Court Opinion

ID: 4391975
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-30 07:04:27.839522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:54.437300
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                        ATLANTA,____________________
                                                 April 18, 2019

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A19A1764. ANTHONY BARKLEY v. THE STATE.

      In August 2015, Anthony Barkley pleaded guilty to multiple offenses,
including aggravated assault and first-degree burglary. Barkley was sentenced to a
total of 20 years, with the first ten to serve in confinement and the second ten years
to serve on probation. It does not appear that Barkley appealed his convictions. In
October 2018, Barkley filed a “Motion to Modify Sentence,” seeking to have the
probated portion of his sentence suspended. The trial court denied the motion, and
Barkley filed this direct appeal.1
      Under OCGA § 17-10-1 (f), a court may modify a sentence during the year
after its imposition or within 120 days after remittitur following a direct appeal,
whichever is later. Frazier v. State, 302 Ga. App. 346, 347-348 (691 SE2d 247)
(2010); Burg v. State, 297 Ga. App. 118, 118 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). Once this
statutory period expires, a trial court may modify a sentence only if it is void. Jones
v. State, 278 Ga. 669, 670 (604 SE2d 483) (2004). And a sentence is void only when
the trial court imposes punishment that the law does not allow. Jordan v. State, 253
Ga. App. 510, 511 (1) (559 SE2d 528) (2002). “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, most typically because it exceeds the most severe punishment for which the

      1
         Barkley filed his notice of appeal in the Georgia Supreme Court, which
transferred the case to this Court after finding it did not have jurisdiction. See Case
No. S19A0687 (transferred March 4, 2019).
applicable penal statute provides.” von Thomas v. State, 293 Ga. 569, 572 (2) (748
SE2d 446) (2013). A direct appeal may lie from an order denying a motion to vacate
or correct a void sentence, but only if the defendant raises a colorable claim that the
sentence is, in fact, void. See 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).
      In his motion, Barkley did not assert that this sentence was void, but rather he
moved to have the probation portion of his sentence suspended. Generally, a judge
may suspend or probate all or any part of the entire sentence. See OCGA § 17-10-1
(a) (1). A trial court retains discretion in imposing sentence, and an appellate court
will not review a sentence that falls within the parameters prescribed by statute. See
Jackson v. State, 284 Ga. App. 619, 627 (10) (644 SE2d 491) (2007). Here, Barkley’s
20-year sentence was within the statutory guidelines. See OCGA § 16-5-21 (b)
(imprisonment of not less than one nor more than 20 years); OCGA § 16-7-1 (b)
(same). Because Barkley has not raised a colorable void-sentence argument, he is not
entitled to a direct appeal, and this appeal is hereby DISMISSED.

                                        Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                               Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                                         04/18/2019
                                               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.