State v. Jones

Opinion

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

CRAIG A. KARSNITZ 1 The Circle, Suite 2 RESIDENT JUDGE GEORGETOWN, DE 19947

May 18, 2022

Quentin T. Jones SBI #358258 Unit E, D-53 James T. Vaughn Correctional Center 1181 Paddock Road Smyrna, DE 19977

Natalie Woloshin, Esquire Woloshin, Lynch & Associates, P.A. 3200 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19803

Patrick J. Collins, Esquire Collins & Associates 8 East 13th Street Wilmington, DE 19801

Re: State of Delaware v. Quentin Jones Def. ID No. 1502002252 Motion to Amend Rule 61 Motion (R-1)

Dear Mr. Jones and Counsel:

On May 2, 2022, Quentin T. Jones (“Jones” or “Movant”) filed a timely Rule

61 Motion, in which he asserted three claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

1 On May 11, 2022, I denied that Rule 61 Motion and the accompanying Motion for

Appointment of Postconviction Counsel. In a letter filed on May 13, 2022 (the

“Motion to Amend the Rule 61 Motion”), Movant seeks to add a fourth ground for

postconviction relief: Abuse of Discretion by the Court. The sum total of his

argument is that I had a “closed mind” in my ruling on evidence which contradicted

the victim’s testimony in court.

Movant’s statement of his fourth ground in his May 13th is brief, conclusory,

non-specific, and provides no factual support for his claim. This in and of itself

could constitute a sufficient independent basis for my denial of the Rule 61 Motion.1

This Court has held that "[a] movant [under Rule 61] must support his or her

assertions with 'concrete allegations of actual prejudice, or risk summary

dismissal."'2 In this case, "[i]t plainly appears from the motion that Defendant

has not shown entitlement to relief. Defendant's motion is completely

conclusory, and [he] has failed to support his claims with facts. For these reasons

1 “The Motion shall specify all the grounds for relief which are available to the movant and of which the movant has or, by the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have knowledge, and shall set forth in summary form the facts supporting each of the grounds thus specified.” Super. Ct. Crim. R. 6l(b)(2) (emphasis supplied). 2 State v. Johnson, 2009 WL 638511, at *1 (Del. Super. Mar. 12, 2009), aff’d 977 A.2d 898 (Del. 2009) (quoting State v.Childress, 2000 WL 1610766, at *1 (Del. Super. Sept. 19, 2000)).

2 Defendant's motion warrants summary dismissal."3 I make reasonable inferences

to divine Movant’s meaning, to discuss his contention.

Rule 61 provides in pertinent part:

A motion may be amended as a matter of course at any time before a response is filed or thereafter by leave of court, which shall be freely given when justice so requires. (Emphasis supplied.) 4

In this case, the State has not filed a response to Movant’s Rule 61 Motion. I will

allow this amendment of Movant’s Rule 61 Motion. That being said, the fourth

claim is procedurally barred for two reasons.

First, grounds for relief “not asserted in the proceedings leading to the judgment

of conviction” are barred unless the movant can show “cause for relief” and “prejudice

from [the] violation.” 5 This provision bars claims that were not raised in the

proceedings unless Movant can establish cause for failing to timely raise the

claim, and actual prejudice from failing to raise the claim.6 In this case, Movant

has never raised his “closed mind” claim before, including in his appeal to the

Delaware Supreme Court. This procedural default bars Movant’s fourth claim.

3 Id. at *2. 4 Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(b)(6). 5 Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(3). 6 Wilson v. State, 900 A.2d 102 (Table), 2006 WL 1291369, at *2 (Del. May 9, 2006) (citing McCluskey v. State, 782 A.2d 265 (Del. 2001)).

3 Second, grounds for relief formerly adjudicated in the case, including

“proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction, in an appeal, in a post-conviction

proceeding, or in a federal habeas corpus hearing” (emphasis added) are barred.7

Movant appealed my denial of his motion to withdraw his nolo contendere plea to

the Delaware Supreme Court.8 In that decision, the Supreme Court held that my

imposition of ten years of unsuspended Level V time was not an abuse of my

discretion.9

The Supreme Court further held that the State presented strong evidence of

Movant’s guilt and that, while charges of rape with little extrinsic evidence can be

difficult, the victim’s evidence was clear and convincing. I concluded that Movant’s

innocence claim was just “his take on the facts of the case.” The Supreme Court

found that this conclusion was not an abuse of my discretion.10

Finally, the Supreme Court held that, in acting in my role as factfinder, I was

the sole judge of credibility and therefore it would not disturb my conclusions of fact

7 Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(4). 8 If a motion to withdraw a plea of nolo contendere is made before sentence is imposed, the Superior Court may permit the plea to be withdrawn for any fair and just reason. At any later time, a plea may be set aside only by motion under Rule 61. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 32(d). 9 Jones v. State, 2022 WL 1134744 (Table) (Del. Apr.18, 2022), at *3. 10 Id.

4 when supported by competent evidence. It held my decision that defense counsel's

conduct was adequate and reasonable was not an abuse of my discretion.11

These clear rulings by the Delaware Supreme Court as to my proper

exercise of judicial discretion demonstrate that I had an “open mind” in this case.

Movant’s fourth claim is procedurally barred as formerly adjudicated.

Given that Movant’s fourth claim is procedurally barred for two reasons,

summary dismissal is appropriate.12 For the reasons set forth above, the Motion to

Amend the Rule 61 Motion is GRANTED, but Movant’s fourth claim under the

Rule 61 Motion is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Craig A. Karsnitz

cc: Prothonotary

11 Id. 12 Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(d)(5).