FI FTH DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and PETERSON, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Septem ber 26, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 08 8 . CHARLES v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Pres i d i n g J u dg e.

Trey Ch arl es ch al l en g es t h e reject io n o f h i s req u es t t o w i th d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea.

Becau s e Ch arl es has fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at h e was en t it l ed t o s uch re l i e f

, w e

affi rm

.

Accu s e d o f u s i n g a h an d g u n t o t ak e p ro p ert y fro m t h e p ers o n o f an o t h er,

Ch arl es was i n di ct ed i n DeKal b Co u n t y Su p eri o r Co urt as fo l l o w s : Co u n t 1

– arm ed

ro b b ery ; Co un t 2

– ag g rav at ed as s au l t ; an d Co u n t 3

– p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g

t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

. Rep res en t ed b y co u n s el

, Ch arl es p l ed g u i l t y t o t h e

red u ced offen s e o f r o b b ery

, ag g rav at ed as sau l t

, an d fi rearm p o s s es s io n d u ri n g t h eco m

m i s s io n o f a fel o n y ; Ch arl es al s o as ked t o b e t reat ed u n der t h e Fi rs t O f f e n d er

Act

. 1

On Decem

b er 9

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e co u r t s en t en ced Ch arl es p urs u an t to t h at Act

, 2

i m p o s i n g u p o n h im : (i ) fo r C o u n t 1

– fi ft een y ears t o s erv e t en ; (i i ) fo r Co u n t 2

–

fi ft een y ears t o s erv e t en

, co ncu rren t l y w i th th e s e n t e n c e i m po s ed fo r Co u n t 1 ; an d

(i ii ) fo r Co u nt 3

– fi v e y ears t o s erv e o n p ro b at i o n

, co n s ecu t i v el y t o t h e s en t en ces

i m p o s ed fo r t h e o t h er t wo co u n t s

.

A few m o n t h s l at er, p ro s e, Ch ar l e s s en t a l et ter t o t h e Cl erk o f t h e DeKal b

Co u n t y Su p eri o r Co u rt . Th erei n , Ch arl es as s ert ed

, “ Iv e [s i c] had t i m e t o t h i n k

. I d o

n o t ag ree wi t h t hi s p l ea. . . . I wi s h t o wi t h d raw m y g u i l t y p l ed [s i c] .”

Aft er o b t ai n i ng n ew co u n s el

, Ch arl es p u rs ued t h e fo l l o wi n g t h ree m o t i o n s in

t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt

. O n S ep t em b er 2 0

, 2 01 5

, Ch arl es fi led a “ M o t i o n t o Vacat e

Il leg al Co n v i ct i o n ,” as s ert i n g

,

1 OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 et s eq

.

2 See OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 (a) ( “ Wh e n a defen d an t h as n ot b een prev i o u s l y

co n vi ct ed o f a fel o n y

, t h e co u rt m ay

, u p on a g u i l t y v erd i ct o r p l e a o f g u i l ty o r n o lo

co n ten d ere an d befo re an ad ju d i cat i on o f g u il t

, wi th o u t en t eri n g a ju dg m en t o f g u i l t

an d wi t h t h e co ns en t o f t h e d efen d an t, d efer fu rt h er p ro c e e d i n g s a n d: (1 ) Pl ace t h e

d efen d an t o n p ro b at i o n ; o r (2 ) Sen t en ce t h e d efen d an t t o a t erm o f co n fi n em en t .”).

2Th i s Co u rt s en t en c e d M r

. Ch arl es fo r b o th arm ed ro b b ery an d

ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. T h e c h arg ed ag g rav at ed as s au l t was fo r p o i n t in g a

d ead l y weap o n at [t h e v ict i m ]

. Bu t as t h e fact s o f t hi s cas e m ak e cl ear,

s u ch p o i n t i n g w as d o n e s i m u l t an eo u sl y wi t h

, an d s i m p l y t o acco m

p l i sh

,

t h e arm ed ro b b ery

. In t hes e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e two ch arg es m u st m erg e.

