Pugh-Hayes v. State

2017 Ark. App. 54, 511 S.W.3d 336, 2017 Ark. App. LEXIS 57
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arkansas
DecidedFebruary 1, 2017
DocketCR-15-786
StatusPublished

This text of 2017 Ark. App. 54 (Pugh-Hayes v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pugh-Hayes v. State, 2017 Ark. App. 54, 511 S.W.3d 336, 2017 Ark. App. LEXIS 57 (Ark. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

ROBERT J. GLADWIN, Judge

11 This is the second time this no-merit appeal is before us. On June 22, 2016, we ordered rebriefing. Pugh-Hayes v. State, 2016 Ark. App. 328, 2016 WL 3563246. Pugh-Hayes has filed a new brief that includes in the substituted addendum the motion for rehearing, the motion for release on bond for emergency consideration and accompanying affidavit, a document entitled “Findings and Order” filed by the trial court on July 24, 2015, and the request for hearing and accompanying affidavit in support.

Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), and Rule 4-3(k) (2016) of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Pugh-Hayes’s counsel has filed a motion to withdraw, arguing that an appeal in this case is wholly without merit. This type of motion must be accompanied by an abstract and brief referring to everything in the record that might arguably support an appeal, including all motions, objections, and requests ^decided adversely to Pugh-Hayes, and a statement of reasons why none of those rulings would be a meritorious ground for reversal. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(k),

We have been informed via a memo dated December 12, 2016, from the office of the clerk of this court, that on September 28, 2016, Pugh-Hayes was provided with a copy of her counsel’s brief and motion to withdraw on appeal and was notified of her right under Rule 4—3(k) (2016) of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals to file a list of points on appeal. This was sent to Pugh-Hayes’s last-known address at the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC), and the green card certified mail return receipt was signed for and returned by Amanda Barnett on September 29, 2016. ADC returned the package to the clerk’s office labeled “Paroled” and, “Unable to Forward” on October 26, 2016. Pugh-Hayes’s counsel was contacted, and she stated that she had no further contact information for Pugh-Hayes. A second attempt to mail the packet was made on November 1, 2016. The green card was signed for and returned by Donna Jones on November 2, 2016. The packet was again returned to the clerk’s office on November 14, 2016, marked “Paroled” and “Unable to Forward,” and Pugh-Hayes’s counsel confirms no additional contact information has been provided for Pugh-Hayes at this time,

I. Facts and Procedural History

On September 11, 2006, Pugh-Hayes appeared before the Bradley County Circuit Court and entered a negotiated plea of guilty to violation of the Arkansas Hot Check Law. She was sentenced to a total of ten years’ probation, five supervised and five unsupervised.

On or about March 6, 2014, Pugh-Hayes committed the offense of third-degree domestic battery. On August 25, 2014, Pugh-Hayes again appeared before the Bradley IsCounty Circuit Court and entered a plea of guilty to that charge. Her sentencing was deferred for twelve months, to end on August 25, 2015, in exchange for her strict compliance with the ordered conditions.

Previously, the State had filed a‘petition for revocation on September 4, 2012, alleging that Pugh-Hayes was in violation because she failed to report as- required; failed to pay supervision fees; failed to pay court costs; and failed to pay restitution. An order to show cause was issued that day, but on August 28, 2014, the trial court rescinded the order to show cause and allowed Pugh-Hayes to continue making payments.

The State filed new petitions to revoke with amended violation reports on February 12, 2015, April 2, 2015, and May 22, 2015. The hearing on July 20, 2015, was the final hearing held regarding allegations of violating her probation terms. At that time, the trial court found that Pugh-Hayes was in violation of the probation terms, revoked her probation, and sentenced her to six years in the ADC.

Following the revocation, Pugh-Hayes filed the’ following pleadings: (1) motion for rehearing on revocation of probation and/or imposition of suspended sentence; (2) motion for release on bond for emergency consideration with affidavit in support; (8) motion for discovery; and (4) request for hearing with affidavit in support. The certificates of service for these motions were not complete, and the record is void of any proof as to whether any of these motions were served as required. Thirty days after filing these motions, the trial court had not made a ruling, and the motions were deemed denied. Pugh-Hayes filed her timely notice of appeal on August 14, 2015.

|4II, Standard of Review

The standard of review in this matter is whether a preponderance of the evidence supports the trial court’s finding. Richardson v. State, 85 Ark. App. 347, 157 S.W.3d 536 (2004). After a thorough review of the records addressing the petition for revocation, counsel found no objections that were raised by Pugh-Hayes during the hearing, and no adverse rulings in the record provide a meritorious basis for this appeal. The adverse rulings were the trial court’s revocation order of July 20, 2015, a request by Pugh-Hayes for additional time to surrender herself into custody, and two post-conviction motions. The trial court revoked Pugh-Hayes’s probation, but neither granted nor denied her request for more time to surrender or her other motions. Counsel treats those motions as if they were denied for purposes of this brief.

III. Discussion of Adverse Rulings

A. July 20, 2015 Revocation of Pugh-Hayes’s Probation

The petition on which the revocation was based was amended several times during this case. The last amended violation report for revocation alleged seven violations. In support of those allegations, the State requested that the trial court take judicial notice of the following evidence: (1) judgment and disposition order, which included the restitution ledger; (2) conditions of probation; (3) guilty-plea statement from September 11, 2006; (4) findings and order from March 1, 2013; and (5) findings and order from March 25, 2013. There were no objections from Pugh-Hayes.

The State also elicited the testimony of Stephanie Harris, who worked for Arkansas Community Corrections Probation and Parole, Monticello Office. Ms. Harris testified to each alleged violation and explained the evidence to support each violation. According to |(;Ms. Harris, officers made home visits on January 27, 2015, March 19, 2015, and May 11, 2015, and the officers were advised that Pugh-Hayes did not reside there. Pugh-Hayes failed to report a change of residence and was found to not reside at her last-known address. Pugh-Hayes neither objected nor controverted that evidence.

Ms. Harris also testified that Pugh-Hayes had tested positive for marijuana on October 9, 2014, December 4, 2014, January 8, 2015, and February 19, 2015. On cross-examination, Pugh-Hayes admitted having used marijuana because it helped her feel better.

Ms. Harris testified that Pugh-Hayes left the state of Arkansas without a written travel pass. Ms.

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Related

Anders v. California
386 U.S. 738 (Supreme Court, 1967)
Richardson v. State
157 S.W.3d 536 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2004)
Dodson v. State
934 S.W.2d 198 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1996)
Haley v. State
240 S.W.3d 615 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2006)
Gaines v. State
2014 Ark. App. 651 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2014)
Pugh-Hayes v. State
2016 Ark. App. 328 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2016)
Ingram v. State
363 S.W.3d 6 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2009)
Brooks v. State
61 S.W.3d 916 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 2001)

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Bluebook (online)
2017 Ark. App. 54, 511 S.W.3d 336, 2017 Ark. App. LEXIS 57, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pugh-hayes-v-state-arkctapp-2017.