State of Louisiana v. Robert Harris

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: March 4, 2015
• Docket: KA-0014-0966
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

14-966

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

ROBERT HARRIS

**********

APPEAL FROM THE THIRTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF VERNON, NO. 83040 HONORABLE JOHN C. FORD, DISTRICT JUDGE

JOHN D. SAUNDERS JUDGE

Court composed of Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge, John D. Saunders, and Phyllis M. Keaty, Judges.

CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED. APPELLATE COUNSEL’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED. Asa Allen Skinner District Attorney, 30th JDC P. O. Box 1188 Leesville, LA 71496-1188 (337) 239-2008 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE: State of Louisiana

Edward Kelly Bauman Louisiana Appellate Project P. O. Box 1641 Lake Charles, LA 70602-1641 (337) 491-0570 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Robert Harris Saunders, Judge.

On April 3, 2012, the Defendant, Robert Harris, was charged by bill of

information with one count of possession of child pornography, a violation of

La.R.S. 14:81.1. The Defendant pled not guilty to the charge on that same date.

Subsequently, on February 5, 2014, the Defendant entered a plea of guilty to the

charge. On that same date, both the Defendant and his counsel signed a written

“Waiver of Constitutional Rights and Plea of Guilty” form and a written

“Notification of Sex Offender Registration Requirements” form. Thereafter, on

April 8, 2014, the trial court imposed the minimum sentence, two years at hard

labor without benefit of probation or supervision. 1 On April 29, 2014, the

Defendant filed a Motion to Reconsider Sentence, which was denied on April 30,

2014, without a hearing.

On July 16, 2014, the Defendant requested an out-of-time appeal, which was

granted by the trial court on July 18, 2014. The Defendant’s appellate counsel has

filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396 (1967),

alleging the record contains no non-frivolous issues for appeal and requests this

court grant his accompanying motion to withdraw. On October 16, 2014, the

Defendant was advised, via certified mail, that counsel filed an Anders brief and

that he was given until November 17, 2014, to file a pro se brief. To date, the

Defendant has not filed a pro se brief. For the following reasons, we affirm the

1 We note that the trial court inadvertently stated that the sentence was to be served without benefit of probation and supervision rather than without benefit of probation and suspension. This misstatement, however, does not affect the legality of the sentence imposed.

Additionally, as noted by appellate counsel, the trial court did not state that the sentence was to be served without benefit of parole. At the time the Defendant committed the offense, the applicable penalty provision required the sentence to be served without benefit of parole. See La.R.S. 14:81.1(E)(1). As appellate counsel also asserts, however, no corrective action is necessary since the sentence is deemed to contain the parole restriction. La.R.S. 15:301.1(A). Defendant’s conviction and sentence and grant appellate counsel’s motion to

withdraw.

FACTS:

The following factual basis was given by the State in support of the

Defendant’s guilty plea:

Your Honor, on or about the date alleged in the Bill of Information in this matter Mr. Robert Harris is accused of having downloaded child pornography. This all stems from the State Police receiving information that there was downloading and possessing of child pornography from Detective Mike Stevens of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office through the Louisiana State Police. There was initiated a software research on it and it was discovered that the IP address that was observing or distributing child pornography through investigation was located in Leesville, Louisiana. On December the 8th, 2010, the Louisiana State Police Criminal Division field office of Alexandria executed a search warrant at 201 Sunny Lane, Leesville, Louisiana, and on that date Robert Harris was identified as the person who had been downloading child pornography, gave a full confession, and was arrested and booked into the Vernon Parish jail at that time on the charges to which he’s charged with. Subsequently, a search of his computer showed that information and was verified and as a result of that these charges came.

ERRORS PATENT :

In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for

errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find there

are no errors patent.

ANDERS ANALYSIS:

Pursuant to Anders, the Defendant’s appellate counsel filed a brief stating

that he made a conscientious and thorough review of the trial court record and

could find no errors on appeal that would support reversal of the Defendant’s

conviction or sentence. Thus, counsel seeks to withdraw.