. . . M r. Ch arl es u rg es t h i s Co u rt t o v acat e h i s i l l eg al s en t en ce. 3

In a s u b seq uen t p l ead i n g

, Ch arl es s o u g ht a ru l i n g o n wh at h e as s ert ed was h i s

o ri g i nal req u es t to wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea – h i s l e t t e r t o t he cl erk

. In s u ch

s u b s eq u en t p l ead i n g

, cap t io n ed “ Am en ded Mo t ion to W ithdr a w G uilty P le a,” Ch arl es

c l a i m e d t h at du e t o h i s pl ea co u n s el ’ s i n effect i v en es s

, “ h i s g u i l t y p l ea was n o t

k n o wi n g an d v o lu n t ary ”; an d t h at h ad h e un d ers to o d “ th e t ru e n at u re o f t h e p l ea h e

was b ei n g as k ed t o m ak e, h e wo u l d h av e reject ed t h e g u i l t y p l ea an d p r o c e e d ed to

t ri al .”

3 (In t ern al ci t at i on s o m i t t ed .)

3In a t h i rd m ot i o n

, Ch arl es s o u g ht an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal f o r t h e p u rp o s e o f

p u rs u i n g t h e m erg er i s s u e. 4 Acco rd i n g t o Ch arl es

, s u ch i s s u e co u l d b e res ol v ed by

fact s ap p eari n g of reco rd

. 5

Th e s en t en ci n g co u rt co nv en ed an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g, at wh i ch Ch arl es an d

h i s p lea co u n s el t oo k t h e s t an d

. Ch arl es t es ti fi ed t h at

, wh en h e p led g u i l ty

, h e was o f

t h e u n d ers t an d i n g t h at h e was p l ead i n g g u il t y o nl y t o t h e red u ced ch arg e of ro b b ery ;

t h at h e was n ot t h en aware t h at h e was p l ead i n g g u i l t y al s o t o ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d

t o fi rearm p o s s es si o n; th at h e fu rt h er h ad b el i ev ed t h at bei n g s en t en ced as a fi rs t

4 See g en eral l y OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -1 (f) (“ W i t h i n o n e y ear o f t h e d at e up o n wh i ch

t h e s en ten ce i s i m

p o s ed

, . . . th e co u rt i m

p o si ng t h e s en t en ce h as t h e ju ri s d i ct i o n,

p o wer, an d au th ori ty t o co rrect o r red u ce t h e s en t en ce an d t o s us p en d o r p ro b at e al l

o r an y part o f t h e s en t en c e i m p o s ed .”); vo n Th o ma s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 5 6 9

, 5 7 1 (2 )

(7 4 8 SE2 d 4 4 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ W hen a s en t en ci n g co u rt h as i m p o s ed a s en t en ce o f

i m p ri s o n m en t

, i t s ju ri s d i ct i o n t o l at er m o d i fy o r v acat e t h at s en t en ce i s li m i t ed

. Th e

s en t en ci n g co u rt g en eral l y h as ju ri sd i ct io n t o m o d ify o r v acat e s u ch a s en t en ce o n l y

fo r o n e y ear fo ll o wi n g t h e im p o s i t i o n o f t h e s en t en ce.”) (ci t at i on an d fo o t n o t es

o m it t ed ).

5 See g en eral l y Na za r i o v. S ta t e

, 2 9 3 G a. 4 8 0

, 4 8 8 (2 ) (d ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 0 9 )

(2 0 1 3) (ex p l ai ni n g t h at a m erg er cl ai m m ay b e co n si d ered o n d i rect ap p eal ); S mi t h v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 3 9 1

, 4 0 2 (3 ) (6 9 7 SE2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ A d irect ap p eal

– t i m el y o r

u n t i m el y

– fro m a g ui l t y p lea i s av ai lab l e o nl y i f th e i s s u e o n ap p eal can b e res o l v ed

b y fact s ap p eari n g i n th e reco rd .”) ( c i t a t i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t ted ); Mo r r o w v.

S t a t e

, 2 6 6 Ga. 3 (4 6 3 SE2 d 4 7 2 ) (1 9 9 5 ) (“ An o u t -o f-t im e ap p eal i s o ccas i o n a l l y

ap p ro p ri at e wh ere, d u e t o i n effect i v e as s i st an ce of co u n sel

, n o ap p eal h as b een t ak en

. Ho wev er, an ap p eal wi l l l i e fro m a ju d g m en t en t ered o n a g u i l t y p l ea o n ly if t h e i s s u e

o n ap p eal can b e res ol ved b y fact s ap p eari n g i n t h e reco rd .”).

4o ffen d er m ean t t h at h e wo ul d s erv e n o p ri s on t i m e b ecau s e “ I was g oi ng t o g et

s t rai g h t p ro b at i o n ”; an d t h at , h ad h e k n o wn o th erwi se, h e wo u l d h av e g o ne t o t ri al

.

