Court Opinion

ID: 7821883
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:57:29.765073+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:45.488221
License: Public Domain

Frank Holt, Justice. On April 15, 1977, the appellant, on pleas of guilty, received a 42 year sentence on 21 counts of aggravated robbery and 5 years on two counts of kidnapping. It appears they were concurrent sentences. A commitment was issued that day. On June 10, 1980, he filed a Rule 37 petition to vacate his sentence on the ground his guilty pleas were constitutionally infirm in that they were not knowingly, freely and voluntarily made. After conducting a hearing, the trial court found that appellant’s pleas of guilty on four counts of robbery were not knowingly made and ordered a new trial on them; however, on the remaining counts, he found his pleas were knowingly, freely and voluntarily made. The trial court refused to reduce the 42 year sentence since it was within the range of penalties for aggravated robbery and kidnapping. Appellant insists that the trial court erred in its finding that his pleas of guilty to all the charges were not voluntarily made, and his refusal to modify or reduce his sentence should be reversed. We affirm. A petition for postconviction relief, as here, must be filed within three years from the date of the commitment unless the judgment was absolutely void. Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 37.2 (c), Ark. Stat. Ann. Vol. 4A (Supp. 1981). Collins v. State, 271 Ark. 825, 611 S.W. 2d 182 (1981); Washington v. State, 270 Ark. 840, 606 S.W. 2d 365 (1981); Scott v. State, 267 Ark. 536, 592 S.W. 2d 122 (1980); Poe v. State, 273 Ark. 194, 617 S.W. 2d 361 (1981). Here, there is nothing indicating the judgment is absolutely void. Affirmed. Purtle, J., dissents.