Court of Appeals of South Carolina, 2021

Ochoa-Tavera v. South Carolina

Ochoa-Tavera v. South Carolina
Court of Appeals of South Carolina · Decided November 3, 2021

Ochoa-Tavera v. South Carolina

Opinion

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Court of Appeals Antonio Ochoa-Tavera, Petitioner, v. State of South Carolina, Respondent.

Appellate Case No. 2018-001115

Appeal From Greenville County Daniel D. Hall, Trial Judge J. Cordell Maddox, Jr., Post-Conviction Relief Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2021-UP-374 Submitted September 1, 2021 – Filed November 3, 2021

APPEAL DISMISSED

Appellate Defender Lara Mary Caudy, of Columbia, for Petitioner.

Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General William M.

Blitch, Jr., of Columbia, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: Petitioner seeks a writ of certiorari from the denial of his application for post-conviction relief (PCR).

Evidence supports the PCR court's dismissal of Petitioner's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Accordingly, we deny certiorari on this issue. See Speaks v. State, 377 S.C. 396, 399, 660 S.E.2d 512, 514 (2008) ("On appeal, the PCR court's ruling should be upheld if it is supported by any evidence of probative value in the record.").

Because there is sufficient evidence to support the PCR court's finding that Petitioner did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to a direct appeal, we grant certiorari as to Petitioner's belated appeal PCR issue and proceed with a review of the direct appeal issue pursuant to Davis v. State, 288 S.C. 290, 342 S.E.2d 60 (1986).

On direct appeal, Petitioner argues the trial court erred by admitting evidence seized by law enforcement without a search warrant. After review pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), Petitioner's direct appeal is dismissed. Counsel's motion to be relieved is granted.

APPEAL DISMISSED.1 LOCKEMY, C.J., and WILLIAMS and MCDONALD, JJ., concur.

We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.

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