Court Opinion

ID: 4152858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-15 19:07:47.816357+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:56.929204
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                       ATLANTA,____________________
                                                March 15, 2017

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A17A1186. RANDALL BELCHER v. THE STATE.

      Randall Belcher was convicted of burglary and other crimes and sentenced as
a recidivist under OCGA § 17-10-7 (c). On appeal, we affirmed his convictions in
an unpublished opinion. See Belcher v. State, 326 Ga. App. XXV (Case No.
A13A2355, decided March 21, 2014). Back in the trial court, Belcher filed a “Motion
to Void and Mend Sentence,” arguing that OCGA § 17-10-7 (c) was
unconstitutionally vague and violated the due process clause in light of Johnson v.
United States, __ U. S. __ (135 SCt 2551, 192 LE2d 569) (2015). The trial court
rejected these constitutional challenges, and Belcher appealed to the Supreme Court
of Georgia. That Court transferred the case to us, ruling that Belcher had “made no
cogent argument that the language of OCGA § 17-10-7 (c) is unconstitutionally
vague” and his appeal “d[id] not present any issue that would invoke [the Supreme]
Court’s jurisdiction over constitutional questions.” We lack jurisdiction because
Belcher has not raised a colorable void-sentence claim.
      A direct appeal may lie from an order denying a motion to vacate or correct a
void sentence only if the defendant raises a colorable claim that the sentence is, in
fact, void. Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 217 n.1 (686 SE2d 786) (2009); Burg v.
State, 297 Ga. App. 118, 119 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). “Motions to vacate a void
sentence generally are limited to claims that – even assuming the existence and
validity of the conviction for which the sentence was imposed – the law does not
authorize that sentence . . .” von Thomas v. State, 293 Ga. 569, 572 (2) (748 SE2d
446) (2013).
      Belcher argued that his sentence was not authorized because OCGA § 17-10-7
(c) is unconstitutional on its face. In its transfer order, however, the Supreme Court
ruled that Belcher had not raised a valid constitutional challenge. As Belcher did not
argue that his sentence was void on any other basis, we are bound to conclude that he
did not raise a colorable void-sentence claim. Accordingly, “the trial court’s denial
of [Belcher’s] motion is not subject to a direct appeal, and we must dismiss.” Burg
v. State, 297 Ga. App. 118, 120 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). This appeal is hereby
DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.

                                       Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                              Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                                        03/15/2017
                                              I certify that the above is a true extract from
                                       the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
                                              Witness my signature and the seal of said court
                                       hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

                                                                                       , Clerk.