Court Opinion

ID: 2747972
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-04 20:05:26.239834+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:15:40.573426
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

                              NO. 2013-CP-02024-COA

KEVIN WARREN                                                            APPELLANT

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI                                                      APPELLEE

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                        11/12/2013
TRIAL JUDGE:                             HON. JOHN HUEY EMFINGER
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:               RANKIN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                  KEVIN WARREN (PRO SE)
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                   OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                         BY: MELANIE THOMAS
NATURE OF THE CASE:                      CIVIL - POST-CONVICTION RELIEF
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:                 MOTION FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF
                                         DISMISSED
DISPOSITION:                             AFFIRMED - 11/04/2014
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

      BEFORE GRIFFIS, P.J., ROBERTS, MAXWELL AND FAIR, JJ.

      ROBERTS, J., FOR THE COURT:

                      FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶1.   In May 2000, agents with the El Paso Texas International Airport Interdiction Unit

contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN). The El Paso agents informed the

MBN that Kevin Warren had checked luggage that contained marijuana on a flight to

Jackson. When Warren landed in Jackson, he could not find his luggage. Warren reported

that it was missing. Before Warren could leave the airport, MBN agents confronted Warren

and arrested him based on an outstanding warrant from Jackson. Authorities then obtained
a warrant to search Warren’s luggage, which contained marijuana.

¶2.    Warren was indicted and charged with possession of more than five kilograms of

marijuana. He was also charged as a habitual offender under Mississippi Code Annotated

section 99-19-83 (Supp. 2014). On October 9, 2001, a jury sitting before the Rankin County

Circuit Court found Warren guilty of the lesser offense of possession of more than one

kilogram but less than five kilograms of marijuana. The circuit court found that Warren

qualified for enhanced sentencing as a habitual offender, and sentenced him to life in the

custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

¶3.    On November 12, 2002, Warren filed a “notice of out of time appeal.” Warren did

not list any justification regarding why he should be allowed to file an untimely appeal of his

conviction. The circuit court treated Warren’s notice as a request for an out-of-time appeal.

The circuit court noted that Warren had until November 9, 2001, to file a timely appeal, and

Warren did “not state sufficient grounds” for an out-of-time appeal, or show good cause to

justify his request. Warren did not appeal the circuit court’s decision.

¶4.    On October 28, 2010, Warren filed a document titled “Reconsideration of Sentence.”

Within that document, Warren stated that he had no constitutional or statutory right to a

reduction in his sentence, but if the circuit court would relieve him of his sentence, he

planned to become a chef, write an inspirational book, and be “very active in ministering the

word of God.” He also explained that he planned to get married, he had a son, and there

were a number of people who would be active in his life if the circuit court relieved him of

his sentence. Approximately one month later, the circuit court denied Warren’s request for

reconsideration of his sentence. In so doing, the circuit court noted that Warren’s sentence

                                              2
was required by statute, and it was not grossly disproportionate to the crime that he had

committed.

¶5.    On October 4, 2013, Warren filed a motion for post-conviction relief (PCR) and

claimed that a search warrant was defective and the circuit court had no jurisdiction to

convict or sentence him because he did not actively or constructively possess marijuana in

Rankin County. The circuit court summarily dismissed Warren’s PCR motion because it was

untimely. Warren appeals. Finding no error, we affirm.

                                STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶6.    “This Court will not disturb a [circuit] court’s dismissal of a [PCR motion] unless the

[circuit] court’s decision was clearly erroneous.” Wardley v. State, 37 So. 3d 1222, 1223-24

(¶4) (Miss. Ct. App. 2010). A circuit court may summarily dismiss a PCR motion “where

‘it plainly appears from the face of the motion, any annexed exhibits and the prior

proceedings in the case that the movant is not entitled to any relief.’” White v. State, 59 So.

3d 633, 635 (¶4) (Miss. Ct. App. 2011) (quoting Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-11(2) (Supp.

2010)). Questions of law receive a de novo review. Id.

                                        ANALYSIS

¶7.    On appeal, Warren essentially argues that he is entitled to post-conviction relief

because there was insufficient evidence that he had active or constructive possession of

marijuana in Rankin County. Warren had three years from the entry of the judgment of

conviction to file a PCR motion. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2) (Supp. 2014). The judgment

of Warren’s conviction was executed on January 18, 2002, with a note that it was “nunc pro

tunc October 10, 2001.” It was filed on February 11, 2002. Even if we assume that the

                                              3
actual date of the entry of Warren’s conviction was February 11, 2002, Warren still had until

February 11, 2005, to file a PCR motion. Warren’s PCR motion was more than seven years

too late. Consequently, it is barred because it was untimely.

¶8.    Furthermore, Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-39-3(2) (Rev. 2007) provides:

       Direct appeal shall be the principal means of reviewing all criminal
       convictions and sentences, and the purpose of [the Mississippi Uniform Post-
       Conviction Collateral Relief Act] is to provide prisoners with a procedure,
       limited in nature, to review those objections, defenses, claims, questions,
       issues or errors which in practical reality could not be or should not have been
       raised at trial or on direct appeal.

The sufficiency of the evidence against Warren could have and should have been raised at

trial or on direct appeal. It is not a proper issue for a PCR motion.

¶9.  THE JUDGMENT OF THE RANKIN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
DISMISSING THE MOTION FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF IS AFFIRMED.
ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO RANKIN COUNTY.

   LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., BARNES, ISHEE, CARLTON,
MAXWELL, FAIR AND JAMES, JJ., CONCUR.

                                              4