State v. Williams
State v. Williams
Opinion of the Court
| ^Defendant, Rene S. Williams, appeals his convictions and sentences for possession with -intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon from the 24th Judicial District Court, Division “N”'. For the following reasons, we affirm Defendant’s sentences and convictions and remand the-matter'for Correction of the hard labor commitment and the Uniform Commitment Order. Additionally, we grant appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On November 21, 2012,' the' Jefferson Parish District Attorney filed a bill of information charging Defendant, Rene S, Williams, with possession with intent to distribute heroin in violation of La. R.S. 40:966(A) (count one); possession with intent to 'distribute marijuana in violation of La. R.S. 40:966(A) (count tyro); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of La. R.S. 14:95.1 (count three). Defendant was arraigned on December 3, 2012, and pleaded not guilty. On January 3, 2013, Defendant filed a “Motion for Competency Examination,” which the trial judge granted. Thereafter, on January 23, 2013, a competency hearing was I «held, after which the trial judge found Defendant competent to stand trial. On March 5, 2013, the trial judge denied Defendant’s motion to suppress statement and granted his motion to suppress evidence. On March 14, 2013, Defendant’s motion to quash was denied.
On March 19, 2013, a jury trial began; however, before opening statements, Defendant withdrew his not guilty pleas and pleaded guilty as charged on counts one and three.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
On appeal, Defendant seeks review of his convictions and sentences in conformity with the procedures outlined in State v. Jyles, 96-2669 (La.12/12/97); 704 So.2d 241 (per curiam).
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Under the procedure adopted by this Court in State v. Bradford, 95-929 (La. App. 5 Cir. 6/25/96); 676 So.2d 1.1, 08, 1110-11,
After receiving, appellate counsel’s brief and motion tó withdraw, this Court performed a full examination of all the appellate record to determine whether the | ^appeal is frivolous in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) and State v. Jyles, supra. Our independent examination of the record supports appellate counsel’s assertion that there are no non-frivolous issues to be raised on appeal.
The bill of information properly charged Defendaiit and plainly and concisely stated the essential facts constituting the offenses charged. It also sufficiently identified Defendant and the crimes charged. See La. C.Cr.P. arts. 462-66. Further, the minute entries reflect that Defendant and his counsel appeared at all crucial stages of the proceedings' against him, including his arraignment, guilty pleas, and sentencing. As such, there are no appealable issues surrounding'defendant’s presence.
Further, Defendant pleaded guilty in this case. Generally, when a defendant pleads guilty, he normally waives all non-jurisdictional defects in the proceedings leading up to the' guilty plea,' and review of such defects eithér by appeal or postconviction relief is precluded. State v. Turner, 09-1079 (La.App. 5 Cir. 7/27/10); 47 So.3d 456, 459. Here, Defendant entered unqualified guilty pleas, and therefore, all non-jurisdictional defects are
Also, once a Defendant is sentenced, . only those guilty pleas that are constitutionally infirm may be withdrawn by appeal or post-conviction relief. A guilty plea is constitutionally infirm if it is not entered freely and voluntarily, if the Boykin
|frA review of the record reveals no constitutional infirmity in Defendant’s guilty pleas to the underlying charges. The record shows that Defendant was aware he was charged with and pleading guilty to the crimes of possession; w$h intent, to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On the waiver of rights .form and during the colloquy with the trial judge, Defendant was advised of his right to a jury trial, his right to confrontation, and his privilege against self-incrimination as required by Boykin v. Alabama, supra. Defendant signed the waiver of rights form, indicating that he understood he was waiving these rights by pleading guilty. During., the collQquy with the trial judge, Defendant also indicated that he understood those rights.
During his guilty plea colloquy and in his waiver of rights form, Defendant indicated that he had not been forced, coerced, or threatened into entering his guilty pleas. Defendant was informed during the colloquy, and in the waiver of rights form, of the maximum and minimum sentences and of the actual sentences'that would be imposed if his guilty pleas were accepted. After the colloquy with Defendant, the trial court accepted Defendant’s pleas as knowingly; intelligently, freely, -and voluntarily made.
A. review of the record also reveals no constitutional infirmity in Defendant’s stipulation to the habitual offender bill. During the colloquy, Defendant indicated, that his counsel had provided him with the habitual offender bill alleging him to be a second felony offender. Defendant also-indicated that his attorney had reviewed the habitual offender bill with him. The trial judge advised Defendant of the rights he was waiving, which Defendant indicated he understood. Defendant was advised by the.trial judge of the maximum and minimum enhanced sentence he could receive and of the, actual enhanced sentence he would receive, which Defendant indicated he understood. Defendant also indicated he had not |7been forced, threatened, or coerced into stipulating to the habitual offender bill. Afterward, the trial judge accepted his stipulation to the habitual offender bill as knowingly, intelligently, freely, and voluntarily made by Defendant. The habitual offender waiver of rights form further indicates th,at Defendant was advised of the foregoing rights, sentencing ranges, and actual sentence.
With regard to Defendant’s sentences, La.C.Cr.P. art. 881.2(A)(2) precludes a defendant ‘from seeking review of a sentence imposed in conformity with a plea agreement which was set forth in the record at the time of the plea. State v. Washington, 05-211 (La.App. 5 Cir. 10/6/05); 916 So.2d 1171, 1173. Here, Defendant’s sentences were imposed in accordance with the terms of the plea agreement set forth in the record at the time of the pleas.
