State v. Horne, 08-Ca-9 (9-30-2008)
State v. Horne, 08-Ca-9 (9-30-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Counsel for Appellant has filed a Motion to Withdraw and a brief pursuant to Anders v. California (1967),
{¶ 5} In Anders, the United States Supreme Court held if, after a conscientious examination of the record, a defendant's counsel concludes the case is wholly frivolous, then he should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw. Id. at 744. Counsel must accompany his request with a brief identifying anything in the record that could arguably support his client's appeal. Id. Counsel also must: (1) furnish his client with a copy of the brief and request to withdraw; and, (2) allow his client sufficient time *Page 3 to raise any matters that the client chooses. Id. Once the defendant's counsel satisfies these requirements, the appellate court must fully examine the proceedings below to determine if any arguably meritorious issues exist. If the appellate court also determines that the appeal is wholly frivolous, it may grant counsel's request to withdraw and dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional requirements, or may proceed to a decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id.
{¶ 6} Counsel in this matter has followed the procedure in Anders v.California (1967),
{¶ 8} The rule in the post-Foster era is to review felony sentences under an abuse of discretion standard. See, State v. Pressley, Muskingum App. No. CT2006-0033,
{¶ 9} In the case at bar, Appellant pled guilty to two felonies of the third degree which were punishable by one to three years in prison, and one felony of the fifth degree which is punishable by six to twelve months in prison. R.C.
{¶ 10} Appellant's first Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 12} Crim. R. 11 sets forth the procedure which a trial court must follow in accepting a guilty plea. Crim. R. 11(C)(2) states, in pertinent part, as follows: *Page 5
{¶ 13} "In felony cases, the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty * * * and shall not accept such plea without first addressing the defendant personally, and;
{¶ 14} "(a) Determining that he is making the plea voluntarily, with understanding of the nature of the charge and of the maximum penalty involved, and, if applicable, that he is not eligible for probation.
{¶ 15} "(b) Informing him of and determining that he understands the effect of his plea of guilty * * * and that the court, upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.
{¶ 16} "(c) Informing him and determining that he understands that, by his plea, he is waiving his rights to jury trial, to confront witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to require the State to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which he cannot be compelled to testify against himself."
{¶ 17} If the record indicates that the trial court substantially complied with the above requirements of Crim. R. 11, the plea will not be set aside. State v. Ballard (1981),
{¶ 18} Appellant's second Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 19} For these reasons, after independently reviewing the record, we agree with counsel's conclusion that no arguably meritorious claims exist upon which to base an appeal. Hence, we find the appeal to be wholly frivolous under Anders, grant *Page 6 counsel's request to withdraw, and affirm the judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas.
{¶ 20} Counsel's Motion to Withdraw is granted. The judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Delaney, J. Farmer, P.J. and Wise, J. concur.
Attorney Christopher M. Shook's motion to withdraw as counsel for Appellant is hereby granted.
*Page 1COSTS TAXED TO APPELLANT.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.