811 N.E.2d 561 | Ohio Ct. App. | 2004
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Donald R. Williams ("Williams"), appeals from the judgment of the common pleas court dismissing his petition for postconviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. Finding no merit to the appeal, we affirm.
{¶ 2} In 1994, Williams was indicted for one count of aggravated murder, with a firearm specification and two aggravated felony specifications, and two counts of having a weapon while under disability, both with a firearm specification. A jury found him guilty of murder with the firearm specification and both counts of having a weapon while under disability. This court affirmed his convictions in *376 State v. Williams (Oct. 31, 1996), Cuyahoga App. 69936, 1996 WL 631080. The Ohio Supreme Court denied leave to appeal.
{¶ 3} On September 24, 1996, Williams filed a postconviction petition pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 4} In his first assignment of error, Williams argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his petition for postconviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. In his second assignment of error, he claims that the trial court erred when it denied his petition as untimely.
{¶ 5} Postconviction relief, which is governed by R.C.
"A petition under division (A)(1) of this section shall be filed no later than one hundred eighty days after the date on which the trial transcript is filed in the court of appeals in the direct appeal of the judgment of conviction or adjudication or, if the direct appeal involves a sentence of death, the date on which the trial transcript is filed in the supreme court. If no appeal is taken, the petition shall be filed no later than one hundred eighty days after the expiration of the time for filing the appeal."
{¶ 6} Further, the corresponding uncodified law provides:
"A person who seeks postconviction relief pursuant to sections
2953.21 through2953.23 of the Revised Code with respect to a case in which sentence was imposed prior to the effective date of this act * * * shall file a petition within the time required in division (A)(2) of section2953.21 of the Revised Code, as amended by this act, or within one year from the effective date of this act [September 21, 1995], whichever is later." Section 3, S.B. No. 4, 146 Ohio Laws, Part IV, 7826.
{¶ 7} Williams was sentenced prior to the effective date of amended R.C.
{¶ 8} Williams contends that his petition should be construed as timely filed when he turned it over to prison authorities for mailing, arguing the application of the federal mailbox rule and citing Robertsonv. Abramajtys (E.D.Mich. 2001),
{¶ 9} In Houston v. Lack (1988),
"In other words, the difficulties with court filings faced by pro se petitioners — including having no choice but to rely on both prison officials and the `vagaries of the mail' without any ability to remedy or monitor any missteps along the way — should suffice as adequate `cause' to excuse a state procedural default in at least certain situations." Robertson v. Abramajtys,
144 F.Supp.2d at 840 .
{¶ 10} However, according to the Ohio Supreme Court, a pleading is considered filed on the day it is filed with the court. State ex rel.Tyler v. Alexander (1990),
"In Houston, the United States Supreme Court rested its holding on its interpretation of a federal statute and the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, and not on any constitutional provision. As such it is not binding on us. Nor do we find Houston persuasive." Id.
{¶ 11} Additionally, other appellate districts have rejected the prison mailbox rule as well. See State v. Clement (June 27, 1995), Franklin App. No. 95APA01-101, 1995 WL 390795; State v. Bowens (June 26, 1998), Ashtabula App. No. 97-A-0004, 1998 WL 553049; State v. Vroman (Apr. 15, 1997), Ross App. No. 96CA2258, 1997 WL 193168; and State v.Hansbro (June 14, 2002), Clark App. No. 2001-CA-88, 2002-Ohio-2922, 2002 WL 1332297.
{¶ 12} Although Tyler involved a notice of appeal, and the instant case involves a postconviction petition, the difference is irrelevant. Therefore, we hold that any document is considered filed when it is filed with the clerk of court, and not when it is placed in the prison mailing system. Thus, Williams's petition was untimely.
{¶ 13} Pursuant to R.C.
"(a) The petitioner shows that the petitioner was unavoidably prevented from discovery of the facts upon which the petitioner must rely to present the claim for relief.
"(b) Subsequent to the period prescribed in division (A)(2) of section
2953.21 of the Revised Code or to the filing of an earlier petition, the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal or state right that applies retroactively to persons in the petitioner's situation, and the petition asserts a claim based on that right."
{¶ 14} R.C.
"(2) The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was@ convicted * * *."
{¶ 15} Unless the above exceptions apply, the trial court has no jurisdiction to consider an untimely petition for postconviction relief.State v. Warren (Dec. 14, 2000), Cuyahoga App. No. 76612, 2000 WL 1844778; State v. Valentine (Dec. 7, 2000), Cuyahoga App. No. 77882, 2000 WL 1807240; State v. Wheatt (Oct. 26, 2000), Cuyahoga App. No. 77292, 2000 WL 1594101; State v. Gaddis (Oct. 12, 2000), Cuyahoga App. No. 77058, 2000 WL 1513746.
{¶ 16} Williams has failed to demonstrate any of the above exceptions entitling him to relief. In his petition, he claims that he was denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel, there was intentional prosecutorial misconduct, and there was a substantial miscarriage of justice in his case.
{¶ 17} It is well established that any claim for postconviction relief that was or could have been raised on direct appeal is barred from consideration by the doctrine of res judicata. State v. Perry (1967),
{¶ 18} Williams's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct are issues that could have been raised on direct appeal because they do not involve evidence outside the record. Because those claims were not raised at the earliest opportunity, they are barred by res judicata. See Perry, supra.
{¶ 19} Additionally, Williams's claim that there was a substantial miscarriage of justice is supported by affidavits — evidence outside the record. However, these affidavits were in existence and the information contained therein was available to *379 Williams on direct appeal. Williams filed his direct appeal on December 7, 1995. The affidavits attached to the petition were either executed prior to the filing date of the direct appeal or during the pendency of the appeal. Additionally, the deposition of juror Michael Burris was taken prior to the filing date of the direct appeal. All the exhibits attached to Williams's petition were available to him on direct appeal. Therefore, this claim is barred by res judicata. See Cole, supra.
{¶ 20} Because Williams's petition was untimely, and no exception under R.C.
Judgment affirmed.
ANN DYKE, P.J., and KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., concur.