In State v. Benjamin, 573 So.2d 528, 531 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1990), the fourth

circuit explained the Anders analysis:

2 When appointed counsel has filed a brief indicating that no non-frivolous issues and no ruling arguably supporting an appeal were found after a conscientious review of the record, Anders requires that counsel move to withdraw. This motion will not be acted on until this court performs a thorough independent review of the record after providing the appellant an opportunity to file a brief in his or her own behalf. This court’s review of the record will consist of (1) a review of the bill of information or indictment to insure the defendant was properly charged; (2) a review of all minute entries to insure the defendant was present at all crucial stages of the proceedings, the jury composition and verdict were correct and the sentence is legal; (3) a review of all pleadings in the record; (4) a review of the jury sheets; and (5) a review of all transcripts to determine if any ruling provides an arguable basis for appeal. Under C.Cr.P. art. 914.1(D) this Court will order that the appeal record be supplemented with pleadings, minute entries and transcripts when the record filed in this Court is not sufficient to perform this review.

Appellate counsel’s Anders brief must review the record and provide “a

detailed and reviewable assessment for both the defendant and the appellate court

of whether the appeal is worth pursuing in the first place.” State v. Mouton, 95-

981, p. 2 (La. 4/28/95), 653 So.2d 1176, 1177.

In his Anders brief, appellate counsel points out that throughout the

proceedings, the Defendant was represented by counsel. Additionally, appellate

counsel notes that the Defendant was properly Boykinized and was sentenced to the

minimum sentence in accordance with the plea agreement. Because the Defendant

was sentenced in accordance with his plea agreement, appellate counsel asserts that

a review of his sentence is now precluded. Finally, appellate counsel notes that the

trial court incorrectly advised the Defendant of the time period for filing post-

conviction relief under La.Code Crim.P. art. 930.8. Instead of advising the

Defendant that he had two years from the finality of his conviction and sentence to

file post-conviction relief, the trial court simply advised the Defendant that he had

two years to file an application for post-conviction relief, without specifying that

the time period begins to run from the finality of the Defendant’s conviction and

sentence. Thus, appellate counsel asserts that the trial court should be ordered to 3 inform the Defendant of the correct prescriptive period. We note, however, that

the guilty plea form signed by the Defendant contains a correct advisement of the

time period for filing post-conviction relief. In accordance with La.Code Crim.P.

art. 930.8(C), the inclusion of the 930.8 notice on a guilty plea form was proper.

Thus, we find there is no need to order the trial court to inform the Defendant of

the time period for filing post-conviction relief.

Pursuant to Anders, 386 U.S. 738, and Benjamin, 573 So.2d 528, this court

has performed a thorough review of the record, including pleadings, minute

entries, the charging instrument, and the transcripts. Our review confirmed the

statements made by appellate counsel. The Defendant was properly charged in the

bill of information, and he was present and represented by counsel at all crucial

stages of the proceedings. Additionally, the Defendant entered a free and voluntary

plea after he was advised of his rights in accordance with Boykin v. Alabama, 395

U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709 (1969). The trial court informed the Defendant that he

was waiving his right to a jury trial, his right to confront and cross-examine his

accusers, his right to compel witnesses to testify, his right to remain silent, and his

right to representation. These rights were also set forth in a written plea form

signed by the Defendant. The trial court also advised the Defendant of the penalty

range he was facing (two to ten years “without benefit” and/or a $10,000 fine) and

advised the Defendant that his plea agreement was for the minimum sentence. 2

The Defendant stated that he understood the range and the plea agreement.

