Anderson v. State

• Court: Supreme Court of Delaware
• Decided: May 14, 2019
• Docket: 578, 2018
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

KEENAN ANDERSON, § § No. 578, 2018 Defendant Below, § Appellant, § § Court Below—Superior Court v. § of the State of Delaware § STATE OF DELAWARE, § Cr. ID No. 1705015040 (N) § Plaintiff Below, § Appellee. §

Submitted: April 5, 2019 Decided: May 14, 2019

Before VAUGHN, SEITZ and TRAYNOR, Justices.

ORDER

After consideration of the appellant’s Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, the

State’s response, and the record on appeal, it appears to the Court that:

(1) On January 23, 2018, a Superior Court jury found the appellant, Keenan

Anderson, guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (“PFBPP”) and

Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (“CCDW”) and not guilty of Possession of

Firearm Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (“PABPP”). After granting the State’s

motion to declare Anderson a habitual offender under 11 Del. C. § 4214(c), the

Superior Court sentenced Anderson as follows: (i) for PFBPP, fifteen years of Level V incarceration; (ii) for CCDW, eight years of Level V incarceration.1 This is

Anderson’s direct appeal.

(2) In August 2017, Anderson was charged by indictment with multiple

crimes, including PFBPP, PABPP, and CCDW.2 At trial, Detective Raymond

Mullin of the Wilmington Police Department testified that he arrested Anderson on

May 23, 2017.3 During a pat-down search of Anderson, Detective Mullin found a

gun concealed in Anderson’s pants.

(3) Detective Mullin testified that he removed the magazine from the gun

and turned both over to Detective Alexis Schupp, who tagged them for evidence.

Detective Schupp testified that there were seven bullets in the magazine. He also

testified that Anderson did not have a permit for the gun. Detective Joran Merced

interviewed Anderson who admitted that he had a gun. The State played a redacted

version of the interview at trial.

(4) The parties stipulated that Anderson was prohibited from possessing a

gun. Anderson exercised his right not to testify and did not submit any evidence.

The jury found Anderson guilty of PFBPP and CCDW. The jury found Anderson

not guilty of PABPP. This appeal followed.

1 The Superior Court also sentenced Anderson for violations of probation. 2 The other charges were severed. 3 The parties stipulated that Anderson was lawfully detained.

2 (5) On appeal, Anderson’s appellate counsel (“Counsel”) filed a brief and

a motion to withdraw under Supreme Court Rule 26(c). Counsel asserts that, based

upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably

appealable issues. Counsel informed Anderson of the provisions of Rule 26(c) and

provided Anderson with a copy of the motion to withdraw and the accompanying

brief.

(6) Counsel also informed Anderson of his right to identify any points he

wished this Court to consider on appeal. Anderson has raised points for this Court’s

consideration. The State has responded to the Rule 26(c) brief and has moved to

affirm the Superior Court’s judgment.

(7) When reviewing a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief

under Rule 26(c), this Court must: (i) be satisfied that defense counsel has made a

conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (ii)

conduct its own review of the record and determine whether the appeal is so totally

devoid of at least arguably appealable issues that it can be decided without an

adversary presentation.4 Anderson argues that three jurors should not have served

on the jury because: (i) one juror stated in the jury questionnaire that he knew

someone in law enforcement, but failed (as did several other prospective jurors) to

come forward initially when the Superior Court instructed such people to come

4 Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); Leacock v. State, 690 A.2d 926, 927-28 (Del. 1996).

3 forward for further questioning; (ii) one juror provided an insufficiently definitive

response regarding whether three relatives in law enforcement would impact his

ability to be impartial; and (iii) one juror’s father was a magistrate judge and knew

two law enforcement officers.

(8) These claims were not raised below so we review for plain error.5 Plain

error “is limited to material defects which are apparent on the face of the record;

which are basic, serious and fundamental in their character, and which clearly

deprive an accused of a substantial right, or which clearly show manifest injustice.”6

In addressing juror impartiality, this Court has explained:

Determinations of juror impartiality are the responsibility of the trial judge who has the opportunity to question the juror, observe his or her demeanor, and evaluate the ability of the juror to render a fair verdict. Because the trial court's findings will largely rest on the judge's personal observation of the voir dire proceedings and on the credibility of the parties, a reviewing court should give those findings great deference.7

(9) The Superior Court judge asked each of the three jurors whether they

could be fair and impartial in light of their relation to people who worked in law

enforcement. All three jurors responded that they could be fair and impartial. The

juror who stated “I don’t think so” when asked whether he thought three relatives in

law enforcement would make him unable to be impartial, also stated “I’m a

5 Supr. Ct. R. 8. 6 Wainwright v. State, 504 A.2d 1096, 1100 (Del. 1986). 7 DeShields v. State, 534 A.2d 630, 636 (Del. 1987) (citations omitted).

4 scientist….And I analyze the data before I make a judgment.”8 The Superior Court

was in the best position to evaluate the ability of the three jurors to render a fair

verdict. Anderson has not shown any plain error in the Superior Court’s

determination that these jurors could render a fair verdict.

(10) This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that

Anderson’s appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably appealable

issue. We also are satisfied that Counsel has made a conscientious effort to examine

the record and the law and has properly determined that Anderson could not raise a

meritorious claim in this appeal.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior

Court is AFFIRMED. The motion to withdraw is moot.

BY THE COURT:

/s/ Collins J. Seitz, Jr. Justice

8 Appendix to Appellant’s Opening Brief at A28.