State v. Hill

15 So. 3d 1038, 9 La.App. 5 Cir. 80, 2009 La. App. LEXIS 974, 2009 WL 1464235
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided May 26, 2009·No. 09-KA-80·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

CLARENCE E. McMANUS, Judge.

|2Pefendant, Martin Hill, pled guilty to distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school or church, a violation of LSA-R.S. 40:981.3, and was sentenced to 15 years at hard labor, with the first two years to 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 04-3442. 1 The defendant now appeals to this Court.

The bill of information in this case alleged defendant distributed cocaine, a controlled dangerous substance, within 1,000 feet of Lemon Gym, on November 25, 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 he sold crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone and a church.

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 a brief in accordance with the procedures set forth in Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 3L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) and State v. Jyles, 96-2669, p. 3 (La.12/12/97), 704 So.2d 241, 242 (per curiam). She asserts she has thoroughly reviewed the district court record and cannot find any non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal. Accordingly, appointed counsel requests 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 *1040 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 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 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 |4shaping 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 reviewing 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. However, 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 asserts that after a detailed review of the record, she could find no non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal. Appellate counsel points out that the district court properly advised defendant of his rights 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. Counsel submits that defendant admitted under oath to having sold cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone or church. LSA-R.S. 40:981.3. She acknowledges that the sentence imposed by the district court is within the statutory range. Moreover, since defendant’s sentence was agreed to as part of a plea bargain, defendant is precluded from challenging the sentence on appeal. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 881.2.

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 brief. Additionally, this Court sent defendant a letter by certified mail informing him that an An-ders brief had been filed and that |5he would have until March 23, 2009 to file a 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 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/14/06), 926 So.2d 662, 664.

Defendant filed various 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 *1041 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 to read and write. The district court properly advised defendant of his right to a jury trial, his right of confrontation, and his privilege against self-incrimination, as required by Boykin.. The judge also explained to defendant the offense with which he was charged, the sentencing range for that offense, and the sentence he would receive under the plea agreement. 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.

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State v. Hill, 15 So. 3d 1038, 9 La.App. 5 Cir. 80, 2009 La. App. LEXIS 974, 2009 WL 1464235 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

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