Court Opinion

ID: 2701469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:33:44.326594+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:24.439896
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State ex rel. Hawk v. Warden, Noble Corr. Inst., 2010-Ohio-2027.]
                               STATE OF OHIO, NOBLE COUNTY

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                        SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE EX REL. GARY HAWK,                                )
                                                        )
        PETITIONER,                                     )              CASE NO. 10-NO-368
                                                        )
VS.                                                     )                  OPINION
                                                        )                   AND
WARDEN, NOBLE CI,                                       )              JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                                        )
        RESPONDENT.                                     )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                               Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

JUDGMENT:                                               Dismissed

APPEARANCES:
For Petitioner                                          Gary Hawk, pro-se
                                                        #404-237
                                                        15708 McConnelsville Rd.
                                                        Caldwell, Ohio 43724

For Respondent                                          Richard Cordray
                                                        Attorney General
                                                        Diane Mallory
                                                        Assistant Attorney General
                                                        Criminal Justice Section
                                                        150 East Gay Street, 16th Floor
                                                        Columbus, Ohio 43215

JUDGES:

Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite

                                                        Dated: May 7, 2010
[Cite as State ex rel. Hawk v. Warden, Noble Corr. Inst., 2010-Ohio-2027.]
PER CURIAM.

        {¶1}     Petitioner Gary Hawk has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus
against respondent, Warden, Noble Correctional Institution. Respondent has filed a
motion to dismiss the petition.
        {¶2}     On January 4, 2010, petitioner filed his petition which (aside from the
praecipe, a listing of previously filed civil actions, and an affidavit of indigency)
offered only this:
        {¶3}     “COMES NOW PETITIONER PURSUANT TO R.C. CHAP. 2725
WHOM RESPECTFULLY MOVES THIS HONORABLE COURT TO GRANT
REVIEW OF THE CASE IN REFERENCE TO TRIAL CASE NUMBER: 00CR050.
        {¶4}     “THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE ATTACHED MEMORANDUM IN
SUPPORT, AND R.C. 2725.06 THIS HONORABLE COURT HAS PROPER
JURISDICTION AND SHOULD GRANT REVIEW UPON PRESENTATION THAT
SUCH WRIT DEMONSTRATES A DEPRIVAL RIGHTS. O’CONST. ART I SEC 16.”
        {¶5}     Petitioner did not attach a memorandum to the petition explaining and
detailing his request. It is not clear from the petition when or where he was convicted
or for what crime or crimes he was convicted.
        {¶6}     In response to Respondent’s motion to dismiss, Petitioner then provides
a partial explanation of his claim.             He states that in 2000 he was indicted and
convicted in Athens County for an “ongoing course of criminal conduct.” He states
that in 2001 he was sentenced to 6 years on one count of rape under Senate Bill 2.
He states that he was also sentenced to 8 to 25 years under the “old law” for a 2000
indictment accusing him of an “ongoing course of criminal conduct” from 1992 to
1999. Because the last date listed in the latter indictment was 1999, he implies that
the trial court should have sentenced him under post-Senate Bill 2 law rather than
pre-Senate Bill 2 law. He contends the 8 to 25 years sentence should be vacated
and that since he has already served 6 years, he should be released from prison.
        {¶7}     Respondent argues that Petitioner failed to attach a copy of his
commitment papers to his petition for writ of habeas corpus. R.C. 2725.04 states
that:
                                                                                -2-

       {¶8}   “Application for the writ of habeas corpus shall be by petition, signed
and verified either by the party for whose relief it is intended, or by some person for
him, and shall specify:
       {¶9}   “***
       {¶10} “(D) A copy of the commitment or cause of detention of such person
shall be exhibited, if it can be procured without impairing the efficiency of the remedy;
or, if the imprisonment or detention is without legal authority, such fact must appear.”
       {¶11} Failure to attach copies of commitment papers, such as the judgment
entry of sentence, as part of the original filing of the petition for habeas corpus
requires the dismissal of the petition. Bloss v. Rogers (1992), 65 Ohio St.3d 145, 146,
602 N .E.2d 602. As the Ohio Supreme Court explained:
       {¶12} “These       commitment   papers    are    necessary    for   a   complete
understanding of the petition. Without them, the petition is fatally defective. When a
petition is presented to a court that does not comply with R.C. 2725.04(D), there is no
showing of how the commitment was procured and there is nothing before the court
on which to make a determined judgment except, of course, the bare allegations of
petitioner’s application.”
       {¶13} Here, Petitioner has failed to attach his commitment papers to his
petition. The reason they are required to be attached to the petition is especially
apparent in this case. In other words, as the Ohio Supreme Court observed, they are
necessary for a complete understanding of the petition. For example, it is unclear
what crime Petitioner was convicted of that constituted an “ongoing course of criminal
conduct.” Consequently, the petition is fatally defective and must be dismissed.
       {¶14} Furthermore, sentencing errors are not jurisdictional and are not
cognizable in habeas corpus. Majoros v. Collins (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 442, 443, 596
N.E.2d 1038, 1039. See, also, State ex rel. Marini v. Tate (May 19, 1998), 7th Dist.
No. 97 BA 59 (refusing to hear petitioner’s claim in habeas that he should have been
sentenced under post-Senate Bill 2 law). Petitioner has or had adequate remedies at
law by appeal or postconviction relief to review the alleged sentencing error. State ex
                                                                           -3-

rel. Massie v. Rogers (1997), 77 Ohio St.3d 449, 450, 674 N.E.2d 1383, 1383.
      {¶15} For the foregoing reasons, Respondent’s motion to dismiss is granted
and Petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas corpus is hereby dismissed.
      {¶16} Costs taxed against Petitioner. Final order. Clerk to serve notice on
the parties as required by the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.

Donofrio, J concurs.
Vukovich, P.J. concurs.
Waite, J. concurs.