FAIR, J., for the Court:
¶ 1. Johnson was convicted of two counts of sale of Dilaudid, a schedule II controlled substance, in violation of section 41-29-139(a)(1) of the Mississippi Code Annotated (Supp.2012). He was sentenced to serve two twenty-year terms concurrently, each with five years suspended. Johnson received an enhanced sentence because the sale occurred within 1,500 feet of a school or church. See Miss.Code Ann. § 41-29-142 (Rev.2009).
¶ 2. Johnson never appealed his conviction, but he later filed a motion for post-conviction relief (PCR) alleging that his brother, Brian, actually committed the crimes for which Johnson was convicted. He attached a purported affidavit in which Brian essentially confessed to the crimes. The Coahoma County Circuit Court dismissed Johnson's motion without an evidentiary hearing, explaining that the mistaken-identity issue was litigated and determined at trial. Johnson now appeals claiming that the circuit court erred in dismissing his PCR motion because this newly discovered evidence proves his actual innocence.
¶ 3. The circuit court may summarily dismiss a PCR motion without an evidentiary hearing "[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the motion, any annexed exhibits and the prior proceedings in the case that the movant is not entitled to any relief." Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-11(2) (Supp.2012). To succeed on appeal, the petitioner must: (1) make a substantial showing of the denial of a state or federal right and (2) show that the claim is procedurally alive. Young v. State, 731 So.2d 1120, 1122 (¶ 9) (Miss.1999).
¶ 4. When reviewing the denial of a PCR motion, an appellate court "will not disturb the trial court's factual findings unless they are found to be clearly erroneous." Callins v. State, 975 So.2d 219, 222 (¶ 8) (Miss.2008). Our review of the summary dismissal of a PCR motion, a question of law, is de novo. Young, 731 So.2d at 1122 (¶ 9).
¶ 5. The Mississippi Supreme Court has explained that one seeking a new trial based on newly discovered evidence must make four showings: (1) the new evidence was discovered after the trial; (2) it could not by due diligence have been discovered prior to trial; (3) it is material to the issue and not merely cumulative or impeaching; and (4) the new evidence will probably
¶ 6. At the outset, we must note that the purported affidavit is invalid. Although styled an affidavit and notarized, the alleged confession by Johnson's brother, Brian, conspicuously omits a clear statement that it is sworn under oath. The document states in relevant part:
An affidavit is "a voluntary declaration of facts written down and sworn to by the declarant before an officer authorized to administer oaths, such as a notary public." Black's Law Dictionary 62 (8th ed.2004) (emphasis added). An unsworn affidavit is "merely a piece of paper with the word `affidavit' as its title." Thomas v. Greenwood Leflore Hosp., 970 So.2d 273, 277 (¶ 19) (Miss.Ct.App.2007). Brian's statement is not a valid affidavit. It has also not escaped our notice that Johnson filed his PCR motion shortly after the statute of limitations for the drug sales had run, precluding any possibility of Brian being prosecuted for the offenses.
¶ 7. As to whether the alleged confession amounts to new evidence, Johnson has failed to show why Brian could not have testified during his trial, given that the theory of Johnson's defense has always been that Brian was the actual perpetrator and Johnson was implicated because the two look alike. In his PCR motion, Johnson states only that he does not know why Brian was not called to testify, apparently conceding that Brian was available and willing to testify. Since the burden is on Johnson to show that the alleged confession is newly discovered, the total absence of any evidence proving that fact is fatal. Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-39-9(1)(e) (Supp.2012) requires a PCR motion to contain:
¶ 8. In his brief on appeal from the dismissal of his PCR motion, Johnson offers the belated explanation that Brian could have invoked his Fifth Amendment right to silence. But this appears to be speculation and is unsupported by any evidence. And even if we were to accept that claim, Johnson cannot exclude the possibility Brian would have denied committing the crimes. "[W]here a party fails to call a witness who was available during trial, the testimony of that witness cannot be considered newly discovered evidence." United States v. Beasley, 582 F.2d 337, 339 (5th Cir.1978). In Beasley, the Fifth Circuit adopted the reasoning of the district court
¶ 9. "When the only basis for relief is the uncorroborated assertion of the petitioner, the motion may be dismissed without a hearing." Shinall v. State, 832 So.2d 1291, 1293 (¶ 5) (Miss.Ct.App.2002). Brian's confession is dubious, and, fatally, Johnson has no proof it is actually newly discovered evidence meeting the four requirements outlined in Smith, 492 So.2d at 263. We find no error in the circuit court's dismissing the PCR motion without an evidentiary hearing.
¶ 10.
LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., BARNES, ISHEE, ROBERTS, CARLTON AND JAMES, JJ., CONCUR. MAXWELL, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.