Ch arl es was s p eci fi cal l y as k ed at t h e m o ti o n h eari n g, “ Di d y o u r at t o rn ey co ns u l t wi th

y o u a b o u t w h at a fi rs t o ffen der s en t en ce is ? ” Ch arl es an s wered

, “ N o

, n o t real l y .”

Ch arl es rei t erat ed

, “ I th o u g ht fi rs t o ffen d er m ean t s t rai g h t p ro b at i o n

. Th at ’ s t h e o n l y

reas on wh y

I t o o k t h e p l ea b ecau s e o f fi rs t o ffen d er.”

W h en Ch arl es ’ s p l ea co un s el t o o k t h e s t an d at t h e m o t i o n heari ng

, he g av e a

d i fferen t acco un t

. He t es t i fi ed t h at

, d u ri n g p l e a n eg o t i at i o n s

, he d i s cu s s ed wi th

Ch arl es t h e sp eci fi cs o f t he s t at e’ s offer, i n cl u d i n g t h at t h e arm e d r o b b ery ch arg e

wo u l d b e red u ced t o ro b b ery

, bu t t h at n ei t h er th e ag g rav at ed as s au l t n o r t he fi rearm

p o s s e s s i o n ch arg e w o ul d g et red u ced

, d i sm i s s ed

, no l l e pro s s ed

, o r o t h erwi s e “ g o

away

. ” Pl ea co u n s el tes ti fi ed t h at

, d u ri n g p l ea n eg o t i at i o ns

, he h ad d is cu s s ed wi th

Ch arl es t he s en t en ci n g as p ect o f t h e s t at e’ s o ffer. Pl ea co u n s el was s p eci fi cal l y as k ed

at t he m o t i on h eari n g

, “ Di d yo u e v e r h av e a d i s cu s s i on wi t h h i m t h at fi rs t o ffen d er

s en t en ce d id n o t m ean s t rai g h t p ro b at i o n ? ” Th e at t o rn ey an s wered

, “ Ab s ol u t e l y ,”

recal l i n g h av i n g h ad m u l ti p l e co n v ers at i o n s w i t h Ch arl es ab o u t fi rs t o ffen d er

s en t en ci n g

. Pl ea co un s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e h a d a d v i s ed Ch arl es t h at a “ fi rs t o ffen d er

p l ea” d i d n o t n eces s ari l y m ean n o p ri s on t i m e. Pl ea co u n s el wen t on t o t es ti fy t h at h e

5h ad s p eci fi cal l y in fo rm ed Ch arl es t h at i n h is p art i cu l ar cas e, t h e st at e h ad offered to

reco m m en d

, as p l ea co u n s el s u m m ari zed at t h e m o t i o n h eari n g: “ fi ft een t o d o t en o n

t h e ro b b ery an d t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, an d t h e gu n ch arg e h ad t o ru n co n s ecu t i v e.”

At t h e cl o se o f t h e ev i d en ce, t h e p ro s ecu t o r s o u g h t co n fi rm at i o n t h at “ t h e p l ea

t ran s cri p t i s co n si d ered p art o f t h e reco rd ,” an d t h e co u rt res p o nd ed

, “ Yes

, M a’ am .”

Th ereaft er, o n Decem

b er 2 3

, 2 0 1 5 , t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt en t ered a d et ai l ed o rd er o n

Ch arl es ’ s t h ree m o t i o n s: (i ) reject i n g h i s req ues t t o wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea; (i i )

g ran t i n g h i s req u es t t o m erg e t he ag g rav at ed as sau l t co un t i n to t he ro b b ery co u n t fo r

s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es (e x p l i ci t l y v acat i n g t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t s en t en ce); an d (i i i )

d en y i n g Ch arl es ’ s m o ti o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal as m o o t

. 6

In hi s s o l e cl ai m o f erro r o n ap p eal

, Ch arl es co n t en d s th at t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt

s h o u ld h av e al l o wed h i m t o wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea. Fo r reas o n s ex p l ai n ed b el o w,

Ch arl es h as d em o ns t rat ed n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

6 In i t s o rd er, t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt ex p l ai n ed

, “ Th e m o t i o n f o r o u t o f t i m e

ap p eal i s b as ed u p o n t h e al l eg at i o n t h at t h e s en t en ces fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d

ro b b ery s h ou l d hav e m erg ed

. As t h i s Co u rt h as v acat ed t h e s en t en ce fo r ag g rav at ed

as s au l t d u e t o t h e m erg er.

