State v. Hill

15 So. 3d 1042, 9 La.App. 5 Cir. 89, 2009 La. App. LEXIS 990, 2009 WL 1464174
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided May 26, 2009·No. No. 09-KA-89·Published·Cited by 12 cases

Opinion

CLARENCE E. McMANUS, Judge.

| ¡¿Defendant, Martin Hill, pled guilty to distribution of cocaine in violation of LSA-R.S. 40:967 A. The district court sentenced defendant to 15 years at hard labor, ordering that the first two years of the sentence be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The court further ordered that the sentence run concurrently with defendant’s sentence in district court case number 04-4827.1 Pursuant to a multiple bill, defendant stipulated to his status as a second felony offender. The district court vacated the original sentence and imposed a habitual offender sentence of 15 years at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for the first two years, and without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence for the entire term.

The district court granted defendant an out-of-time appeal.

The bill of information in this case alleged defendant distributed cocaine on or about October 29, 2003. Since defendant pled guilty and the district court did not hold any motion hearings, the only testimony regarding the offense came from defendant at his guilty plea hearing. Defendant admitted, “I was selling crack-cocaine.”

[o,Under the procedure set forth in State v. Benjamin, 573 So.2d 528, 530 (La.App. 4 Cir.1990),2 appointed appellant counsel has filed an Anders brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) and State v. Jyles, 96-2669, p. 3 (La.12/12/97), 704 So.2d 241, 242 (per curiam), asserting she has thoroughly reviewed the trial court record and cannot find any non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal. Accordingly, appointed counsel seeks leave to withdraw as counsel of record. The State agrees that the record presents no non-frivolous issues for appeal, and urges this Court to allow defendant’s appellate counsel to withdraw.

In Anders, the United States Supreme Court stated that appointed appellate counsel may request permission to withdraw if he finds his case to be wholly frivolous after a conscientious examination of it.3 The request must be accompanied by ‘ “a brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal” ’ so as to provide the reviewing court “with a basis for determining whether appointed counsel have fully performed their duty to support their clients’ appeals to the best of their ability” and to assist the reviewing court “in making the critical determination whether the appeal is indeed so frivolous that counsel should be permitted to withdraw.” McCoy v. Court [1044] of Appeals of Wisconsin, Dist. 1, 486 U.S. 429, 439, 108 S.Ct. 1895, 1902, 100 L.Ed.2d 440 (1988).

In State v. Jyles, 96-2669 at 2, 704 So.2d at 241, the Louisiana Supreme Court stated that an Anders brief need not tediously catalog every meritless pretrial motion or objection made at trial with a detailed explanation of why the motions or |,¡objections lack merit. The supreme court explained that an Anders brief must demonstrate by full discussion and analysis that appellate counsel “has cast an advocate’s eye over the trial record and considered whether any ruling made by the trial court, subject to the contemporaneous objection rule, had a significant, adverse impact on shaping the evidence presented to the jury for its consideration.” State v. Jyles, supra.

In evaluating an appeal for compliance with Anders, an appellate court must conduct an independent review of the record to determine whether the appeal is wholly frivolous. State v. Bradford, 95-929 (La.App. 5 Cir. 6/25/96), 676 So.2d 1108, 1110. If, after an independent review, the appellate court determines there are no non-frivolous issues for appeal, it may grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the defendant’s conviction and sentence. But if the court finds any legal point arguable on the merits, it may either deny the motion and order the court-appointed attorney to file a brief arguing the legal point(s) identified by the court, or grant the motion and appoint substitute appellant counsel. Id.

Defendant’s appellate counsel as-sei’ts that after a detailed review of the record, she could find no non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal. Counsel points out that the district court jiroperly advised defendant of his lights in accordance with Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969) prior to accepting his guilty plea. She further asserts that defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights in entering his plea. Counsel submits that the State was not required to provide a factual basis for defendant’s guilty plea, and that defendant admitted his guilt to the court.

Appellate counsel notes that defendant’s original and habitual offender sentences fell within statutory limits. Counsel further points out that defendant ^agreed to his habitual offender sentence as part of a sentencing agreement, and so he may not challenge it on appeal.

Appellate counsel has filed a motion to withdraw as attorney of record which states she complied with the provisions of Anders, and that she notified defendant of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief. Additionally, this Court sent defendant a letter by certified mail informing him that an Anders brief had been filed and that he had until March 27, 2009 to file a pro se supplemental brief. Defendant did not file a brief.

Our review of the record supports appellate counsel’s assertion that there are no non-frivolous issues to be raised on appeal. When a defendant pleads guilty, he normally waives all non-jurisdictional defects in the proceedings leading up to the guilty plea and precludes review of such defects either by appeal or post-conviction relief. State v. Wingerter, 05-697, p. 5 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/14/06), 926 So.2d 662, 664.

Defendant filed several pre-trial motions, but it does not appear from the record that the district court heard any of them. There are thus no district court rulings defendant could have preserved for appeal under the holding in State v. Crosby, 338 So.2d 584 (La.1976).

The record shows the district court ascertained that defendant was 48 years old, had a tenth grade education, and was able [1045] to read and write. The district court properly advised defendant of the right to a jury trial, the right of confrontation, and the privilege against self-incrimination, as required by Boykin. The judge also explained to defendant offense with which he was charged, the sentencing range for that offense, and the sentence he would receive under the plea agreement. Defendant acknowledged that he understood his rights, and that he wished to waive them and enter a guilty plea. Additionally, defendant, his attorney, and the judge [ (¡signed a waiver of rights form which enumerated defendant’s rights and detailed the sentence he would receive pursuant to his plea agreement.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

State v. Hill, 15 So. 3d 1042, 9 La.App. 5 Cir. 89, 2009 La. App. LEXIS 990, 2009 WL 1464174 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

15 So. 3d 1042 (State v. Hill) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

State v. Spellman
140 So. 3d 751 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)
State v. Newman
107 So. 3d 775 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2012)
State v. Dickerson
80 So. 3d 510 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2011)
State v. Williams
77 So. 3d 394 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2011)
State v. Thomas
54 So. 3d 688 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. Foster
44 So. 3d 733 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. England
38 So. 3d 919 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. Joseph
32 So. 3d 244 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. Campbell
28 So. 3d 470 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2009)
State v. Hill
15 So. 3d 1038 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2009)