Court Opinion

ID: 2808398
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-15 19:57:17.296814+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:23:18.944182
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                                    FILED
State of West Virginia, Plaintiff Below,
Respondent                                                                        June 15, 2015
                                                                               RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
vs) No. 14-1036 (Monongalia County 09-F-190)                                     OF WEST VIRGINIA

William Nicholson, Defendant Below,
Petitioner

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner William Nicholson, by counsel Scott Shough, appeals the Circuit Court of
Monongalia County’s September 5, 2014, order resentencing petitioner to two consecutive
terms of incarceration of five to fifteen years for two counts of incest. The State of West
Virginia, by counsel Derek Knopp, filed a response. On appeal, petitioner argues the circuit
court erred in finding that his guilty plea was entered intelligently, knowingly, and voluntarily.

        This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        In 2009, a Monongalia County Grand Jury indicted petitioner on three counts of incest
and one count of sexual abuse by a custodian of a child. In July of 2009, petitioner pled guilty by
information to two counts of incest, in violation of West Virginia Code § 61-8-12. In exchange
for his guilty plea, the State dismissed the remaining counts. In September of 2009, the circuit
court sentenced petitioner to two consecutive terms of incarceration of five to fifteen years.
Furthermore, the circuit court sentenced petitioner to twenty years of supervised release upon
expiration of his prison sentence. Thereafter, the circuit court resentenced petitioner for the
purpose of a filing a petition for appeal. It is from this order that petitioner now appeals.

        On appeal, petitioner argues that he did not intelligently, knowingly, and voluntarily enter
his guilty plea because he was not informed that as part of his plea agreement, he was required to
serve a period of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. Upon review of the
appendix record, it is clear that during the sentencing hearing the circuit court informed
petitioner that, in addition to his sentences for two counts of incest, that he was also sentenced to
twenty years of supervised release following his release from the penitentiary. Furthermore, it is
clear that petitioner never brought this issue to the circuit court’s attention or otherwise objected
to his sentence, which included a period of supervised release. We have previously held that our
“general rule is that nonjurisdictional questions not raised at the circuit court level will not be

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considered to the first time on appeal.” State v. Jessie, 225 W.Va. 21, 27, 689 S.E.2d 21, 27
(2009) (citing Whitlow v. Bd. of Educ. of Kanawha County, 190 W.Va. 223, 226, 438 S.E.2d 15,
18 (1993)). Because petitioner failed to raise this issue below, the Court declines to consider the
same on appeal.

       For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s September 5, 2014, order is hereby
affirmed.

                                                                                        Affirmed.

ISSUED: June 15, 2015

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

DISSENTING:

Justice Robin Jean Davis

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