. . , t h e m o t io n fo r ou t o f t i m e a p p e a l i s h ereb y DENIED

as m o o t .” In d eed

, at th e m o t io n h eari n g

, Ch arl es ’ s p o s t -co n v i ct i o n co u n s el p o s i t ed

t o t h e co u rt t h at “ t h e m o t i o n fo r an o u t -o f-t im e ap p eal s ho u ld b e g ran t ed

, an d / o r t h i s

co u rt co u l d ju s t vacat e t he i l l eg al ag g rav at ed as s au l t co n v i ct i on o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at

i t sh o u l d h av e m erg ed .”

6Ch arl es ’ s req u es t t o wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea was reject ed o n p ro ced u ral an d

substa ntive g ro u n d s

. T h e s en t en ci n g co u rt ex pl ai n ed i n i t s o rd er t hat Ch arl es ’ s m otion

was p ro ced u ral l y i n ep t bec a u s e Ch arl es had fai l ed to es t ab l is h t h at h i s m o t i o n was

t i m el y fi l ed

. As a g en era l r u l e

, “ a d efen d an t m u s t fi le a po s t -s en t en ci n g m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw a g ui lt y p l ea i n t h e s am e t erm i n wh i c h h e was s en t en ced

. Aft er t h e

ex p irat i o n o f t h at t erm

, t h e t ri al co u rt l ack s ju ri s d i ct i on t o al lo w t h e wi t h d rawal o f t h e

p l ea.” 7 Ch arl es w as in i t i al ly s en t en ced b y t he DeKal b Co u n t y Su p eri o r Co u rt o n

Decem b er 9

, 2 0 1 4, du ri n g th at co u r t ’s No v em b er 2 0 1 4 t erm

. 8 Ch arl es fi l ed h i s

“ Am en d ed M o t i o n t o W i t h d raw Gu i l t y Pl ea” o n Sep t em b er 2 0

, 2 0 15

, ch aract eri zi n g

h i s earl i er l et t er t o t h e cl erk as h i s o ri g in al m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h is g ui l t y p lea. Ev en

accep t i n g arg u en d o Ch arl es ’ s co n t e n t i o n t h at t h e let t er co n s t it u t ed a m o ti on t o t h e

7 Ka is er v. St at e

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3

, 6 5 (1 ) (6 4 6 SE2 d 8 4) (2 0 0 7 ); s ee McGee v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 3 53 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 3 47 ) (2 01 4 ) (“ [W ] h en t h e t erm o f co u rt h as ex p i red

i n wh ich a d efen d an t was sen ten ced p u rs u an t t o a g ui l t y p l ea, t h e tri al co u rt l ack s

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o al l o w th e wi t h d rawal o f t h e p l ea.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed );

Gr a d y v. S t a t e

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 0

, 6 2 1 (7 1 6 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ A m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw a g u i l ty p l ea m u s t b e fi l ed wi t h in t h e t erm o f co u rt i n wh i ch t h e s en t en ce

was i m p o s ed

. ”) (ci t at i on s o m i t t ed ).

8 See OCGA § 1 5 -6 -3 (3 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p ro v i d i ng t h at th e t erm s o f t h e DeKal b

Co u n t y Su p eri or Co u rt co m m en ce o n t h e “ [ f

]i r st M o n d ay i n J an u ary

, March

, M ay

, J u l y

, Sep t em

ber, an d No v em

ber”).

7s u p eri o r co u rt

, 9 th at d o cu m en t was fi l ed o n M o n d ay

, J an u ary 5

, 2 0 1 5

– t h u s

, a f t er t h e

t erm o f co u rt d u ri n g wh i ch Ch arl es was s en t en ced

. 1 0

Rel y i n g u po n an ex cep t i on t o t h e g en eral ru le, Ch arl es urg es o n ap p eal t h at h i s

(am en ded ) m o ti on t o wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea was n ev ert h el es s t i m el y p res en t ed t o

t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt

. H e po i n t s o u t t h at i n i t s Decem b er 2 3

, 2 0 1 5 o rd er, t h e

s en t en ci n g co u rt g ran t ed h i s “ M o t i o n t o Vacat e Il leg al C onvic tion, ” the r e by e xpl i ci t l y

v acat i n g h i s s en t en ce fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d m erg i n g th at co u nt in t o th e (arm ed )

ro b b ery co un t

. Th o s e ci rcu m s t an ces

, Ch arl es arg u es

, i n v o k e t he ex cep t i o n : “ W h ere

a v oi d s en t en ce h a s b een en t ered

, i t i s as if n o s en t en ce h as b een en t ered at al l

, an d

t h e d efen d an t s t an d s i n t h e s am e p o s i t io n as i f h e h ad p l ed g u il t y an d n o t y et b een

s en t en ced

. An d p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 7 -7 -9 3 (b ),[ 1 1 ] t h e d efen d an t m ay wi t h d raw h i s

9 See g en eral ly M

cKi er n a n v. S t a t e

, 28 6 Ga. 7 5 6 -7 5 9 (6 9 2 SE2 d 3 4 0 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(ex p l ai n i n g t h at d efen d an t ’ s l et t er t o t h e t ri al ju d g e

– as k i n g t o w i t h d raw h i s g ui l t y

p l ea an d req u es ti n g t he co u rt t o ap po i n t n ew co u ns el fo r t ri al

, wh i ch l et t er was fi l ed

i n t h e cl erk ’ s o ffi ce o f t h e s en t en ci n g co u r t

– s h o u l d h av e b een t reat ed as a m o t i o n

t o wi t h d raw g ui lt y

p l ea).

1 0 See OCGA § 15 -6 -3 (3 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

1 1 (p ro vi di n g i n p ert i n en t p art

, “ At an y t i m e b efo re ju d g m en t i s p ro n o un ced

, t h e

accu s ed pers o n m ay

wi t hd raw t h e p l ea o f ‘ g u i l t y ’ an d p l ead ‘ n ot g u il t y .’ ”).

8p l ea as o f ri g h t pri or t o [re-] s en t en ci n g

, ” 1 2

– “ ev en fo l l o wi ng t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t h e

t erm o f co u rt i n wh i ch t h e v o i d s en t en ce was p ro n o u n ced .” 1 3

Ch arl es d o es n o t as s ert

, an d th e reco rd d o es n o t es tab l is h

, t h at Ch arl es arg u ed

t h i s ex cep t i o n t o t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt

. 1 4 Bu t ev en accep t i n g a r g u e n d o Ch arl es ’ s

p o s i t i on t h at hi s i n i t i al ag g rav at ed as s au l t s en t en ce was “ v o id ” 1 5 s u c h t h at h i s

(am en ded ) m o t i o n t o w i t hd raw h i s g u i l t y p lea was p ro p erl y befo re t h e s en t en ci n g

co u rt

, 1 6 Ch arl es h as fai led t o d em o n s t rat e erro r in t h e co u rt ’ s (al tern at i v e) co n cl u s i o n

1 2 Ka i s er , s u p ra at 6 6 (1 ).

1 3 Ha l l f or d v. S t a te

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 0

, 3 51 (1 ) (6 5 7 SE2 d 10 ) (2 0 0 8 ); s ee

Ka i ser , s u p ra at 6 8 -6 9 (1 ).

1 4 Hu l et t v. St a t e

, 29 6 Ga. 4 9

, 5 8 (4 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1) (2 01 4 ) (“ [A] n ap p el l an t i s

l i m i ted o n a p p e a l t o t h e g ro u n d s wh i ch h e p ro p erl y p res en t ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

1 5 “ [A] s en t en ce i s v o i d i f t h e co u rt i m p os es p u n i s h m en t t hat t h e l aw d o es n ot

al l o w[,]

. . . m o s t t y

pi cal l y b ecau s e i t ex ceed s t h e m o s t s ev ere p un i s hm en t fo r wh i ch

t h e ap p li cab l e pen al st at u t e p ro v i d es .” vo n Th o m a s

, su p ra at 5 7 2 -5 7 3 (2 ) (ci t at i on s

an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).” Co m p are S p en cer v. S t a t e

, 3 09 G a. Ap p

. 6 3 0

, 6 3 1 (2 ) (7 1 0

SE2 d 8 3 7 ) (2 0 11 ) (d et erm i ni n g t h at b ecau s e s en t en ce was wi th i n st at ut o ry ran g e, i t

was n o t v o i d ; t h u s

, ap p el l an t h ad n o ab so l u t e ri g h t t o wi th d raw h is gu i l t y p l ea), wi th

Fr a nks v. S t a t e

, 3 23 G a

. Ap p

. 8 1 3

, 8 1 4 (7 4 8 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 01 3 ) (d et erm i n i n g t h at

, b e cau s e s en t en ce was o u t s i d e s t at u t o ry ran g e, i t was v o i d; t h u s

, ap p el l a n t h a d

ab s o lu t e ri g h t t o wi t h d raw h i s g u i l ty p l ea b efo re re-s en t en ci n g).

