Court Opinion

ID: 1082241
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:57:07.19235+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:09:51.938595
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

                                      AT JACKSON

ANTONIO SWEATT,

       Petitioner,
                                          )
                                          )                            FILED
                                          ) C. C. A. NO. 02C01-9805-CC-00132
                                          )                      September 25, 1998
vs.                                       ) LAKE COUNTY
                                          )                      Cecil Crowson, Jr.
STATE OF TENNESSEE,                       ) No. 98-7778           Appellate C ourt Clerk
                                          )
       Respondent.                        )

                                        ORDER

              This matter is before the Court upon motion of the state to affirm the

judgment of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

This case represents an appeal from the trial court’s denial of the petitioner’s petition for

writ of habeas corpus. The petitioner pled guilty to two counts of aggravated rape in

1990 and received an effective 25 year sentence. No appeal was taken. In his present

petition, the petitioner claims that he was induced to plead guilty by a misrepresentation

of the extent of his sentence and that his sentence has expired. Specifically, the

petitioner claims he was informed that he would be released from prison after serving

30% of his effective sentence because he was sentenced as a Range I offender.

              Habeas corpus relief is available in Tennessee only when “it
              appears upon the face of the judgment or the record of the
              proceedings upon which the judgment is rendered” that a
              convicting court was without jurisdiction or authority to
              sentence a defendant, or that a defendant’s sentence of
              imprisonment or other restraint has expired.

Archer v. State, 851 S.W.2d 157, 164 (Tenn. 1993). Since the challenge to the guilty

plea in this case would necessarily involve investigation beyond the face of the

judgment or record, the trial court properly denied habeas corpus relief. See id.

Moreover, the judgment clearly reflects that the petitioner received an effective 25 year

sentence in 1990; this sentence has not expired. The petitioner is eligible for parole

after serving 30% of his sentence; parole, however, is not guaranteed.
              In his brief on appeal, the petitioner contends that the trial court should

have treated the petition as one for post-conviction relief. See T.C.A. § 40-30-205(c).

This contention is without merit. A petition for post-conviction relief must be filed with

the court in which the conviction occurred. T.C.A. § 40-30-204(a). Judgment in this

case was rendered in Davidson County, however, this petition was filed in Lake County.

Furthermore, judgment in this case became final on December 13, 1990, and this

petition was filed on March 26, 1998. Accordingly, the statute of limitations for filing a

petition for post-conviction relief had expired. T.C.A. § 40-30-202(a). The petitioner’s

claim that the statute did not begin to run until he was denied release on parole is

without merit. See Cox v. State, No. 02C01-9508-CR-00221 (Tenn. Crim. App., May,

30, 1997).

              Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, it is hereby ORDERED that the

state’s motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed in accordance

with Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

                                          _________________________
                                          JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE

                                          _________________________
                                           PAUL G. SUMMERS, JUDGE

                                          _________________________
                                          DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE

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