Dexter F. Johnson v. State of Tennessee

In 1994, the Petitioner, Dexter F. Johnson, was convicted of two counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted first degree murder, and one count of attempted aggravated burglary.  The Petitioner pled guilty in an agreement that provided that he would receive a life sentence for the two first degree murder convictions, twenty-five years for the attempted first degree murder conviction, and six years for the attempted aggravated burglary conviction.  Thereafter, the Petitioner filed four unsuccessful petitions for habeas corpus relief.  See Dexter F. Johnson v. Carlton, Warden, E2008-02032-CCA-R3-HC, 2010 WL 323126 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Jan. 27, 2010), perm. app. denied (Tenn. June 30, 2010).  The Petitioner then filed a fifth petition for habeas corpus relief, which the habeas corpus court summarily dismissed.  The Petitioner appeals, contending that the habeas corpus court erred when it dismissed his petition because the State’s motion to dismiss did not comply with Tennessee Code Annotated section 29-21-116, as the State did not attach a judgment form or indictment to the motion to dismiss.  Upon a review of the record in this case, we conclude that the habeas corpus court properly denied the petition for habeas corpus relief.  Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.