Title: Jones v. State
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 210, 2001
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: November 9, 2001

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ANTONIO D. JONES,
Petitioner Below-
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
Respondent Below-
Appellee.
§
§
§  No. 210, 2001
§
§
§  Court Below—Superior Court
§  of the State of Delaware,
§  in and for New Castle County
§  C.A. No. 01M-04-035
§
§
Submitted: October 12, 2001
  Decided:   November 9, 2001
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH and STEELE, Justices
O R D E R
This 9th day of November 2001, upon consideration of the briefs on
appeal and the record below, it appears to the Court that:
(1)
The petitioner-appellant, Antonio D. Jones, filed this appeal from
an April 25, 2001 order of the Superior Court denying his petition for a writ
of habeas corpus.  We find no merit to the appeal.  Accordingly, we
AFFIRM.
(2)
In December 1997, Jones pleaded guilty to Possession of Heroin
Within 300 Feet of a Park and Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person
Prohibited.  The Superior Court sentenced Jones to a total of 7 years
1Although the sentencing order stated that the effective date of Jones’ sentence was
September 5, 1977, Jones did not actually begin serving his sentence until October 26,
1997.  Jones previously made this claim in two separate petitions for a writ of mandamus
filed in this Court. In re Jones, Del. Supr., No. 200, 2000, Hartnett, J., 2000 WL 990963
(June 23, 2000) (ORDER); In re Jones, Del. Supr., No. 3, 2001, Holland, J., 2001 WL
366341 (Apr. 9, 2001) (ORDER).
2Hall v. Carr, Del. Supr., 692 A.2d 888, 891 (1997).
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incarceration at Level V, to be suspended after 5 years for 2 years of
probation.  The Superior Court also ordered that Jones enter the Key Program
for drug treatment.  Jones did not file a direct appeal of his conviction or
sentence.  In August 1999, the Superior Court modified its sentencing order
to permit Jones to participate in the Key Program, the New Hope Program or
the Greentree Program.  
(3)
In this appeal, Jones claims that the Superior Court improperly
denied his petition for a writ of habeas corpus.  Jones’ petition was based on
his claim that the effective date of his sentence should be changed from
October 26, 1997 to September 5, 1997.1  Jones also claims that he was not
able to file an adequate brief because the Superior Court denied his request for
transcripts. 
(4)
In Delaware, the writ of habeas corpus provides relief on a very
limited basis.2  Habeas corpus only provides “an opportunity for one illegally
3Id.
4Id. (quoting 10 Del. C. § 6902(1)).
5In the event of conflict between the quantum of the sentence imposed and the
effective date contained in the sentencing order, the former controls.  Frye v. State, Del.
Supr., 236 A.2d 424, 425 (1967).
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confined or incarcerated to obtain judicial review of the jurisdiction of the
court ordering the commitment.”3  “Habeas corpus relief is not available to
‘[p]ersons committed or detained on a charge of treason or felony, the species
whereof is plainly and fully set forth in the commitment.’”4
(5)
Jones has provided no evidence that the charges against him were
invalid on their face or that there was any jurisdictional defect.  Nor has Jones
provided evidence that the quantum of the sentence imposed was incorrect.
As such, habeas corpus relief is not available to him on his claim that the
effective date of his sentence should be changed and the Superior Court was
correct in so deciding.5  Because habeas corpus relief is not available to Jones,
his additional claim that he was entitled to copies of transcripts also must fail.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the
Superior Court is AFFIRMED.
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BY THE COURT:
   s/Joseph T. Walsh
       Justice