Raymond Page v. State of Arkansas

2024 Ark. App. 28

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas
• Decided: January 17, 2024
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2024 Ark. App. 28 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION IV No. CR-23-492

Opinion Delivered January 17, 2024 RAYMOND PAGE APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE SALINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT [NO. 63CR-20-563] V. HONORABLE JOSH FARMER, JUDGE STATE OF ARKANSAS APPELLEE REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION TO WITHDRAW DENIED

WENDY SCHOLTENS WOOD, Judge

Raymond Page appeals the order of the Saline County Circuit Court revoking his

probation and sentencing him to ten years’ imprisonment. Pursuant to Arkansas Supreme

Court Rule 4-3(b) and Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), Page’s counsel has filed a

motion to withdraw stating that there is no merit to an appeal. The motion is accompanied

by a brief in which counsel explains why there is nothing in the record that would support

an appeal. The clerk of this court served Page with a copy of counsel’s brief and notified him

of his right to file a pro se statement of points for reversal within thirty days, but he has not

done so. We hold that counsel’s no-merit brief is not in compliance with Anders and Rule 4-

3(b)(1). Accordingly, we order rebriefing and deny counsel’s motion to withdraw.

Rule 4-3(b)(1) provides that a no-merit brief shall contain 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. 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

is located in the appellate record. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(b)(1).

In his brief, counsel addresses the circuit court’s finding that Page had violated the

terms of his probation and its denial of Page’s request for a continuance to allow him to

obtain a private attorney. However, our review of this record demonstrates that counsel failed

to address one adverse ruling. During the sentencing portion of the revocation hearing,

Page’s attorney acknowledged that Page has a drug problem and asked the court to consider

placing him in a regional correction facility to get drug treatment rather than sentencing him

to imprisonment. The court denied the request and sentenced Page to ten years’

imprisonment. Counsel has failed to address this ruling and explain why it is not a

meritorious ground for reversal on appeal.

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 is required. Pettigrew v. State, 2019

Ark. App. 336. This court has held that denials of requests for sentences of probation,

requests for transfer to drug court or veterans-treatment court, and requests that sentencing

be deferred to a later date are all adverse rulings that must be addressed. See Marshall v. State,

2021 Ark. App. 283; Liddell v. State, 2015 Ark. App. 172; Swarthout v. State, 2012 Ark. App.

46.

2 We direct counsel to cure the deficiency by filing a substituted brief that complies

with the rules within fifteen days of the date of this opinion. We express no opinion as to

whether the new brief should be made pursuant to Rule 4-3(b) or should be on meritorious

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

to Page, and he will have thirty days within which to raise pro se points in accordance with

Rule 4-3(b)(2). The State will be given an opportunity to file a responsive brief if pro se points

are made.

Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

VIRDEN and KLAPPENBACH, JJ., agree.

Jones Law Firm, by: F. Parker Jones III, for appellant.

One brief only.