2 We note that the trial court incorrectly informed the Defendant that he was facing two to ten years, a $10,000 fine “or both.” (emphasis added). At the time the Defendant committed the present offense, the penalty provision for La.R.S. 14:81.1(E)(1) called for a sentence of two to ten years of imprisonment without benefits and a fine of not more than $10,000. We find, however, that the trial court’s misstatement is of no consequence since no minimum fine was required to be imposed and no fine was imposed. See State v. Francois, 06-788, p. 7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/13/06), 945 So.2d 865, 870 (Where the trial court does not impose a fine and the pertinent statute “authorizes a fine of ‘not more than’ an amount, [the trial court] impliedly imposes a fine of $0, and [it] is not an error patent.” 4 Additionally, the Defendant stated that he had not been induced to plead by any

threats, promises, or force.

On the same date as his guilty plea, the Defendant signed a form entitled

“Waiver of Constitutional Rights and Plea of Guilty.” The trial court asked the

Defendant if he read the written plea of guilty form, if he understood the form, and

if he signed the form. The Defendant answered all questions affirmatively and

stated that he had no questions about the form. On the form itself, the Defendant

indicated that he had sixteen years of formal education. Additionally, the

Defendant’s counsel signed a statement on the form declaring that he had reviewed

the form with the Defendant, that he was satisfied that the Defendant fully

understood his constitutional rights, and that he was satisfied that the Defendant’s

plea was being given freely and voluntarily.

Finally, on the date of his guilty plea, the Defendant, his attorney, and the

trial court, signed a form entitled “Notification of Sex Offender Registration

Requirements,” which advised the Defendant, among other things, that he would

be required to register as a sex offender for twenty-five years from the date of his

release. Upon accepting the Defendant’s plea, the trial court asked the Defendant

if understood that he would have to comply with the notification requirements set

forth in the form. The Defendant replied, “Yes, sir.”

As for the sentence imposed, appellate counsel asserts that the Defendant is

precluded from seeking review of his sentence since it was imposed in conformity

with a plea agreement. Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 881.2(A)(2)

provides, “The defendant cannot appeal or seek review of a sentence imposed in

conformity with a plea agreement which was set forth in the record at the time of

the plea.” In State v. Vital, 12-881, pp. 5-6 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/6/13), 107 So.3d

5 1274, 1278, writ denied, 13-430 (La. 9/13/13), 120 So.3d 692 (footnote omitted),

this court held:

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 881.2(A)(2) provides that a “defendant cannot appeal or seek review of a sentence imposed in conformity with a plea agreement which was set forth in the record at the time of the plea.” This court has held, based on this article, “[i]n an instance where the court sentences the defendant in accordance with the parties’ recommendation for a specific sentence or a sentencing range, it is clear that review of the imposed sentence is precluded.” State v. Jordan, 98–101, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/3/98), 716 So.2d 36, 38. Thus, a defendant may not seek review of his sentence “when a specific sentence or sentencing range is agreed to by both parties as part of a plea agreement, and is judicially recognized at the sentencing hearing.” Id. at 39.

In the present case, the trial court accepted the sentencing recommendation

agreed to by the parties. At the guilty plea proceeding, the Defendant’s attorney

informed the trial court that the Defendant was pleading guilty to the charged

offense in exchange for the State’s recommendation that he serve the minimum

sentence - “two years without benefit.” Thereafter, the trial court informed the

Defendant that the penalty range for possession of child pornography was two to

ten years without benefits and/or a fine of $10,000. The trial court then stated that

the plea agreement was for the minimum sentence, and the Defendant agreed.

Subsequently, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to the minimum sentence –

two years at hard labor without benefit of probation or supervision. Thus, we find

appellate counsel correctly asserts that the Defendant is precluded from seeking

review of his sentence on appeal. Furthermore, any argument as to the

excessiveness of the sentence would be frivolous since the sentence was the

minimum required by statute.

6 DECREE

This court’s review of the record reveals no issues that would support an

assignment of error on appeal. Therefore, we affirm the Defendant’s conviction

and sentence.

After consideration of appellate defense counsel’s request to withdraw as

counsel and the appeal presently pending in the above-captioned matter,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that appellate defense counsel’s motion to

withdraw is granted.

CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED. APPELLATE

COUNSEL’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED.