Opinion ID: 1786627
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statutory Time Limitations

Text: ¶ 2. On appeal, Kelly argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his petition for post-conviction collateral relief as being untimely filed without addressing the merits of the petition. Time limitations are designed to prevent burdening the courts with the prosecution of stale claims causing the impairment of efficient court business. Mohasco Corp. v. Silver, 447 U.S. 807, 100 S.Ct. 2486, 2496, 65 L.Ed.2d 532 (1980); Greyhound Corp. v. Mt. Hood Stages, Inc., 437 U.S. 322, 335, 98 S.Ct. 2370, 2378, 57 L.Ed.2d 239 (1978). ¶ 3. Kelly pled guilty to the delivery of cocaine and was subsequently convicted on October 10, 1996. On October 12, 2000, Kelly filed this petition for post-conviction collateral relief. In Kelly's petition for post-conviction relief, he claimed that his constitutional rights were violated by the existence of a defective indictment, lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and an unlawful arrest warrant. It is not necessary for this Court to address each individual constitutional issue raised by Kelly in addressing the assignment of errors. ¶ 4. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-5(1) & (2) (2000) states as follows: (1) Any prisoner in custody under sentence of a court of record of the State of Mississippi who claims: (a) That the conviction or the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution of the United Sates or the Constitution or laws of Mississippi; (b) That the trial court was without jurisdiction to impose sentence; (c) That the statute under which the conviction and or sentence was obtained is unconstitutional; (d) That the sentence exceeds the maximum authorized by law; (e) That there exists evidence of material facts, not previously presented and heard, that requires vacation of the conviction or sentence in the interest of justice; (f) That his plea was made involuntarily; (g) That his sentence has expired; his probation, parole or conditional release unlawfully revoked; or he is otherwise unlawfully held in custody; (h) That he is entitled to an out of time appeal; (i) That the conviction or sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack upon any grounds of alleged error heretofore available under any common law, statutory or other writ, motion, petition, proceeding or remedy; may file a motion to vacate, set aside or correct the judgment or sentence, or for an out of time appeal. (2) A motion for relief under this article shall be made within three years after the time in which the prisoners's direct appeal is ruled upon by the Supreme Court of Mississippi or, in case no appeal is taken, within three years after the time for taking an appeal from the judgment of conviction or sentence has expired, or in case of a guilty plea, within three years after entry of the judgment of conviction. Excepted from this three-year statute of limitations are those cases in which the prisoner can demonstrate either that there has been an intervening decision of the Supreme Court of either the State of Mississippi or the United States which would have actually adversely affected the outcome of his conviction or sentence or that he has evidence, not reasonably discoverable at the time of trial, which is of such nature that it would be practically conclusive that had such been introduced at trial it would have caused a different result in the conviction or sentence. Likewise excepted are those cases in which the prisoner claims that his sentence has expired or his probation, parole or conditional release has been unlawfully revoked. (emphasis added). Kelly exceeded the statutory mandated period of three years stated above in Miss.Code Ann. 99-39-5(2) (2000) by three hundred and sixty-eight days. The only exceptions to the three year time limit imposed by the statute are enumerated in the above referenced statute. See Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2) (2000). Kelly makes no claims of any of these exceptions. Kelly only presented claims of defective indictment, jurisdiction, and constitutional issues. Kelly's claims are all stated within Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2) (2000), and are therefore, barred when not brought within the three-year time limitation. Accordingly, we find no error in the trial court's decision to bar Kelly's Petition for Post-Conviction Relief as being untimely filed, exceeding the three-year statutory time constraint.