State v. Sanders

238 So. 3d 1098
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 31, 2018
DocketKA 17–679
StatusPublished

This text of 238 So. 3d 1098 (State v. Sanders) 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. Sanders, 238 So. 3d 1098 (La. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

CONERY, Judge.

Defendant, Robert Earl Sanders, was convicted of second degree kidnapping, a violation of La.R.S. 14:44.1 ; second degree battery, a violation of La.R.S. 14:34.1 ; and three counts of domestic abuse aggravated assault, violations of La.R.S. 14:37.7. He was sentenced to fifteen years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for second degree kidnapping; six years at hard labor for second degree battery; and four years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for each count of domestic abuse aggravated assault. Each sentence was to run concurrently.

On appeal, this court affirmed all three of Defendant's convictions and his sentence of fifteen years without benefit of parole or suspension of sentence for second degree kidnapping. This court found an error patent because Defendant's sentence for second degree battery was beyond the statutory maximum, vacated his sentence, and remanded the matter for resentencing. This court also amended Defendant's sentences for each of the three counts of domestic abuse aggravated assault to allow for the benefits of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, as required by La.R.S. 14:37.7. This court instructed the trial court to make an entry in the court minutes to reflect the amendment. See State v. Sanders , 16-470 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/7/16), 209 So.3d 143.

On remand, the trial court resentenced Defendant to the maximum of five years at hard labor for the second degree battery conviction. Rather than making a an entry in the court minutes reflecting this court's amendment of Defendant's sentences for domestic abuse aggravated assault, the trial court resentenced Defendant to four years with benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence on each of the three counts of domestic abuse aggravated assault. The sentences imposed were to run concurrently with each other and with any sentence Defendant was currently *1101serving for his conviction for second degree kidnapping.

Appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California , 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), alleging no non-frivolous issues exist on which to base an appeal and seeking to withdraw as Defendant's counsel. Defendant has also filed a pro se brief and a supplemental pro se brief that argues his innocence but fails to set out any assignments of error. We therefore grant counsel's motion to withdraw and affirm Defendant's sentences for second degree battery and domestic abuse aggravated assault.

FACTS:

Defendant was found guilty of second degree kidnapping, second degree battery, and three counts of domestic abuse aggravated assault. The trial court resentenced him according to this court's order.

ERRORS PATENT:

We review all appeals for errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find no errors patent.

ANALYSIS:

Counsel seeks to withdraw. Pursuant to Anders , 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493, Defendant's appellate counsel filed a brief stating he could find no errors on appeal that would support reversal of Defendant's sentence.

In State v. Benjamin , 573 So.2d 528, 531 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1990), the fourth circuit explained the Anders analysis:

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.

Pursuant to Anders and Benjamin , this court has performed a thorough review of the record, including minute entries, the trial court's written reasons, and the resentencing transcript, and has confirmed the statements by counsel. The trial court resentenced Defendant as ordered by this court, subject to the error patent discussion above. He was present and represented by counsel at the resentencing. His new sentence complies with the statutory sentencing range, and review of the transcript in the record provides only frivolous issues for appeal.

Counsel's Anders brief must " 'assure the court that the indigent defendant's constitutional rights have not been violated.' " State v. Jyles , 96-2669, p. 2 (La. 12/12/97), 704 So.2d 241, 241 (quoting McCoy v. Court of Appeals of Wisconsin , 486 U.S. 429, 442, 108 S.Ct. 1895, 1903, 100 L.Ed.2d 440 (1988) ). Thus, counsel's Anders brief must fully discuss and analyze the record and also provide "a detailed and reviewable assessment for both the defendant *1102and the appellate court of whether the appeal is worth pursuing in the first place." State v.

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Bluebook (online)
238 So. 3d 1098, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sanders-lactapp-2018.