State of Louisiana v. Robert J. Lebleu

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: May 2, 2012
• Docket: KA-0011-1158
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

11-1158

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

ROBERT J. LEBLEU

**********

APPEAL FROM THE THIRTY-SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF BEAUREGARD, NO. CR2011-33 HONORABLE C. KERRY ANDERSON, DISTRICT JUDGE

MARC T. AMY JUDGE

Court composed of John D. Saunders, Marc T. Amy, and Billy Howard Ezell, Judges.

CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES AFFIRMED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED.

David W. Burton District Attorney James R. Lestage Assistant District Attorney Post Office Box 99 DeRidder, LA 70634 (337) 463-5578 COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: State of Louisiana Edward John Marquet Post Office Box 53733 Lafayette, LA 70505-3733 (337) 237-6841 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Robert J. Lebleu

Mark O. Foster Louisiana Appellate Project Post Office Box 2057 Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318) 572-5693 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Robert J. Lebleu AMY, Judge.

The defendant was charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled

dangerous substance, methamphetamine, a violation of La.R.S. 40:967(A). As part

of a plea agreement with the State, the defendant pled guilty to those two charges.

Pursuant to the terms of that agreement, the trial court sentenced the defendant to

five years on each count, to run concurrently with each other and consecutively to

any other sentence. Further, in accordance with the plea agreement, the trial court

imposed a fine and directed the defendant to pay certain sums to the district

attorney’s office, the public defender, and to the crime lab. The defendant appeals.

The defendant’s appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396 (1967), and a motion seeking to withdraw

from the case. For the following reasons, we affirm the defendant’s convictions

and sentences. Further, we grant defense counsel’s motion to withdraw.

Factual and Procedural Background

On January 31, 2011, the State filed a bill of information charging the

defendant, Robert J. LeBleu, with two counts of distribution of a controlled

dangerous substance, methamphetamine, in violation of La.R.S. 40:967(A).

According to the State, on two occasions, the defendant sold methamphetamine to

an undercover police officer in Beauregard Parish. After reaching a plea

agreement with the State, the defendant pled guilty to those charges on June 10,

2011. The plea agreement contained sentencing terms, and the trial court

sentenced the defendant in accordance with those terms. Thus, the trial court

sentenced the defendant to five years with the Department of Corrections on each

count, concurrent with each other and consecutive to any other sentence. Also

pursuant to the plea agreement, the trial court also imposed a fine of $2,000.00 plus

court costs; $300.00 for the costs of prosecution; $300.00 to the public defender’s office, subject to a credit for any amounts already paid; and $250.00 to the

Southwest Louisiana Crime Lab.

The defendant filed a pro se motion to reconsider, requesting that the trial

court order his sentences to run concurrently with a probation revocation imposed

in Calcasieu Parish. The trial court denied the motion.

The defendant appeals. His counsel has filed an Anders brief.

Discussion

Errors Patent

Pursuant to 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 one error

patent.

The minutes from the sentencing hearing require correction. The minutes

state: “[a]lso as part of the sentence and payable on parole, the defendant is to pay

$2,000.00 plus costs of court, pay $300 cost of prosecution, pay $300 to the Office

of Public Defender and $250 lab fee to the Southwest La crime lab [sic].”

However, the sentencing transcript contains no reference to these amounts being

payable on parole. “[I]t is well settled that when the minutes and the transcript are

in conflict, the transcript prevails.” State v. Dorsey, 10-1021, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir.

3/9/11), 58 So.3d 637, 640 (quoting State v. Wommack, 00-137, p. 4 (La.App. 3

Cir. 6/7/00), 770 So.2d 365, 369, writ denied, 00-2051 (La. 9/21/01), 797 So.2d 62

(alteration in original)). Thus, we direct the trial court to correct the sentencing

minutes to delete the reference to amounts being “payable on parole.”

Anders Brief Analysis

The defendant’s appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396 (1967), stating that he has reviewed the

2 appellate record and has not found any non-frivolous issues which may be raised

on appeal. Appellate counsel seeks to withdraw from the case.

In State v. Mouton, 95-981 (La. 4/28/95), 653 So.2d 1176, the supreme court

expressly approved of the procedures for review of an Anders brief delineated by

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

Benjamin, 573 So.2d at 531, the fourth circuit stated:

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.

This court has performed an independent review of the record, including the

pleadings, minute entries, the bill of information, and the transcripts. The

defendant was provided an opportunity to file his own brief, but did not do so.

A review of the record reveals that the defendant was present and

represented by counsel at all crucial stages of the proceedings. The defendant

entered a free and voluntary guilty plea after properly being advised of his rights in

accordance with Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709 (1969). Further,

the defendant received legal sentences.

Our review of the record has not revealed any issues which would support an

assignment of error on appeal. Thus, appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw is

granted. See State v. Johnson, 09-159 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/7/09), 20 So.3d 568. 3 DECREE

The convictions of the defendant, Robert J. LeBleu, for two counts of

distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, methamphetamine, are affirmed.

The defendant’s sentences are affirmed. The trial court is directed to correct the

sentencing minutes in accordance with this opinion. Appellate counsel’s motion to

withdraw is granted.

CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES AFFIRMED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED.