State v. Pearson

861 So. 2d 283, 2003 WL 22900903
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 9, 2003
Docket2003-KA-652
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 861 So. 2d 283 (State v. Pearson) 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. Pearson, 861 So. 2d 283, 2003 WL 22900903 (La. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

861 So.2d 283 (2003)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
John D. PEARSON.

No. 2003-KA-652.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

December 9, 2003.
Rehearing Denied January 9, 2004.

*285 Paul D. Connick, Jr., District Attorney, Terry M. Boudreaux, Assistant District Attorney, Gretna, LA, Counsel for State.

Jane L. Beebe, Gretna, LA, Counsel for defendant-appellant.

John D. Pearson, St. Gabrial, LA, In proper person.

Panel composed of Judges SOL GOTHARD, JAMES L. CANNELLA and CLARENCE E. McMANUS.

CLARENCE E. McMANUS, Judge.

Defendant, John Pearson, was charged in a bill of information on September 15, 2000 with possession of cocaine in violation of LSA-R.S. 40:967(C). Defendant initially pled not guilty but later pled guilty in connection with a plea agreement. On November 3, 2000, defendant was sentenced to five years at hard labor in accordance with the plea agreement. His sentence was deferred until November 17, 2000 at which time a multiple bill hearing was scheduled.

As part of the plea agreement, the State agreed to multiple bill defendant as a third felony offender and the court agreed to impose the same five-year sentence on enhancement. However, it was agreed that, in the event defendant failed to appear on November 17, 2000, the State would multiple bill him as a fourth felony offender and there would be no guarantee as to his enhanced sentence. Defendant failed to appear on November 17, 2000 and an attachment was issued for his arrest.

Defendant appeared in court one year later on November 16, 2001. On that date, the State filed a multiple offender bill of information alleging defendant to be a third felony offender despite the earlier agreement. The State based the multiple bill on defendant's 1990 conviction for possession of cocaine and 1995 conviction for theft. Defendant stipulated to the multiple bill and the trial court found him to be a third felony offender after engaging in a plea colloquy concerning his rights. Defendant's original sentence was *286 vacated and he was resentenced as a multiple offender to seven years at hard labor.

Defendant was granted an out-of-time appeal on April 13, 2003.

FACTS

Defendant entered a guilty plea to the charged offense of possession of cocaine and, therefore, little is known about the facts and circumstances of the offense. The bill of information alleges the offense occurred on August 28, 2000. During the plea colloquy, the State asserted it would prove that on that date defendant was the driver of an automobile stopped for a possible hand-to-hand transaction. After defendant exited the car, two rocks of cocaine were seen in plain view in the driver's seat where defendant was sitting.

On appeal, defendant's appellate counsel filed a brief pursuant to the procedure approved by the United States Supreme Court in Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), discussed in State v. Benjamin, 573 So.2d 528 (La.App. 4 Cir.1990), approved by State v. Mouton, 95-0981 (La.4/28/95), 653 So.2d 1176, and adopted by this Court in State v. Bradford, 95-929, 95-930 (La.App. 5 Cir. 6/25/96), 676 So.2d 1108. Specifically, counsel asserts she cannot find any non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal and seeks to withdraw as defense counsel. In accordance with State v. Bradford, supra, this Court sent defendant a certified letter advising him that his appellate counsel found no non-frivolous issues for appeal and gave defendant an opportunity to file a supplemental brief. Defendant has responded by filing a supplemental brief.

In State v. Jyles, 96-2669 (La.12/12/97), 704 So.2d 241, 242, the Louisiana Supreme Court revisited the Anders procedures outlined in State v. Benjamin, supra, and adopted by this Court in State v. Bradford, supra, and stated that the brief filed by defense counsel "must review not only the procedural history of the case and the evidence presented at trial but must also 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." Defense counsel is required to "cast an advocate's eye over the trial record and consider 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." Jyles, supra at 242.

In her appellate brief, defense counsel notes she reviewed the procedural history of the case and noted there were no pre-trial rulings. In her brief, she addressed and dismissed as a possible issue the excessiveness of defendant's sentence. She further noted that she found no errors patent. Defense counsel has satisfied the requirements of Jyles in that her brief adequately reviews the procedural history of the case and the transcripts of the various hearings, and provides a detailed assessment of whether the appeal is worth pursuing.

When an Anders brief is filed, the appellate court must independently review 1) the bill of information or indictment to insure the defendant was properly charged; 2) 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) all pleadings in the record; and 4) all transcripts to determine if any ruling provides an arguable basis for appeal. State v. Bradford, 676 So.2d at 1110-1111.

In the instant case, the record reveals defendant was properly charged in the bills of information and was present at *287 all crucial stages of the proceedings. He was properly advised of his rights before he waived them and pled guilty to the underlying offense and stipulated to the multiple bill. Additionally, the enhanced sentence imposed by the trial court is legal as authorized by LSA-R.S. 15:529.1(A)(1)(b)(i). Accordingly there are no errors or issues, which if raised, would "arguably support an appeal." State v. Haynes, 96-84 (La.App. 5 Cir. 6/25/96), 676 So.2d 1120, 1122. We therefore grant defense counsel's Motion to Withdraw.

Defendant raises several issues in his supplemental brief. A discussion of defendant's claims and an errors patent review follow.

PRO SE ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBERS ONE AND TWO

By his first two assignments of error, defendant argues his guilty plea on the instant offense of possession of cocaine is defective because the trial court failed to ascertain whether his plea was knowing and intelligent. He asserts the trial court did not make an independent determination of whether he was informed of and understood his rights before he waived them. He further claims there was no showing he was advised of and waived his rights.

A guilty plea is not valid unless the defendant voluntarily and intelligently relinquishes his known rights. Before accepting a guilty plea, the trial court must make an "independent determination of whether the defendant's plea is made knowingly and intelligently through a colloquy wherein the defendant is questioned about his decision and the constitutional rights he is waiving." State v. Montalban, 00-2739 (La.2/26/02), 810 So.2d 1106, 1109, cert. denied, 537 U.S. 887, 123 S.Ct. 132, 154 L.Ed.2d 148 (10/7/02).

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Related

State v. Nelson
63 So. 3d 280 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2011)
State v. Harrell
40 So. 3d 311 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. LANDOR
34 So. 3d 1166 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. Montgomery
31 So. 3d 560 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. Ayche
978 So. 2d 1143 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2008)
Pearson v. Louisiana
543 U.S. 1007 (Supreme Court, 2004)

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Bluebook (online)
861 So. 2d 283, 2003 WL 22900903, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-pearson-lactapp-2003.