James E. Guess v. State

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,__________________ May 01, 2013

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A13D0308. JAMES E. GUESS v. THE STATE.

In 1996, James Guess pled guilty to hijacking a motor vehicle, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. Years later, he filed a motion to vacate and correct an allegedly void sentence. The trial court denied the motion, and Guess filed this application for discretionary appeal. We, however, lack jurisdiction. An appeal may lie from an order denying a motion to correct a void sentence, but only if the defendant raises a colorable claim that the sentence is, in fact, void or illegal. See Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 217 n. 1 (1) (686 SE2d 786) (2009); Burg v. State, 297 Ga. App. 118, 119 (676 SE2d 465) (2009). A sentence is void only when the trial court imposes punishment that the law does not allow. Jordan v. State, 253 Ga. App. 510, 511 (1) (559 SE2d 528) (2002). “[A]ssertions taking issue with the procedure employed in imposing a valid sentence or questioning the fairness of an imposed sentence do not allege a sentence is void . . .” (Citation omitted.) Coleman v. State, 305 Ga. App. 680, 680-681 (700 SE2d 668) (2010); see also Jones v. State, 278 Ga. 669 (604 SE2d 483) (2004). Guess does not argue that his sentence exceeded the statutory limits for the crimes to which he pled guilty. Instead, he contends that the trial court should have merged his aggravated assault conviction with his other convictions and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. But these are challenges to his convictions, not to his sentence. See Williams v. State, 287 Ga. 192 (695 SE2d 244) (2010); Brown v. State, 297 Ga. App. 738 (678 SE2d 172) (2009). In the absence of a colorable void-sentence claim, we lack jurisdiction to consider this application, which is hereby DISMISSED. See Harper, supra.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia 05/01/2013 Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,__________________ I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.