Bernard Bryant v. State of Mississippi
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2004-CP-00127-COA
BERNARD BRYANT
APPELLANT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF TRIAL COURT JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
CERTIORARI FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
APPELLEE
12/10/2003
HON. MIKE SMITH
LINCOLN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
BERNARD BRYANT (PRO SE)
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: W. GLENN WATTS
DEE BATES
CIVIL - POST-CONVICTION RELIEF
POST-CONVICTION RELIEF DENIED
AFFIRMED - 08/03/2004
BEFORE SOUTHWICK, P.J., MYERS AND CHANDLER, JJ.
SOUTHWICK, P.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1.
Bernard Bryant's petition for post-conviction relief was denied. After reviewing his appellate issues,
we find no error and affirm.
¶2.
Bryant pled guilty to the sexual battery of a girl under the age of fourteen. He was given an eight
year sentence, seven and one half years suspended with five years of probation. His probation has been
revoked and Bryant is now incarcerated. He filed a petition for post-conviction relief in circuit court, which
was denied. Bryant appeals raising issues with his indictment, his sentence, and the effectiveness of
counsel.
DISCUSSION
¶3.
The circuit judge dismissed Bryant's motion for post-conviction relief, finding that it was time
barred. Bryant was sentenced on July 12, 1999. His motion for post-conviction relief was filed on
November 17, 2003. When a conviction arises from a guilty plea, a motion for post-conviction relief must
be made within three years after the judgment. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2) (Rev. 2000). The same
subsection provides for some exceptions to this three year limitation. We examine the nature of Bryant's
claims to see if any are within those exceptions.
¶4.
Bryant alleges that the indictment should have charged that the eleven-year-old victim did not
consent to the offense. At the time of the offense, the statute defined the crime as sexual penetration of a
child under the age of fourteen. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(c) (Rev. 1994). Consent was not an issue.
Further, he alleges that he was not told of a statutory minimum sentence. The sentencing statute in effect
for his offense provided for imprisonment for not more than thirty years, without a minimum. Miss. Code
Ann. § 97-3-101 (Rev. 1994). Bryant was sentenced to eight years. The ineffective assistance of counsel
issue focuses on the failure to object to the unobjectionable indictment and counsel's advice about parole.
None of these issues are exceptions to the three year deadline for bringing claims.
¶5.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LINCOLN COUNTY DENYING
POST-CONVICTION RELIEF IS AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS ARE ASSESSED TO LINCOLN
COUNTY.
KING, C.J., BRIDGES, P.J., LEE, IRVING, MYERS, CHANDLER AND GRIFFIS, JJ.,
CONCUR.
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