State v. James

731 P.2d 234, 112 Idaho 239, 1986 Ida. App. LEXIS 500
CourtIdaho Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 30, 1986
Docket16169
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 731 P.2d 234 (State v. James) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. James, 731 P.2d 234, 112 Idaho 239, 1986 Ida. App. LEXIS 500 (Idaho Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

WALTERS, Chief Judge.

Kenneth James pled guilty to a charge of grand theft by possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to an indeterminate five-year term in the custody of the board of correction. James subsequently filed two motions — one to correct his sentence to reflect credit for time he had served in jail prior to his commitment to the board, and a second motion seeking reduction of his sentence under I.C.R. 35. The district court granted the motion to correct the sentence, but denied the motion for reduction.

On appeal, James challenges the denial of his motion for reduction of his sentence. He raises several issues concerning the entry of his judgment of conviction and imposition of the sentence. The state contends that issues relating to the original judgment and sentence are beyond the jurisdiction of this Court because James did not timely appeal from his judgment of conviction. We agree for reasons explained in Part I, infra. We otherwise affirm the district court order denying the motion for reduction of the sentence.

The record reveals the following facts and dates which are important to this case. James was charged with grand theft by possession of stolen property in connection with the theft of the motor and frame of an automobile. Pursuant to a plea bargain agreement in which other charges were either dismissed or not filed, James pled guilty to the charge of grand theft. On *241 March 29,1985, the district court sentenced James to a five-year indeterminate period in accordance with the state’s recommendation under the plea bargain agreement. On May 6, 1985, James filed a motion to correct his sentence, alleging that he had not been given credit for time served in the county jail prior to being sent to prison. On July 3, 1985, James filed a motion to reduce his sentence under I.C.R. 35. On August 23, 1985, the district court granted the motion to correct the sentence and ordered that James be given credit for the time he had spent in jail prior to being sentenced. The district court, however, denied the motion to reduce James’ sentence. On October 2, 1985, James filed a notice of appeal. James’ issues on appeal can be segregated into two groups — one group of issues which stems from his original judgment of conviction and sentencing, and a second group of issues evolving from the denial of his Rule 35 motion for reduction of his sentence. We address each set of issues separately.

I.

Issues Arising From Judgment of Conviction and Sentencing

James raises as issues: (1) that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney did not request a psychological evaluation prior to sentencing, and (2) that his guilty plea was coerced and involuntary. We conclude that James’ appeal in respect to these issues was untimely, and therefore refuse to consider them because of a lack of jurisdiction.

Under I.A.R. 14 James had forty-two days from the date “evidenced by the filing stamp of the clerk of the court” on his judgment of conviction in which to bring his appeal. Under I.A.R. 14, the appeal period is terminated by “the filing of a motion within fourteen (14) days of the entry of the judgment which, if granted, could affect the judgment, order or sentence in the action____”

The district court entered judgment on March 29, 1985. On May 6, 1985, thirty-eight days later, James filed his motion to correct his sentence to allow him credit for time served in the county jail. This motion, if granted, would have affected James’ sentence by reducing his sentence by the amount of time he had served in the county jail. However, because neither that motion, nor any other pertinent motion which would have terminated the appeal period, was filed within the fourteen-day period provided by I.A.R. 14, the forty-two day time period for appeal from the judgment of conviction was not terminated. James’ notice of appeal was filed October 2, 1985, substantially beyond the forty-two day time limit. Thus, James’ appeal of his conviction and sentence was untimely.

The requirement of perfecting an appeal within the forty-two day time period is jurisdictional. Appeals taken after expiration of the filing period must be dismissed. State v. Torres, 107 Idaho 895, 693 P.2d 1097 (Ct.App.1984); State v. Tucker, 103 Idaho 885, 655 P.2d 92 (Ct.App.1982). Therefore, we cannot consider those issues challenging the original conviction and sentencing because of a lack of jurisdiction, and James’ appeal with regard to those issues is dismissed.

James argues that his appeal from the judgment of conviction was timely, citing State v. Knight, 106 Idaho 496, 681 P.2d 6 (Ct.App.1984). The Knight case, however, includes a critical factor distinguishing it from the present case. At the time Knight was decided, I.A.R. 14 only required “the filing of a timely motion which, if granted, could affect any findings of fact, conclusions of law or any judgment in the action ...” to terminate the time for appeal. The rule was subsequently amended, and, as applicable to James, requires the “filing of a motion within fourteen (14) days of the entry of the judgment which, if granted, could affect the judgment, order or sentence in the action ...” in order to terminate the appeal. [Emphasis added.] Thus, because the rule applicable to Knight was different from the rule applicable to this case, Knight is not controlling here.

*242 II.

Issues Arising From the Denial of The I.C.R. 35 Motion to Reduce the Sentence

James raises three issues with regard to the denial of his Rule 35 motion. They are: (1) that his constitutional rights were violated when he was denied permission to appear at the Rule 35 hearing; (2) that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by having a new attorney represent him at the Rule 35 hearing; (3) and that his five-year indeterminate sentence was unduly harsh.

A

James has not cited to us any authority supporting his assertion that he had a constitutional right to appear at the Rule 35 hearing. James also has not alleged any facts which would indicate that he was any way prejudiced by not being present at the hearing. In short, James’ argument amounts to nothing more than a bare assertion that he was somehow constitutionally deprived by not being present at the hearing.

A defendant is entitled to be present at sentencing. I.C.R. 43(a). The defendant is also entitled to be present for resentencing when a prior invalid sentence is corrected. State v. Money, 109 Idaho 757, 710 P.2d 667 (Ct.App.1985). However, a Rule 35 hearing, if held, takes place after the defendant has been accorded his right to be present at sentencing. Indeed, the decision whether even to conduct a hearing on a Rule 35 motion has always been discretionary with the district court. State v. Arambula,

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Bluebook (online)
731 P.2d 234, 112 Idaho 239, 1986 Ida. App. LEXIS 500, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-james-idahoctapp-1986.