Opinion ID: 4088732
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: The petitioner challenges the circuit court’s denial of his motion filed under Rule 35(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure. Our standard for reviewing such orders is well-settled: In reviewing the findings of fact and conclusions of law of a circuit court concerning an order on a motion made under Rule 35 of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure, we apply a three-pronged standard of review. We review the decision on the Rule 35 motion under an abuse of discretion standard; the underlying facts are reviewed under a clearly erroneous standard; and questions of law and interpretations of statutes and rules are subject to a de novo review. Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Head, 198 W.Va. 298, 480 S.E.2d 507 (1996). With this standard in mind, we proceed to consider the parties’ arguments.