 S.E.2d 42 (1999) (guilty plea). However, he did not do so. Instead,......
  • Wetherington v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • February 2, 2015
    ...would raise should the appeal be granted” and show that these questions could be answered by facts in the record. Wheeler v. State, 269 Ga. 547, 548, 499 S.E.2d 629 (1998). He cannot merely allege that he was not informed of his right to appeal. See Barnes v. State, 274 Ga. 783, 783, 559 S.......
  • Rodriguez-Martinez v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • April 10, 2000
    ...as the movant, bears the burden of showing "good and sufficient" reason entitling him to an out-of-time appeal. Wheeler v. State, 269 Ga. 547, 548, 499 S.E.2d 629 (1998). Also, an out-of-time appeal is a remedy for a frustrated right of appeal; therefore, [Rodriguez-Martinez] must show that......
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