CAMILLE R. McMULLEN, J.
The Petitioner, Christopher Farrow, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court's summary dismissal of his motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1. On appeal, the Petitioner asserts that the trial court erred by summarily dismissing his motion. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
On March 19, 1997, the Petitioner entered guilty pleas to one count of facilitation of aggravated robbery in case number 97-00543, and one count of facilitation of aggravated robbery in case number 97-00544. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he received a three-year sentence for each conviction as a Range I offender. The sentences were aligned concurrently.
On July 10, 1997, the Petitioner entered guilty pleas to one count of intentionally evading arrest in a motor vehicle in case number 97-03625, one count of theft of property valued at more than $1,000 in case 97-03626, and one count of aggravated robbery in case number 97-03627. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he received a two-year sentence in case numbers 97-03625 and 97-03626 and a ten-year sentence in case number 97-03627. Each sentence was aligned concurrently with each other and with the sentences in case numbers 97-00543 and 97-00544. In sum, the Petitioner received a total effective sentence of ten years as a Range I offender. The Petitioner did not file a direct appeal.
On September 16, 2014, the Petitioner filed a motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1. As we understand the argument, he alleged that his sentences were illegal because his concurrent sentencing was in direct contravention of Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-35-115(b)(6), 40-35-310, and Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(c)(2), which mandated consecutive sentencing in his case. The trial court summarily dismissed the motion on October 10, 2014. It is from this order that the Petitioner now timely appeals.
On appeal, the Petitioner asserts that he stated a colorable claim in his motion, which claimed that the trial court imposed concurrent sentences for offenses committed while he was on probation
Pursuant to Rule 36.1 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, "[e]ither the defendant or the state may, at any time, seek the correction of an illegal sentence[.]" Tenn. R. Crim. P. 36.1(a). "For purposes of this rule, an illegal sentence is one that is not authorized by applicable statutes or that directly contravenes an applicable statute."
Considering the Petitioner's assertions as true, and viewing them in the light most favorable to him, we conclude that he has not presented a colorable claim for relief. The fact that he committed the charged offenses while on probation does not mandate consecutive sentencing, it merely allows for it at the trial court's discretion. "The court
The Petitioner's concurrent sentences do not contravene any applicable statute, and accordingly the Petitioner's sentence is not illegal pursuant to Rule 36.1. Furthermore, because the Petitioner failed to state a colorable claim that his sentences were illegal, it was not error for the trial court to dismiss the motion without appointing counsel. Because the Petitioner's sentence was authorized by the applicable statutes, we affirm the summary dismissal of the motion.
Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.