Court Opinion

ID: 861388
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-26 23:15:59.924986+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:38.104531
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
                                   NO. 97-CA-00347-SCT
JAMES A. HAMILTON
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                               04/04/97
TRIAL JUDGE:                                    HON. GEORGE B. READY
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                      OKTIBBEHA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                         PRO SE
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:                         OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                                BY: GLENN WATTS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                              FORREST ALLGOOD
NATURE OF THE CASE:                             CIVIL - POST CONVICTION RELIEF
DISPOSITION:                                    AFFIRMED - 06/18/98
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:                                 7/9/98

     BEFORE SULLIVAN, P.J., ROBERTS AND WALLER, JJ.

     SULLIVAN, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1. James Hamilton was convicted of possession for more than 1) kilogram of marijuana with the
intent to distribute and sentenced to twenty five (25) years in the custody of the Mississippi
Department of Corrections and fined $10,000. This Court affirmed his conviction on January 17,
1990. On December 14, 1995, Hamilton filed a motion for summary judgment with the trial court
requesting that a subsequent federal sentence run concurrent with the twenty five (25) year state
sentence. He also challenged the legality of his twenty five (25) year state sentence. The trial court
denied his request under the provisions of the Uniform Post Collateral Conviction Relief Act
(hereinafter UPCCRA).

¶2. We agree and affirm the trial court.

¶3. Hamilton failed to comply with Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-7 which requires a petitioner whose
conviction and sentence have been confirmed or whose appeal has been dismissed by this Court to,
before filing in the trial court, obtain an order from the Supreme Court allowing the filing of the
petitioner's motion in the trial court. This was not done. Furthermore, the UPCCRA requires:

     (2) A motion for relief under this chapter shall be made within three (3) years after the time in
     which the prisoner's direct appeal is ruled upon by the supreme court of Mississippi . . . .

Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2) (1994). Hamilton's motion is time barred since he filed it on December
14, 1995, well after three years from January 17, 1990, the date upon which this Court affirmed his
direct appeal.

¶4. LOWER COURT'S DENIAL OF POST CONVICTION RELIEF IS AFFIRMED.

PRATHER, C.J., PITTMAN, P.J., BANKS, McRAE, ROBERTS, SMITH, MILLS AND
WALLER, JJ., CONCUR.