Court Opinion

ID: 4199120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-26 02:09:49.51477+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:15.892405
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                        ATLANTA,____________________
                                                 August 24, 2017

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A17A1920. THERON CROSKEY v. THE STATE.

      On April 22, 2016, Theron Croskey pled guilty to numerous offenses, including
aggravated battery, aggravated assault, damage to property, obstruction, theft by
receiving stolen property, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a
felony. Croskey was sentenced to a total of 40 years, with 20 years to serve in
confinement. On April 25, 2017, Croskey filed several motions, including a motion
for sentence modification. The trial court denied that motion and Croskey filed this
direct 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, 347-348 (691 SE2d 247)
(2010); Burg v. State, 297 Ga. App. 118, 118 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). Once this
statutory period expires, as it had when Croskey filed his motion, a trial court may
modify a sentence only if it is void. Jones v. State, 278 Ga. 669, 670 (604 SE2d 483)
(2004).
      A direct appeal may lie from the denial of a motion to correct a void sentence
only if the defendant raises a colorable claim that the sentence is void. Burg v. State,
297 Ga. App. 118, 119 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). A sentence is void only when the trial
court imposes a punishment that the law does not allow. Coleman v. State, 305 Ga.
App. 680, 680-681 (700 SE2d 668) (2010). Here, Croskey does not contend that his
sentence exceeds the statutory maximum. Instead, he claims the sentence is unfair.
Because Croskey has not raised a colorable argument that his sentence is void, the
trial court’s denial of his motion is not subject to direct appeal. Accordingly, this
appeal is hereby DISMISSED.

                              Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                     Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                               08/24/2017
                                     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.