Sanford v. State
Sanford v. State
Opinion
On November 8, 1994, pursuant to a plea agreement, the appellant, Arthur James Sanford, pleaded guilty to sodomy in the first degree, a violation of §
On February 15, 2000, Sanford filed a petition entitled "a petition for writ of habeas corpus," attacking the revocation of his probation. This petition was originally filed in the Barbour Circuit Court, but that court correctly treated the petition as a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Rule 32, Ala.R.Crim.P.,1 and transferred the case to the court of original conviction, Jefferson Circuit Court. See Long v. State,
In his petition, Sanford alleges that he was denied procedural due process during the probation revocation proceedings, see Rule 27, Ala.R.Crim.P.; Morrissey v. Brewer,
Sanford's claims that he was denied procedural due process and that the evidence was insufficient to revoke his probation are procedurally barred under Rule 32.2(a)(3) and (5), Ala.R.Crim.P., because they could have been, but were not, raised and addressed at the revocation hearing and on appeal. Sanford's claim that the circuit court's probation revocation order was inadequate is procedurally barred under Rule 32.2(a)(5), Ala.R.Crim.P. because it could have been raised and addressed on appeal, but was not. Thus, the circuit court properly dismissed these claims.
Sanford's claim that counsel at his probation revocation hearing was ineffective, however, is meritorious, at least on its face. (C.R. 72-3.) The circuit court does not state its reasons for denying this claim, and the record does not support a finding that the claim is meritless. Therefore, we remand this cause to the circuit court to address Sanford's claim that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance during the probation-revocation proceedings. The circuit court is to make written findings of fact with regard to this claim, and, if necessary, to hold an evidentiary hearing on this matter. Bones v. State,
REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.*
Long, P.J., and McMillan, Cobb, and Baschab, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.