1 6 Ch arl es ci t es t h at S t a t e v. Hu d s o n

, 2 9 3 Ga. 6 5 6

, 6 6 0 (7 4 8 SE2 d 9 10 ) (2 0 1 3 )

reco g n izes t h at “ [w] h ere [a s en t en ci n g ] s ch em e u n rav el s du e t o el i m i n at io n o f s o m e

o f th e o ri g i n al c o u n t s

, th e ju d g e s h o u l d b e gi v en a wi d e b ert h t o fas h i o n a n ew

9t h at h i s m o t i o n lack ed s u b s t an t i ve m eri t

. In t h at r e g a r d

, t he s en t en ci n g co u rt

ex p lai n ed i n t h e o rd er:

s en t en ce t h at accu rat el y refl ect s t h e g rav i t y o f t he cri m es fo r wh ich t h e defen d an t i s

b ei n g res en t en ced ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). See, h owev er, Na z a r i o

, s u p ra at 4 8 8 (2 ) (d )

(ex p l ai n i n g th at “ a m erg er cl ai m can n o t b e co n s i d ered i n a free-s t an d in g ‘ m o t i o n to

v acat e a s en t en ce an d / o r v a c a t e a co nv i ct i o n as v o i d o r p l ead i n g s o f a s i m i l ar

n at u re’ ”; rat h er, “ a m erg er cl ai m m u s t co m e b efo re t he co urt i n a t y pe of pro ceed i n g

i n wh ich cri m i n al co n vi ct i o n s m ay b e ch al l en g ed ”) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ); W i l l i a ms v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 1 92

, 19 4 (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 4 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (co n cl u d i n g th at “ [ap p el l an t ’ s ] cl ai m

o f fai l u re t o m erg e

. . . i s a ch al l en g e t o h i s cri m in al c o n v i c t i o n a n d a m o t i o n to

co rrect i l l eg al s en ten ce or co n v i ct io n i s n o t an ap p ro p ri at e rem ed y t o at t ack a

c o n v i ct i o n i n a cri m i n al cas e”), ci t ed i n Na z a ri o

, s u p ra at 4 8 4 (2 ) (b ), n

. 2 f o r t h e

p ro p os i t i on t h at “ m erg er cl ai m s are cl ai m s th at co n vi ct i o n s (as wel l as t h e res u l t i n g

s en t en ces ) are v oi d an d t hu s can n o t b e rai s ed in a free-s t an d i n g m ot i o n t o v acat e v o id

s en t en ce”); Gh o l

s t on v. St a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 0

, 7 9 1 (7 61 SE2 d 18 9 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(reject i ng ap p el l an t ’ s co n t en ti o n t h at h is m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw g u i l t y pl ea “ was t i m el y

b ecau s e h e was ch al l en g i n g h i s sen t en ce as v o i d, an d a v o i d s en t en ce c a n b e

ch al l en g ed at an y t i m e,” ex p l ai n i n g t h at “ [ap p el l an t’ s ] cl ai m th at hi s co n vi ct i o n s fo r

arm ed ro b b ery an d ro b b ery b y fo rce s h o u l d h av e m erg ed i s a cl ai m ch al l en g i n g h i s

co n vi ct i o n s an d n o t a cl ai m t h at h i s res u l ti n g s en t en ce was v o i d” an d t h at “ a s en t en ce

i s n ot v o i d i f i t fal ls w i t h i n t h e s t at u t o ry ran g e o f pu n is h m en t”) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o S i mmo n s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 82

, 8 4 (2 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d

5 7 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (d et erm i n i ng t h at t h e ap p el l an t

, “ h av i n g av ai l ed h i m s el f o f t h e Fi rs t

Offen d er Act

, d id n o t ret ai n t h e ri g h t t o wi t h d raw h i s g u il t y p l ea as a m at t er o f ri g ht

p en di n g en t ry o f an ad

ju d i cat i o n o f g u i l t ”); S

p en cer

, s up ra at 63 0 -6 3 1 (2 ) (reject i n g

ap p el l an t ’ s co nt en t i o n t h at h i s o ri g i n al “ s en t en ce was v o i d

