IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA PAUL BRANCH, NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND Petitioner, DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED v. CASE NO. 1D16-4976 STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent. ___________________________/ Opinion filed December 9, 2016.

Petition Alleging Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel -- Original Jurisdiction.

Paul Branch, pro se, Petitioner.

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM.

The petition alleging ineffective assistance of appellate counsel is denied on the merits.

ROBERTS, C.J., ROWE and WINSOR, JJ., CONCUR.