Opinion ID: 75617
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Finality of Prior Conviction

Text: 19 Hagins also argues that his prior state conviction cannot be used to enhance his sentence because it is still not yet final. Hagins was sentenced as a first offender on 19 February, 1996. According to Georgia law, he had thirty days to appeal that sentence. See O.C.G.A. § 5-6-38 (A notice of appeal shall be filed within 30 days after entry of the appealable decision or judgment complained of). The Georgia courts have held that classification as a first offender starts the clock for purposes of filing an appeal. [F]irst-offender status takes the place of a 'sentence' and once imposed upon a criminal defendant, his case assumes the mantle of finality necessary to bring a direct appeal of his conviction. Dean v. State, 338 S.E.2d 711, 712 (Ga.Ct.App. 1985). 20 Hagins argues, however, that the finality of his conviction should run from the direct discretionary appeal of the revocation of his first-offender status. This argument is specious. In United States v. Fernandez, the defendant had received a year of probation after pleading nolo contendere to a state charge of trafficking in cocaine. 58 F.3d 593, 599 (11th Cir. 1995) (per curiam). We held that a sentence may be enhanced based on such a prior state court sentence of probation under a deferral statute. Id. at 599-600. See also United States v. Jones, 910 F.2d 760, 761 (11th Cir. 1990) (holding that a similar disposition qualified as a prior conviction for purposes of determining career offender status). If such a conviction can be used to enhance a defendant's sentence without a revocation of probation, it follows that we need not wait for revocation of probation and any related appeal to deem the conviction final. Hagins' conviction became final when the thirty days available to him to appeal the original disposition expired. That date was 23 March 1996. Because Hagins' conviction was final he cannot demonstrate prejudice from Greene's failure to object to his sentence enhancement on that basis. 21