State v. Gaines

707 So. 2d 1354, 1998 WL 76186
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 25, 1998
Docket97-KA-672
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 707 So. 2d 1354 (State v. Gaines) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Gaines, 707 So. 2d 1354, 1998 WL 76186 (La. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

707 So.2d 1354 (1998)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Eric GAINES.

No. 97-KA-672.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

February 25, 1998.

*1355 Laurie A. White, New Orleans, for Appellant Eric Gaines.

Paul D. Connick, Jr., District Attorney, Terry M. Boudreaux, Assistant District Attorney, Gretna, for Appellee State.

Before BOWES, DUFRESNE and CANNELLA, JJ.

CANNELLA, Judge.

Defendant, Eric Gaines, appeals his conviction for distribution of cocaine, a violation of La. R.S. 40:967(A). We affirm his conviction, adjudication as an habitual offender and sentence and remand.

On December 17, 1996, defendant was charged by bill of information with one count of distribution of cocaine. He pled not guilty at his arraignment on February 3, 1997. After a jury trial on March 12 and 13, 1997, *1356 defendant was found guilty as charged. Defendant filed motions for new trial and post conviction judgment of acquittal on March 14, 1997. On March 21, 1997, the trial court sentenced defendant to twenty years at hard labor. On that day, defendant's motion for appeal was filed and granted. On April 4, 1997, the state filed an habitual offender bill of information, alleging defendant to be a third felony offender. Defendant was arraigned on the habitual offender bill and denied the state's allegations. Also on April 4, 1997, the trial judge denied defendant's motions for a new trial and post conviction judgment of acquittal.

The hearing on the habitual offender bill of information was held on April 10, 1997, following which, defendant was adjudicated "... a multiple-offender ..." without stating the specific number of felony convictions. The trial judge vacated the original sentence and imposed an enhanced sentence of life imprisonment, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. On reconsideration, the trial judge re-sentenced defendant to twenty-five years at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. Defendant was then granted a second motion for appeal.

On July 16, 1996, Officer Elston Cutino (Cutino) of the Westwego Police Department was assigned to an undercover narcotics operation with the Gretna Police Department. On that day, Cutino was directed by narcotics detective Claude Koenig (Koenig) to go to the corner of Fried and Eleventh Streets in Gretna to attempt a purchase of illegal drugs. Koenig gave Cutino currency with which to make a purchase. Cutino drove an unmarked police vehicle to that location. He wore a transmitter to allow Koenig to listen to potential drug transactions from a concealed location.

When Cutino arrived at the targeted location, he was approached by a black male who asked Cutino what he needed. Cutino responded that he wanted a "twenty" (meaning a rock of "crack" cocaine). The black male went inside the residence at 806 Fried Street and returned with a rock-like substance, which appeared to be "crack". He gave Cutino the substance and Cutino gave the man twenty dollars. Cutino then left the scene in his car.

Cutino transmitted a description of the perpetrator and his location to Koenig. Cutino described the subject as a black male with one gold tooth, approximately six feet tall, weighing approximately one hundred and fifty pounds, wearing black shorts and a white undershirt. Cutino subsequently met with Koenig and gave him the rock-like substance he had obtained from defendant. Later that day, Keonig drove to the area where Cutino had made the purchase and observed a subject matching Cutino's description standing on the corner. Keonig questioned the person, thereby learning his name. Using that information, Keonig compiled a photographic lineup. On July 16, 1997, Koenig showed the lineup to Cutino. Cutino identified defendant as the person from whom he had bought the rock-like substance. Defendant was later arrested.

Daniel Waguespack (Waguespack), an expert in the field of forensic science, tested the substance purchased by Cutino. Waguespack testified at trial that the tests were positive for cocaine.

ANDERS APPEAL

On appeal, defendant's appellate counsel filed an "Anders" brief, asserting that, after a detailed review of the record, counsel could not find any ruling of the trial court or non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal. Counsel states that she forwarded to defendant a copy of the brief she filed with this court. Counsel did request a review for patent error. On August 4, 1997, defendant's counsel filed a motion to withdraw, pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), reh. denied, 388 U.S. 924, 87 S.Ct. 2094, 18 L.Ed.2d 1377 (1967).

In State v. Jenkins, 94-72 (La.App. 5th Cir. 11/29/94), 646 So.2d 1197, 1198-1199 we stated:

Under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), and Lofton v. Whitley, 905 F.2d 885 (5th Cir.1990), counsel's failure to assign error or to assign only a request for error patent review has the effect of depriving the indigent defendant of effective assistance of counsel. However, the United States Supreme Court in Anders, also set forth the *1357 procedure to follow when, after a diligent and conscientious review of the record, counsel fails to find any non-frivolous appealable issues. In Anders, the court stated:
The constitutional requirement of substantial equality and fair process can only be attained where counsel acts in the role of an active advocate in behalf of his client, as opposed to that of amicus curiae. The no-merit letter and the procedure it triggers do not reach that dignity. Counsel should, and can with honor and without conflict, be of more assistance to his client and to the court. His role as advocate requires that he support his client's appeal to the best of his ability. Of course, if counsel finds his case to be wholly frivolous, after a conscientious examination of it, he should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw. That request must, however, be accompanied by a brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal. A copy of counsel's brief should be furnished the indigent and time allowed him to raise any points that he chooses; the court—not counsel—then proceeds, after a full examination of all the proceedings, to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous. If it so finds it may grant counsel's request to withdraw and dismiss the appeal insofar as federal requirements are concerned, or precede to a decision on the merits, if state law so requires. On the other hand, if it finds any of the legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous) it must, prior to decision, afford the indigent the assistance of counsel to argue the appeal. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. at 1400.

The United States Fifth Circuit, Court of Appeals applied Anders to the case where defense counsel files a brief solely asking for an error patent review. The court determined that, by so doing, counsel effectively withdrew without complying with the requirements of Anders. Lofton v. Whitley, 905 F.2d at 887 (5th Cir.1990).

Defendant's appellate counsel substantially complied with the procedure approved by the United States Supreme Court in Anders and

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
707 So. 2d 1354, 1998 WL 76186, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-gaines-lactapp-1998.