, t herefo re, h i s m o t i o n [t o

wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p lea] was t i m el y

, an d h e h ad a ri g ht t o wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea,”

ex p lai n i n g t hat ap p el l an t ’ s arg u m en t t h at “ h i s ag g rav at ed as s au l t co n v ict i o n s h o u ld

h av e b een m erg ed i n t o h i s arm ed ro b b ery co n v i ct i o n s [was ] a c h al l en g e t o h i s

co n vi ct i o n

, n ot t h e s en t en ce; t h us

, t h e fai l u re t o m erg e w o u l d n ot ren d er th e s en t en ce

v o i d ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

10Reg ard l es s [o f t h e t i m e l i n e s s i s s u e p ert ai n i n g t o Ch arl es ’ s (am en ded )

m o t i o n ]

, u p o n rev i ew o f th e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t h e h eari n g

, t h e g u i l t y

p l ea t ran s cri p t

, an d t h i s Co u rt ’ s reco l l ect i o n o f t h e pl ea, th e g u i lt y pl ea

en t ered b y Defen d an t Ch arl es was en t ered k no wi n g l y

, i n t el l ig en t ly an d

v o l u n t ari l y

. W h en t h e p l ea was en t ered b y t h e Defen d an t t h e Defen d an t

was cl earl y i n fo rm ed o f wh at t h e St at e’ s reco m m en d at i o n o f s en t en ce

was

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e Co u rt d i rect l y i n fo rm ed t h e Def e n d an t o f wh at

ch arg es t o wh ich he was en t eri n g a p lea o f g ui l t y

. Las t l y

, t h e Defen d an t

was i n s t ru ct ed t o b eg i n h i s s en t en ce b y rep o rt i n g t o t h e DeKal b Co u n t y

J ai l n o l at er t h an Decem

b er 2 6

, 2 0 1 4 at 5 : 0 0 p .m

. Co ns eq u en tl y

, t h i s

Co u rt fi n d s th at t h e Defen d an t ’ s t es ti m o n y at t h e m ot i o n h eari n g was n o t

cred i b l e

. Fu rt h er, t h e D efen d an t h as fai l ed t o es tab l i s h an y m an i fes t

i n ju s t i ce o r t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel

. 1 7

Th es e fi n d i ng s are am

p l y s u p p ort ed b y t he reco rd

. W h en Ch arl es en t ered h i s

g u i l t y p l ea o n Decem

b er 9

, 2 0 1 4

, h e was 2 5 y ears ol d

. At t h e s t art o f t h e p l ea h eari n g,

t h e p ro s ecu t or p res en t ed a fact u al bas i s of t h e un d erl y i n g cri m i n al i n ci d en t t h at h ad

o ccu rred ab o u t t wo y ears p ri o r, o n Oct o ber 1 2

, 20 1 2. Nex t

, Ch arl e s t o o k t h e s t an d

an d was as k ed b y t h e p r o s ecu t o r wh et h er h e u n d ers t o o d t h at th e s tat e’ s p l ea o ffer

i n cl u d ed : “ a s en t en ce o f fi ft een y ears t o s erv e t en as to Co u rt 1, t en y ears t o s erv e as

t o Co u n t 2 co n cu rren t wi th Co u n t 1, an d fi v e y ears p ro b at i o n as t o C o u n t 3 t o b e

1 7 (In t ern al ci t at i o ns o m i t t ed .)

11s erv ed co n s ecu t i v e t o Co u n ts 1 an d 2

. . .? ” Ch arl es an s wered

, “ Yes

, Si r.” Ch arl es t h en

t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e d et ai l s o f t h e u n d erl y i n g c r i m i nal i n ci d en t

, aft er w h i ch t h e

p ro s ecu to r rev is i t ed :

Q: M r. Ch arl es

, d o y ou u n d ers t an d t hat t h e Di s t ri ct At t o rn ey h as m ad e

t h e fo ll o wi n g reco m

m en d at i o n s ?

A: Yes , Si r.

Q: A p l ea t o Co u n t 1 red u ced t o ro b bery fro m arm ed ro b b ery ?

A: Yes , Si r.

Q: W i t h a s en t en ce of fi ft een y ears t o s erv e t en as t o t h at red u ced Co u n t

1

. A s en t en ce o f t en y ears t o s erv e as t o Co u n t 2 t o ru n co n cu rren t t o th e

s en t en ce i n co u n t 1 ?

A: Yes , Si r.

