Nathan Kittinger v. Commonwealth of Kentucky

• Court: Court of Appeals of Kentucky
• Decided: April 8, 2021
• Docket: 2019 CA 001894
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

RENDERED: APRIL 9, 2021; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2019-CA-1894-MR

NATHAN KITTINGER APPELLANT

APPEAL FROM HOPKINS CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE JAMES C. BRANTLEY, JUDGE ACTION NO. 17-CR-00292

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE

AND NO. 2019-CA-1895-MR

APPEAL FROM HOPKINS CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE JAMES C. BRANTLEY, JUDGE ACTION NO. 17-CR-00334

OPINION AFFIRMING

** ** ** ** ** BEFORE: ACREE, DIXON, AND K. THOMPSON, JUDGES.

ACREE, JUDGE: Nathan Kittinger appeals the Hopkins Circuit Court’s

December 11, 2019 order denying his motion for shock probation finding it lacked

jurisdiction. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Kittinger pleaded guilty to a myriad of crimes, resulting in a prison

sentence of seven years. While in prison Kittinger completed a long-term drug

rehabilitation program. He continued to participate in the program for another 90

days as a Peer Mentor.

Some six months into his sentence, Kittinger timely filed a motion for

shock probation. The Commonwealth opposed the motion. However, Kittinger’s

case sat idle for almost six months. On December 11, 2019, eleven months after

his incarceration, the circuit court eventually entered an order stating:

These cases are before the court on the Defendant, Nathan Kittinger’s, motions for shock probation. Mr. Kittinger’s judgments and sentences on a plea of guilty were entered January 11, 2019, a motion for shock probation on each case were [sic] filed June 28, 2019. These files were not delivered to the circuit judge’s office until it was called to the undersigned’s attention that some files that had shock probation motions filed and pending had not been delivered to this circuit judge’s office. Staff immediately began to examine files and on December 3, 2019 discovered a small number of files that have shock probation motions filed with the clerk but not submitted to the judge. It appears the shock probation motions in Mr. Kittinger’s files were filed within the 180-day time period.

-2- However, KRS[1] 439.265(2) provides that the court shall consider a shock probation motion within 60 days of filing and enter its ruling within 10 days thereafter.

It appears that this court no longer has jurisdiction to rule on the motions for shock probation. If counsel wishes to submit argument for reconsideration this court is open thereto.

(Trial Record (T.R.) p. 86-87 and 91-92). This appeal followed.

ANALYSIS

Although KRS 439.265(2) prohibits appellate review of “[a]ny court

order granting or denying a motion to suspend further execution of sentence[,]” the

statute does not prevent this Court from determining whether the circuit court

properly exercised or declined to exercise jurisdiction to enter an order in the first

place. Commonwealth ex rel. Hancock v. Melton, 510 S.W.2d 250 (Ky. 1974);

Terhune v. Commonwealth, 907 S.W.2d 779 (Ky. App. 1995). This Court has

jurisdiction to consider that jurisdictional question, provided the appellant

preserved his claim of error in the circuit court.

“It is an unvarying rule that a question not raised or adjudicated in the

court below cannot be considered when raised for the first time in this court.”

Combs v. Knott Cty. Fiscal Court, 283 Ky. 456, 141 S.W.2d 859, 860 (1940); see

Benefit Ass’n of Ry. Employees v. Secrest, 239 Ky. 400, 39 S.W.2d 682, 687

1 Kentucky Revised Statutes.

-3- (1931). In this case, the circuit court invited Kittinger to move for reconsideration

of the court’s ruling on jurisdiction and to support the motion with supporting

argument, but he never availed himself of that opportunity.

In this Court, that missed opportunity requires dismissal. The only

argument Kittinger makes before this Court is not preserved for appellate review.

We are sympathetic to Kittinger’s plight because the circuit court

failed to render a decision within the statutory deadlines. The circuit court must

allocate its limited judicial resources as it best sees fit. Similarly, any solution to

the problem rests with the circuit court’s administration. It is beyond the authority

of this Court to remedy.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Hopkins Circuit Court

is affirmed.

DIXON, JUDGE, CONCURS.

THOMPSON, K., JUDGE, CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.

BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

Shannon Dupree Daniel Cameron Frankfort, Kentucky Attorney General of Kentucky

Ken W. Riggs Assistant Attorney General Frankfort, Kentucky

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