James Clark Henderson, Jr. v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: February 4, 2014
• Docket: A13A2106
• Status: Published

Opinion

SECOND DIVISION BARNES, P. J., MILLER and RAY, JJ.

NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/

February 4, 2014

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A13A2106. HENDERSON v. THE STATE.

MILLER, Judge.

Following his plea of guilty to entering an automobile (OCGA § 16-8-18,

Count 1), and three counts of burglary (OCGA § 16-7-1, Counts 2, 3, & 4), James

Clark Henderson, Jr., acting pro se, appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion to

modify his resulting sentence. Finding no error, we affirm.

A review of the record shows that, following his indictment, Henderson,

represented by counsel, entered into a negotiated plea agreement on May 16, 2012,

in which he was sentenced to a total of 40 years, to serve ten, with the remainder to

be served on probation.1

1 Henderson was sentenced to five years on Count 1; 20 years on Count 2, concurrent with Count 1; 20 years on Count 3, consecutive to Count 2; and 20 years on Count 4, concurrent with Count 3. As part of the negotiated plea, Henderson was ordered to pay restitution to the

victims in Count 1 in the amount of $1,095 and to the victim in Count 3 in the amount

of $260. As part of the negotiated agreement, Henderson also agreed that he would

forfeit any and all rights to post-conviction relief. As stated by the trial court and

acknowledged by Henderson during the plea hearing, “[y]ou have forfeited by

contract any post-conviction relief that you may normally seek. Do you understand

that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, Sir.”

Nonetheless, on April 26, 2013, Henderson filed his motion to modify his

sentence, contending that the restitution ordered on Count 1 was inappropriate and

that his parents were ill and needed him. In a one sentence order, the trial court denied

the motion on May 16, 2013.

We find that Henderson validly waived his right to post-conviction relief by

entering into the plea agreement with the State, which was accepted and approved by

the trial court. See Adams v. State, 298 Ga. App. 518, 518 (2) (680 SE2d 429) (2009)

(having accepted banishment as a condition of probation in a negotiated guilty plea,

defendant waived the right to challenge the conditions of probation on appeal); State

v. Barrett, 215 Ga. App. 401, 404-406 (2) (451 SE2d 82) (1994) (defendant plead

guilty and agreed to waive statute of limitation defense in return for first offender

2 treatment). Henderson was represented by counsel during the plea and the trial court

fully informed Henderson of his rights which Henderson voluntarily waived as part

of the plea agreement. Therefore, we need not further consider the argument made

here.

Judgment affirmed. Barnes, P. J., and Ray, J., concur.