Q: A n d a s en t en ce o f fi v e y ears p ro b at i o n as t o Co u n t 3 t o ru n

co n s ecu t i v el y t o Co u n t s 1 an d 2

, fo r a t o t al sen t en ce of t wen t y y ears t o

s erv e t en on ro b b ery

, as o p p o sed t o arm ed ro b b ery

, ag g rav at ed as s au l t

,

an d p o s s es si o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g co m

m i s s io n o f a fel o n y . . . ?

A: Yes , Si r.

Q: Do y o u u n ders t an d t h at ?

A: Yes , Si r.

. . .

Q: An d k n o wi ng al l t h i s, i t ’ s s t i l l y o u r i n t en t io n t o p l ead g u i lt y ?

A: Yes , Si r.

Th ereu p o n

, t h e co u rt ’ s p ro n o u n cem en t o f s en t en ce p ert i nen t l y i n cl u ded :

12Th e co urt ap p ro v es y o u r req u es t fo r fi rs t offen d er t reat m en t

, an d

t h erefo re wi t h h ol ds an y fo rm al ad ju d i cat io n o f g u i l t

, an d s en t en ces y o u

u n d er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act o n Co u n t 1 fo r ro bb ery t o fi ft een y ears t o

s erv e t en y ears in cu s t o d y an d th e res t o n p ro bat i o n

, o n Co u n t 2 fo r

ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. . . fi ft een t o d o t en o n t h e ag grav at ed as sau l t

, to o

, t o

ru n co n cu rren t ly

. A n d fi v e years o n p ro b at i o n o n Co u n t 3 t o ru n

co n s ecu t i v el y

. . . . Yo u ’ ll rep ort t o t h e DeKal b Co u n ty jai l n o l at er t h an

Decem b er 2 6 t h at 5 : 0 0 p .m

.

Th ereaft er, t h e co u rt as k ed Ch arl es

, “ Do y o u u n d ers t an d wh at I’ m say i ng ? ” Ch arl es

an s wered

, “ Yes

, Si r.” Th e co u rt t h en bro ad l y as ked

, “ Do y o u h av e an y q u es t i o n s ? ”

Ch arl es rep l ied

, “ No , Si r.”

Al t h ou g h Ch arl es l at er t es t i fi ed ( i n s u p p o rt o f hi s A m en d ed M o t i o n to

W i th d raw h i s Gu i l t y Pl ea) t hat

, d u e t o h i s p l ea co u n s el ’ s i n effect i v en es s, h e was

u n d er t h e m is ap p reh en s io n t h at h e was p l ead i n g g u i l t y o n l y t o ro bb ery an d t h at h e

wo u l d s erv e n o p ri s o n ti m e b ecau s e an y s en t en ce i m p o s ed wo u ld b e fu l l y p ro b at ed

,

t h e s en t en ci n g co urt was n ei t her o b l i g at ed to accep t Ch arl es ’ s t es ti m o ny as cred i b l e,

n o r req u ired t o reject t h e acco u n t g i v en b y p l ea co u ns el

. 1 8

1 8 See S i l vey v. S t a te

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 3, 39 4 (3 ) (a) (7 8 0 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(“ [W ] h en co n s i d eri n g cl ai m s o f i n effect i v en es s of co u n s el

, t h e t ri al j u d ge d et erm i n es

wi t n es s cred i bi l i t y an d i s n o t req u i red t o accep t t h e defen d an t ’ s v ers i o n o f ev en t s .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); Bi g g i n s v. S ta t e

, 32 2 G a

. Ap p

. 2 86

, 2 9 1 (3 ) (a)

(7 4 4 SE2 d 8 1 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e); La wt o n v. S t a t e

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5

, 47 (6 45 SE2 d 5 7 1 )

13In li g h t of t h e fo reg o in g, Ch arl es h as fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at h e w as en t i t l ed

t o wi t h draw h i s g u il t y p l ea, an d we wi l l t herefo re no t d i s t u rb t h e j u d gm en t en t ered

ag ai n s t h i m

. 1 9

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

a n d Pet er s o n , JJ., co ncu r

.

(2 0 0 7) (n o ti n g t h at “ th e tri al co u rt

, wh i ch s at as th e fi n der o f fact fo r pu rp os es o f t h e

. . . h eari n g , was en t it l ed t o d i s b el i ev e” t h e d efen dan t).

1 9 See g en eral l y Ba r r o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 7 Ga. 7 0 6

, 7 0 7 ( 2 ), n. 3 (7 7 7 SE2 d 4 3 5 )

(2 0 1 5) (“ Harm

as wel l as erro r i s req u i red fo r rev ers al .”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

14