Court Opinion

ID: 4315544
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-26 15:10:36.19584+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:25.203830
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                         ATLANTA,____________________
                                                  September 18, 2018

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A19A0209. ANDRE JONES v. THE STATE.

      On October 27, 2016, Andre Jones pled guilty to trafficking a person for sexual
servitude, pimping, and pandering. The trial court sentenced Jones to ten years of
probation for trafficking, which was consecutive to two concurrent nine-year
sentences for pimping and pandering. Thus, Jones’ total sentence was for 19 years,
with nine to serve. On March 6, 2018, Jones filed a pro se motion to correct a void
sentence, arguing that the trial court erred in failing to impose a split sentence as
required by OCGA § 17-10-6.2 (b). The trial court denied the motion, and Jones filed
this appeal. We, however, lack jurisdiction.
      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, 348 (691 SE2d 247) (2010).
Once, as here, this statutory period expires, a trial court may only modify a void
sentence. Id. And a direct appeal may lie from an order denying a motion to vacate
or correct a void sentence only if the defendant raises a colorable claim that the
sentence is, in fact, void. See Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 217 (1) n.1 (686 SE2d
786) (2009); Burg v. State, 297 Ga. App. 118, 119 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). When a
sentence is within the statutory range of punishment, it is not void. Jones v. State, 278
Ga. 669, 670 (604 SE2d 483) (2004).
      Under OCGA § 17-10-6.2 (b), any person convicted of a sexual offense shall
be sentenced to a split sentence, which must include a term of probation of at least
one year. The offenses for which Jones was convicted are not included in the statute’s
definition of “sexual offenses.” See OCGA § 17-10-6.2 (a). Thus, the statute does not
apply to Jones’ sentence.
      Because Jones has not raised a colorable void-sentence claim, 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,____________________
                                                                  09/18/2018
                                               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.