Gregory Hampton v. State of Arkansas

2020 Ark. App. 369

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas
• Decided: September 2, 2020
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2020 Ark. App. 369 Reason: I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS Date: 2021-07-08 08:36:54 Foxit PhantomPDF Version: DIVISION I 9.7.5 No. CR-19-967

Opinion Delivered: September 2, 2020 GREGORY HAMPTON APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE CLAY V. COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, WESTERN DISTRICT STATE OF ARKANSAS [NO. 11CCR-16-79] APPELLEE HONORABLE BRENT DAVIS, JUDGE

REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION TO WITHDRAW DENIED

PHILLIP T. WHITEAKER, Judge

Gregory Hampton appeals a Clay County Circuit Court order revoking his

probation and sentencing him to eighteen months’ imprisonment in a regional correctional

facility followed by fifty-four months’ suspended imposition of sentence. Pursuant to Anders

v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Rule 4-3(k) of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme

Court and Court of Appeals, Hampton’s counsel has filed a no-merit brief and a motion to

withdraw asserting that there are no issues of arguable merit to raise on appeal. Because

counsel’s brief is not in compliance with Anders and Rule 4-3(k)(1), we order rebriefing and

deny without prejudice counsel’s motion to withdraw.

In order to comply with Rule 4-3(k)(1), Hampton’s counsel must provide a no-

merit brief containing an argument section that consists of a list of all rulings adverse to the

defendant made by the circuit court on all objections, motions, and requests made by either party along with an explanation as to why each adverse ruling is not a meritorious ground

for reversal. Our rules also require that the abstract and addendum contain all rulings adverse

to the defendant made by the circuit court. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(k)(1).

In our review of the record, we identified two rulings decided adversely to Hampton:

the circuit court’s decision to revoke Hampton’s probation and the circuit court’s denial of

Hampton’s request to have his probation reinstated. We have held that a circuit court’s

sentence of imprisonment despite a request for reinstatement of probation is an adverse

ruling that must be addressed. See id.; see also Liddell v. State, 2015 Ark. App. 172 (counsel

failed to address adverse ruling that occurred when the circuit court pronounced the

sentence in contravention of defendant’s request that probation be left intact or that

sentencing be deferred to a later date); Swarthout v. State, 2012 Ark. App. 46 (counsel failed

to abstract or address the circuit court’s denial of defendant’s request for a transfer to

veteran’s treatment court or for probation).

Here, counsel addresses only the decision to revoke Hampton’s probation. He does

not address his request for probation reinstatement. A no-merit brief in a criminal case that

fails to address an adverse ruling does not satisfy the requirements of Rule 4-3(k)(1), and

rebriefing will be required. Pettigrew v. State, 2019 Ark. App. 336.

Accordingly, we order counsel to cure this deficiency by filing a substituted brief

within fifteen days from the date of this opinion. We express no opinion as to whether the

new brief should be a no-merit brief pursuant to Rule 4-3(k)(1) or should be on meritorious

grounds. If a no-merit brief is filed, counsel’s motion and brief will be forwarded by our

2 clerk to Hampton so that, within thirty days, he again will have the opportunity to raise any

points he so chooses in accordance with Rule 4-3(k)(2).

Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

MURPHY and HIXSON, JJ., agree.

Skarda & Lonidier P.L.L.C., by: Kirk B. Lonidier, for appellant.

One brief only.