State v. Reynolds, 08ap-1052 (5-7-2009)
State v. Reynolds, 08ap-1052 (5-7-2009)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Raashawn Reynolds, defendant-appellant, appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, in which the court denied his motion to vacate judgment for lack of jurisdiction.{¶ 2} On September 18, 2001, the trial court entered a judgment, pursuant to a jury verdict, finding appellant guilty of eight counts, including aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of robbery, and possessing criminal tools, as well as numerous one-year and three-year firearm specifications. For purposes of *Page 2 sentencing, the trial court merged the robbery counts into the aggravated robbery counts, and merged multiple firearm specifications into a single three-year specification. The trial court then sentenced appellant to a total sentence of 13 years.
{¶ 3} Appellant appealed, and in State v. Reynolds, 10th Dist. No. 01AP-1176, 2002-Ohio-3337, we affirmed the trial court. The Supreme Court of Ohio denied appellant's motion for delayed appeal in State v.Reynolds,
{¶ 4} On June 8, 2006, appellant filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which the trial court denied on August 31, 2006. Appellant appealed, and this court affirmed the trial court in State v.Reynolds, 10th Dist. No. 06AP-996,
{¶ 5} On July 8, 2008, appellant filed a motion to void judgment pursuant to Civ. R. 60(B)(4), (5), and (6). On October 20, 2008, appellant filed a motion to vacate judgment for lack of jurisdiction, based upon State v. Colon,
{¶ 6} On October 27, 2008, the trial court denied the October 20, 2008 motion to vacate judgment for lack of jurisdiction. Appellant appeals the judgment of the trial court, asserting the following assignment of error:
*Page 3The trial Court errored when it did not let the Appellant have a hearing once it was made aware of the Violation of the appellant's Due Process, when the State Convicted the defendant Via an Indictment that Omitted Essential "mens rea" for the offences which was a Structural Error. (Sic passim.)
{¶ 7} In appellant's sole assignment of error, he argues that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to vacate judgment for lack of jurisdiction. Although appellant did not specify the procedural basis for his motion to vacate, an argument based upon a claimed lack of subject-matter jurisdiction as the result of a defective indictment should be advanced pursuant to a petition for post-conviction relief under R.C.
{¶ 8} Analyzing appellant's motion as a petition for post-conviction relief, R.C.
{¶ 9} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 10} Here, appellant has not, and cannot, demonstrate either of the first two prerequisites for entertaining an untimely petition for post-conviction relief. Appellant has not claimed that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering facts necessary for his claim for relief. Rather, appellant's claim in his motion was based upon new case law that had developed since his sentencing. Furthermore, appellant does not claim any new federal or state right recognized by the United State Supreme Court that applies retroactively to persons in appellant's situation. The new case relied upon by appellant, Colon I, is an Ohio Supreme Court case. Therefore, appellant has not met these requirements necessary to entertain an untimely petition for post-conviction relief. Accordingly, appellant's petition was untimely.
{¶ 11} Notwithstanding, even if appellant had met the procedural requirements of R.C.
{¶ 12} Here, appellant's case was no longer pending at the time ofColon I, and the time for appealing any judgment had expired. Because his judgment was final before Colon I was announced, Colon I does not apply to appellant's conviction and sentencing. Therefore, regardless of how we label appellant's motion, the trial court properly denied it. Appellant's assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 13} Accordingly, appellant's single assignment of error is overruled, and the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
SADLER and McGRATH, JJ., concur. *Page 1
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Raashawn Reynolds
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published