State v. Russell, 2008ca0035 (12-18-2008)
State v. Russell, 2008ca0035 (12-18-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On May 10, 2006, appellant pled guilty as charged. By judgment entries filed June 7, 2006, the trial court sentenced appellant to an aggregate term of three years in prison in Case No. 04CR628, and one year in prison in Case No. 05CR316. The one year sentence was to be served consecutively to the three year sentence.
{¶ 3} On January 15, 2008, appellant filed a pro se motion to vacate sentence for resentencing. By judgment entry filed February 20, 2008, the trial court denied the motion.
{¶ 4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
{¶ 9} Appellant filed his pro se motion pursuant to Civ. R. 60(B) via Crim. R. 57(B) which states, "If no procedure is specifically prescribed by rule, the court may proceed in any lawful manner not inconsistent with these rules of criminal procedure, and shall look to the rules of civil procedure and to the applicable law if no rule of criminal procedure exists."
{¶ 10} In State v. Schlee,
{¶ 11} "We must now consider whether Schlee properly resorted to Civ. R. 60(B) in this case, that is, whether the absence of an applicable Criminal Rule justified invoking a Civil Rule in its place. The state contends, and we agree, that Crim. R. 35, which sets forth the procedure by which criminal defendants can file petitions for *Page 4 postconviction relief, was available to Schlee and serves the same purpose as the Civ. R. 60(B) motion he filed."
{¶ 12} The Schlee court at syllabus held a motion for relief from judgment may be treated as a petition for postconviction relief when the motion has been unambiguously presented as a Civ. R. 60(B) motion." TheSchlee court explained the following at ¶ 12:
{¶ 13} "Schlee's Civ. R. 60(B) motion was labeled a `Motion For Relief From Judgment.' Courts may recast irregular motions into whatever category necessary to identify and establish the criteria by which the motion should be judged. State v. Bush,
{¶ 14} We find this case qualifies under the Schlee standard. In his motion, appellant argued violations of his constitutional rights pertaining to sentencing under *Page 5 Blakely v. Washington (2004),
{¶ 15} "Any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense or adjudicated a delinquent child and who claims that there was such a denial or infringement of the person's rights as to render the judgment void or voidable under the Ohio Constitution or the Constitution of the United States,***may file a petition in the court that imposed sentence, stating the grounds for relief relied upon, and asking the court to vacate or set aside the judgment or sentence or to grant other appropriate relief." R.C.
{¶ 16} R.C.
{¶ 17} "Except as otherwise provided in section
{¶ 18} Pursuant to said statute, we find the statutory time period for appellant's motion for postconviction relief had expired. In addition, appellant has not shown any reason for the untimely filing under R.C.
{¶ 19} Furthermore, a Foster claim is prospective only, and does not apply to collateral attacks such as petitions for postconviction relief. See, State v. Clark, Delaware App. No. 05CAA05025,
{¶ 20} Also, appellant's arguments about his sentence were available on direct appeal. Foster was decided on February 27, 2006. Appellant was sentenced on June 7, 2006, after Foster. He failed to file a direct appeal. Therefore, appellant's arguments are barred under the doctrine of res judicata. As stated by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v.Perry (1967),
{¶ 21} "Under the doctrine of res judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars the convicted defendant from raising and litigating in any proceeding, except an appeal from that judgment, any defense or any claimed lack of due process that was raised or could have been raised by the defendant at the trial which resulted in that judgment of conviction or on an appeal from that judgment."
{¶ 22} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to vacate sentence for resentencing.
{¶ 23} Assignments of Error I, II, and III are denied. *Page 7
{¶ 24} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio is hereby affirmed.
*Page 8Farmer, P.J., Edwards, J. and Delaney, J. concur.
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