Case Title: Porter v. State

Citation: 2010 Ark. 219

Docket Number: 10-284

State: arkansas

Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Date: 2010-05-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
Cite as 2010 Ark. 219 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS No. 10-284 DARNELL PORTER, $366.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY, LG CELL PHONE SN 905KPNT725423, I- PHONE SN 829238G4Y7H Petitioners v. STATE OF ARKANSAS Respondent Opinion Delivered May 6, 2010 PRO SE MOTION FOR BELATED APPEAL [CIRCUIT COURT OF FAULKNER COUNTY, CV 2009- 1046, HON. DAVID L. REYNOLDS, JUDGE] MOTION DENIED. PER CURIAM In 2009, an in rem complaint was filed in the Circuit Court of Faulkner County seeking forfeiture by petitioner Darnell Porter of certain property that had been seized as the proceeds of illegal activity. On October 20, 2009, the court granted the State’s motion for default judgment. No appeal was taken by petitioner, and he now seeks leave to proceed with a belated appeal. Forfeiture matters arising from criminal cases are considered in rem civil actions. State v. One 1993 Toyota Camry, 333 Ark. 503, 969 S.W.2d 663 (1998). Our rules of civil procedure do not provide for a belated appeal in civil cases. See Ark. R. App. P.–Civ. 4 (2009); Douglas v. State, 2009 Ark. 427 (per curiam) (citing Butcher v. State, 345 Ark. 222, 45 S.W.3d 378 (2001) (per curiam)). Accordingly, petitioner is not entitled to pursue a belated appeal from the order entered in this civil forfeiture matter. Motion denied.