Nevertheless, Defendant’s sentences fall within the sentencing ranges set
Because appellate counsel’s brief adequately demonstrates by full discussion and analysis that he reviewed the trial court proceedings and cannot identify any Isbasis for a non-frivolous appeal, and an independent review of the record supports counsel’s assertion, we affirm Defendant’s convictions and sentences.
However, we note the following error found during our review for errors patent.
There is an inconsistency between the transcript and the commitments. The transcript indicates that the enhanced sentence was to run concurrently with the sentence on count three and with the sentence on the misdemeanor conviction (case number 12-5747). However, the hard labor commitment and the Uniform Commitment Order only show that the enhanced sentence was to run concurrently with the sentence in case number 12-5747. The transcript prevails. State v. Lynch, 441 So.2d 732, 734 (La. 1983).
Therefore, we order the trial court to correct'the commitments to reflect that the enhanced sentence is to run concurrently'with the sentences on count three and in case number 12-5747. We also order the clerk of the trial court to transmit the'new commitments-to the officer in charge of the ihstitution to which Defendant has been sentenced-and to the Department of Corrections’ legal department. See La.C.Cr.P. art. 892(B)(2); State ex rel. Roland v. State, 06-0244 (La.9/15/06); 937 So.2d 846 (per curiam).
DECREE
For the foregoing reasons,'the convictions óf Defendant, Rene S. Williams, are affirmed. We also grant appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw. Additionally, we remand the matter for correction of the hard labor commitment and the Uniform Commitment Order pursuant to the instructions provided in this opinion.
CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES AFFIRMED; REMANDED FOR CORRECTION OF COMMITMENT ORDERS; MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED
. Defendant also pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense of resisting an officer.
. The trial judge sentenced Defendant on the misdemeanor conviction to six months in parish prison to run concurrently with the sentences on counts one and three..
. In Bradford, supra, this Court adopted the procedures outlined in State v. Benjamin, 573 So.2d 528, 530 (La.App, 4th Cir. 1990), which were sanctioned by the Louisiana Supreme . Court in State v. Mouton, 95-0981 (La.4/28/95); 653 So.2d 1176, 1177 (per curiam).
. On June 11, 2015, this Court notified Defendant of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief in this appeal. Defendant foiled to file a supplemental brief. '
. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969).
Dissenting Opinion
dissents with reasons.
hi have considered the opinion of the majority, arid respectfully dissent from its decision to grant appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw.
Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), reh’g denied, 3.88 U.S. 924, 87 S.Ct. 2094, 18 L.Ed.2d 1377 (1967), and State v. Jyles, 96-2669 (La.12/12/97), 704 So.2d 241 (per curiam), appellate counsel’s mandate, in part, is to demonstrate to the appellate court, by full discussion and analysis, that he has cast an advocate’s eye over the trial record. The U.S. Supreme Court also rec
Independent review of the record by the ■appellate court, or the opportunity of the defendant to file his own brief, while providing important and necessary safeguards, cannot substitute for the essential equal protection, requirement that appointed counsel representing an indigent defendant “act in the role of an active advocate in behalf of his client, as opposed to that of amicus curiae.”1
In this instance, counsel’s brief does not provide a full analysis of a felony conviction for which defendant received a 15-year sentence without the benefits .of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Furthermore, defendant filed a Notice of Appeal [sic] To Withdraw Guilty. Plea on April 5, 2013, in which he alleged four errors: an involuntary plea, ineffective assistance of counsel, no factual basis for his convictions and the trial court’s violation of his “rights.” The trial court denied defendant’s motion on May 16,2013. Defendant thereafter filed an application for post-conviction relief |a(APGR) on November 25, 2014, in which he alleged a lack of evidence to support his conviction for distribution of heroin, ineffective assistance of trial counsel, and an excessive habitual offender sentence. The trial court did not address the merits of the APGR, and instead interpreted it to be a motion for an out of time appeal, which it granted on December 4,- 2014. As part of its order, the trial court appointed the Louisiana Appellate Project to represent defendant on appeal. Otherwise, defendant’s APGR was dismissed without prejudice.- On January 16, 2015, defendant filed another APGR in which he asserted that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel with respect to his guilty pleas. The merit of this claim was not considered, however, as the trial court deemed the APGR premature in light of defendant’s current pending appeal.
While the Anders brief before us acknowledges defendant’s post-conviction filings, the brief also contains no analysis of them. I note that, in other Anders appeals before this Court, appointed counsel has undertaken a review of a defendant’s post-conviction claims for the purpose of determining whether or not they could form the basis of . an appeal. See State v. McKenzie, 09-893 (La.App. 5 Cir, 02/15/11); 61 So.3d 54, 57, (“Counsel also addresses potential issues argued below by defendant in a- June 2008 Application for Post-Conviction Relief (APGR) and in a February 2009 pro se notice of intent to seek appeal.”) See also State v. Cole, 04-615 (La.App. 5 Cir. 03/01/05), 900 So.2d 15, wherein appointed counsel addressed defendant’s post-conviction claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in her Anders brief.
In summary, I find that the majority’s willingness to grant counsel’s motion to withdraw is not of benefit to defendant in ensuring his constitutional right to equal protection, as noted above. Even though the majority opinion does not find fault with the omissions in counsel’s brief, I believe that counsel should not be excused from the duty and standards of representation merited ' by the trial court’s ^appointment as set forth in Anders, supra, and Jyles, supra. Accordingly,- I would deny the motion to withdraw at this time and order counsel to specifically brief whether defendant’s conviction and sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as any of defendant’s post-
. Anders v. California, supra, at 1400.
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