IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA COURTNEY GATHERS, NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND Petitioner, DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED v. CASE NO. 1D16-5746 STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent. ___________________________/ Opinion filed August 1, 2017.

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

Courtney Gathers, pro se, Petitioner.

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and David Llanes, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM.

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

LEWIS, WETHERELL, and WINSOR, JJ., CONCUR.