Court Opinion

ID: 4152878
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-15 19:08:00.680891+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:36.187420
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                       ATLANTA,____________________
                                                February 27, 2017

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A17D0290. MICHAEL THOMPSON v. THE STATE.

      In 2010, Michael Thompson entered a negotiated plea to armed robbery and
was sentenced to fifteen years to serve ten and ordered to pay restitution.1 In 2016,
Thompson filed a “motion to correct void sentence.” The trial court denied
Thompson’s motion, and he filed this timely application for discretionary appeal. We,
however, lack jurisdiction.
     As a threshold matter, we note that no provision of OCGA § 5-6-35, the
discretionary appeal statute, appears to apply to this case. Ordinarily, we will grant
a timely application when the lower court’s order is subject to direct appeal. See
OCGA § 5-6-35 (j). Here, however, the trial court’s order is not subject to direct
appeal.
      Under OCGA § 17-10-1 (f), a sentencing court has the authority to modify a
sentence within one year of the date upon which the sentence is imposed, or within
120 days after receipt of the remittitur upon affirmance of the judgment after direct
appeal, whichever is later. Beyond this time, a sentencing court may only modify a
sentence that is void. See Jones v. State, 278 Ga. 669, 670 (604 SE2d 483) (2004).

      1
       Thompson also pled guilty to one count of false imprisonment, for which he
was sentenced to a concurrent five-year term.
A direct appeal lies from the denial of a motion to correct a void sentence if the
defendant raises a colorable claim that the sentence is, in fact, void or illegal. See
Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 218 (1) n. 1 (686 SE2d 786) (2009); Burg v. State, 297
Ga. App. 118, 119 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). A sentence is void only if it imposes
punishment that the law does not allow, “most typically because it exceeds the most
severe punishment for which the applicable penal statute provides.” Von Thomas v.
State, 293 Ga. 569, 572 (2) (748 SE2d 446) (2013).
      Here, Thompson argues that his armed robbery sentence amounts to cruel and
unusual punishment because, at the time of sentencing, the trial court was compelled
to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, but OCGA § 17-10-6.1 now
affords the trial court discretion to impose a sentence below the mandatory minimum.
Thus, if he were sentenced for the same crime today, he could receive a lesser
sentence. However, this provision of OCGA § 17-10-6.1 applies to offenses which
occur on or after its effective date of July 1, 2013; it is not retroactive. Ga. L. 2013,
p. 222, § 21. See also Maddox v. State, 227 Ga. App. 602, 605 (5) (490 SE2d 174)
(1997). Because the sentence imposed was allowed under the law at the time of
sentencing, it is not void. See OCGA § 16-8-41 (b) (armed robbery is punishable by
ten to twenty years or life imprisonment); Daniels v. State, 244 Ga. App. 522, 523
(536 SE2d 206) (2000).
      Thompson also argues that the trial court erred in imposing a restitution order
without holding a hearing or making findings of facts. However, no written findings
of fact are required. McCart v. State, 289 Ga. App. 830, 832 (658 SE2d 465) (2008).
And a restitution hearing is not necessary when a defendant agrees to a restitution
amount. See OCGA § 17-14-7 (b). Here, the trial court’s order indicates that payment
of restitution not to exceed $40,000.00 was part of the plea agreement.2 Accordingly,
Thompson has not shown that his sentence is void.
      For these reasons, this petition for discretionary review is hereby DISMISSED.

                                       Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                              Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                                        02/27/2017
                                              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.

      2
        The sentencing sheet indicates that the exact amount of restitution would be
determined by the probation officer, but not exceed $40,000. According to the trial
court’s order, the exact amount was $31,743.00.