Stokes v. State

Miller, Judge.

In August 2010, George Stokes pled guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter (OCGA § 16-5-2 (a)) and one charge of arson in the first degree (OCGA § 16-7-60 (a) (1)). In March 2011, Stokes filed a pro se motion in arrest of judgment, which the trial court dismissed as being untimely filed.

Stokes, proceeding pro se on appeal, contends that his convictions were void because the indictment was defective for failing to charge proper venue, the two convictions for voluntary manslaugh ter should have merged under OCGA § 16-1-7 (a), and he entered his guilty plea unknowingly since…