Fischer v. State , 532 S.W.3d 40 ( 2017 )

Cite as 2017 Ark. 338
SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS.
No. CR-17-469
Opinion Delivered November 30, 2017
ROBERT WILLIAM FISCHER
PETITIONER
PRO SE MOTION FOR RULE ON
V. CLERK [BENTON COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT, NO. 04CR-08-1542]
STATE OF ARKANSAS
RESPONDENT
MOTION DENIED.
ROBIN F. WYNNE, Associate Justice
After petitioner Robert William Fischer’s convictions and sentences were affirmed
on appeal, Fischer v. State, 2011 Ark. App. 580, Fischer filed in the trial court an amended
pro se petition for relief from an illegal sentence pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated
section 16-90-111 (Repl. 2016), which was denied.1 Fischer filed a timely notice of appeal
from the denial of relief; however, the record was tendered 111 days after the notice of
appeal had been filed. Fischer has now filed a motion for rule on clerk seeking to have the
record lodged to pursue an appeal. We need not consider the merits of the motion for rule
on clerk because it is clear from the record that Fischer cannot prevail, as he fails to argue
that his sentence is illegal on its face pursuant to section 16-90-111. We deny Fischer’s
motion.
1
The tendered record does not contain the original petition to correct an illegal
sentence; however, the trial court’s denial only addressed the amended petition.
In his amended petition for relief from an illegal sentence, Fischer argued his multiple
consecutive sentences were illegal “under one (1) offense, one (1) class c felony . . . on its
face[.]” Specifically, he contended that he was convicted of only one class C felony offense,
for which he could be sentenced from three to ten years’ imprisonment. He further argued
that his sentence was unconstitutionally long. Fischer also argued that the words of the
statute governing concurrent and consecutive sentencing was clear and free from all
ambiguity. The trial court found that Fischer was found guilty of six counts of a class C
felony and was sentenced to ten year’s imprisonment to be served consecutively, which was
the sentence imposed on the defendant pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated section 5-4-
403(a) (Repl. 2006).
This court will not reverse the trial court’s decision granting or denying
postconviction relief unless it is clearly erroneous. Kemp v. State, 347 Ark. 52, 55, 60 S.W.3d
404, 406 (2001). A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is evidence to support
it, the appellate court, after reviewing the entire evidence, is left with the definite and firm
conviction that a mistake has been committed. Id.
While the time limitations on filing a petition under section 16-90-111(a)(b)(1)
alleging that the sentence was imposed in an illegal manner were superseded by Rule
37.2(c), the portion of section 16-90-111 that provides a means to challenge a sentence at
any time on the ground that the sentence is illegal on its face remains in effect. See Beyard
v. State, 2017 Ark. 203, at 2–3. For that reason, the trial court had authority to grant relief
under the statute if the sentence imposed on Fischer had indeed been illegal.
2
Sentencing is entirely a matter of statute in Arkansas, and no defendant convicted of
an offense may be sentenced other than as provided by statute. Maldonado v. State, 2009
Ark. 432, at 3. An illegal sentence is one that is illegal on its face. Lovelace v. State, 301 Ark.
519, 520, 785 S.W.2d 212, 213 (1990). A sentence is illegal on its face when it exceeds the
statutory maximum for the offense for which the defendant was convicted. Green v. State,
2016 Ark. 386, at 6, 502 S.W.3d 524, 528.
Fischer was charged with and convicted of six counts of distributing, possession, or
viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, which is a class C
felony for the first offense.2 See Ark. Code Ann. § 5-27-602(b)(1) (Repl. 2006). The
sentence shall not be less than three years or more than ten years for a class C felony. Ark.
Code Ann. § 5-4-401(a)(4) (Repl. 2006). Although Fischer argued his sentence was
unconstitutionally long, the jury recommended and the court fixed Fischer’s sentence at ten
years’ imprisonment for each count, which is clearly within the statutory range of three to
ten years. See Green, 2016 Ark. 386, at 6, 502 S.W.3d at 528. Fischer’s judgment-and-
commitment order is facially legal regarding his six sentences of ten years of imprisonment
for each of the six counts for which he was convicted.
Fischer claims that Arkansas Code Annotated section 5-4-403(a), which governs
concurrent and consecutive sentences, applies to his case and seems to imply that he could
be sentenced to only one term of ten years concurrently. Our law provides that “[w]hen
multiple sentences of imprisonment are imposed on a defendant convicted of more than
2
The judgment-and-commitment order was not part of this record on appeal;
however, this court takes judicial notice of the record on direct appeal.
3
one (1) offense . . . the sentences shall run concurrently unless, upon recommendation of
the jury or the court’s own motion, the court orders the sentences to run consecutively.”
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-403(a). Whether sentences should have been imposed concurrently
or consecutively, that decision was solely within the province of the trial judge. See Smith
v. State, 352 Ark. 92, 98 S.W.3d 433 (2003). As long as the sentences were not excessive,
the issue of whether the sentences should have run concurrently or consecutively should
have been raised at trial and does not present a proper basis for a postconviction claim.3 See
Bell v. State, 2017 Ark. 231, at 5, 522 S.W.3d 788, 790.
The trial court sentenced Fischer to consecutive terms of imprisonment as provided
by Arkansas Code Annotated section 5-4-403(a), which is clearly statutorily permitted and
does not exceed the statutory maximum for the offenses. Notably, Fischer’s allegation in
the petition was not sufficient to demonstrate that the consecutive sentences that were
imposed were facially illegal. See Blanks v. State, 300 Ark. 398, 779 S.W.2d 168 (1989).
The trial court’s decision in this case was not clearly erroneous because Fischer did not meet
3
If permitted to “correct a sentence imposed in an illegal manner[,]” Fischer would
have to comply with the time limitations of Rule 37 with respect to his
concurrent/consecutive argument. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-111(a)(b)(1). The
mandate issued on October 25, 2011, and Fischer filed his amended petition for relief from
an illegal sentence on November 23, 2015; however, the tendered record lacks the original
petition for relief from illegal sentence pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated section 16-
90-111. It is well settled that the burden is on the party demonstrating error to bring up a
record which so demonstrates error, and when the party fails to make that demonstration,
this court has no choice but to affirm the trial court’s decision. See Bratton v. Gunn, 300
Ark. 140, 777 S.W.2d 219 (1989); see also Miles v. State, 350 Ark. 243, 250, 85 S.W.3d 907,
912 (2002). Fischer merely argues his sentences are illegal because they are excessive.
4
his burden of demonstrating in his petition that the sentences imposed on him in the
judgment were illegal.
Motion denied.
HART, J., dissents.
JOSEPHINE LINKER HART, Justice, dissenting. The timely filing of a transcript
is a jurisdictional question, and the failure to timely file deprives this court of authority to
hear the appeal. T. Ricks, LLC v. Kent, 2014 Ark. 269; see also Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 2-2.
Without jurisdiction, this court cannot consider an appeal on the merits. Kent, supra.
Contrary to the majority’s assertion that “we need not consider the merits of the motion
for rule on the clerk” to determine whether this court has jurisdiction, we must consider the
“merits” of Mr. Fischer’s motion. Quite simply, the majority has put the cart before the
horse.
I respectfully dissent.
5