Kandace Thompson v. State of Arkansas

2024 Ark. App. 399, 697 S.W.3d 723

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas
• Decided: September 4, 2024
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2024 Ark. App. 399 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION II No. CR-23-508

KANDACE THOMPSON Opinion Delivered September 4, 2024 APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NO. 72CR-16-2564]

STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE JOANNA TAYLOR, APPELLEE JUDGE

REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION TO WITHDRAW DENIED

RAYMOND R. ABRAMSON, Judge

This is a no-merit appeal filed on behalf of Kandance Thompson following the

Washington County Circuit Court’s revocation of her probation. Thompson’s counsel filed

a timely notice of appeal followed by a no-merit brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386

U.S. 738 (1967), and Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-3(b), along with a motion to withdraw

as counsel asserting that there is no issue of arguable merit on appeal. Thompson provided

no pro se points for reversal. We order counsel to rebrief this appeal and deny counsel’s

motion to withdraw.

On September 26, 2017, Thompson entered a negotiated guilty plea to a single count

of possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to three years’ probation. On

February 9, 2018, a petition for revocation was filed alleging failure to report, failure to furnish a correct address, and failure to satisfy financial obligations. An amended petition

asserting these grounds, as well as illegal drug use, was filed on April 18, 2023. 1 A revocation

hearing was held on May 2, 2023 at which time probation officer Heather Wineland

testified. The defense attempted to call public defender investigator Rachel Tichenor, a

former police officer and probation officer, to testify as an expert, but the court denied the

testimony on the basis of relevance.2

At the conclusion of the hearing, the circuit court revoked Thompson’s probation,

finding that the State had proved by a preponderance of the evidence that Thompson had

violated the conditions of her probation. The court sentenced her to six years in the Arkansas

Department of Community Correction. This no-merit appeal followed.

A request to withdraw on the ground that the appeal is wholly without merit must be

accompanied by a 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 with an explanation as to why each adverse ruling is not a meritorious

ground for reversal. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(b)(1). A no-merit brief in a criminal case that fails

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

rebriefing will be required. Moore v. State, 2022 Ark. App. 5. The requirement for briefing

1 Thompson was arrested and posted bond in July 2018. Between 2018 and the filing of the amended petition in 2023, several continuance and discovery motions were filed, but no hearings were held. 2 The court made this decision after allowing defense counsel to voir dire the witness.

2 every adverse ruling ensures that the due-process concerns in Anders are met and prevents

the unnecessary risk of a deficient Anders brief resulting in an incorrect decision on counsel’s

motion to withdraw. Miller v. State, 2021 Ark. App. 299.

The test is not whether counsel thinks the circuit court committed no reversible error

but whether the points to be raised on appeal would be wholly frivolous. Honey v. State, 2020

Ark. App. 496. The brief’s statement of the case and the facts shall contain, in addition

to the other material parts of the record, all rulings adverse to the defendant made by the

circuit court and the page number where each adverse ruling can be found in the appellate

record. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(b)(1).

Counsel contends that he has thoroughly reviewed the record and found no error to

support an appeal of Thompson’s probation revocation. However, we hold that counsel’s

no-merit brief is not in accordance with Anders and Rule 4-3(b). Therefore, we order

rebriefing and deny without prejudice counsel’s motion to withdraw. Our review of this

record demonstrates that counsel failed to address the denial of the defense’s proposed

expert testimony from its witness, Rachel Tichenor, and also failed to address the overruled

objections to the two arrest warrants introduced by the State. Thompson’s counsel has failed

to explain why these adverse rulings would not be meritorious grounds for reversal on appeal;

therefore, rebriefing is required. See Jester v. State, 2018 Ark. App. 360, 553 S.W.3d 198.

Pursuant to Anders, we are required to determine whether the case is wholly frivolous after a

full examination of all the proceedings. T.S. v. State, 2017 Ark. App. 578, 534 S.W.3d 160.

3 Rule 4-3 does not provide latitude for appellate counsel to pick and choose which adverse

rulings to discuss.

Accordingly, we order counsel to cure the deficiencies by filing a substituted brief that

complies with the rules within fifteen days from the date of this opinion. We express no

opinion as to whether the new brief should be made pursuant to Rule 4-3(b)(1) or should be

on meritorious grounds. Furthermore, the list of deficiencies noted above should not be

considered exhaustive, and we encourage counsel to review Anders, supra, and Arkansas

Supreme Court Rule 4-3(b) for the requirements of a no-merit brief. If a no-merit brief is

filed, counsel’s motion and brief will be forwarded by our clerk to Thompson so that, within

thirty days, she again will have the opportunity to raise any points she so chooses in

accordance with Rule 4-3(b)(2). The State will likewise be given an opportunity to file a reply

brief if pro se points are made.

Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

HARRISON, C.J., and BARRETT, J., agree.

The Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC, by: Geoffrey D. Kearney, for appellant.

One brief only.