Case Title: Lecates v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: 478, 2002

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2003-03-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
MARTIN W.  LECATES,
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§
No.  478, 2002
Defendant Below,
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Appellant,
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Court Below–Superior Court 
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of the State of Delaware, in 
v.
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and for Sussex County in Cr.  
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ID No. 0110019665.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
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Plaintiff Below,
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Appellee.
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Submitted: December 13, 2002
Decided:
March 4, 2003
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH and STEELE, Justices.
O R D E R
This 4th day of March 2003, upon consideration of the appellant’s
Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, his attorney’s motion to withdraw, and the
State’s response thereto, it appears to the Court that:
(1)
In December 2001, Martin W.  Lecates was indicted by a Sussex
County grand jury on charges of Rape in the Second Degree and Unlawful
Sexual Contact in the Second Degree.  On July 18, 2002, Lecates pleaded guilty
to Rape in the Second Degree.  He was sentenced to twenty years at Level V,
suspended after ten years, for one year at Level IV Home Confinement,
followed by nine years at Level III probation.
2
(2)
Lecates’ counsel has filed a brief and a motion to withdraw
pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 26(c).  Lecates’ counsel asserts that, based
upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably
appealable issues.  By letter, Lecates’ counsel informed him of the provisions
of Rule 26(c) and provided Lecates with a copy of the motion to withdraw and
the accompanying brief.  Lecates also was informed of his right to supplement
his attorney’s presentation.   
(3)
As reflected in the Rule 26(c) brief, Lecates submitted to his
counsel a handwritten document that appears to raise the following issues: (i)
ineffective assistance of counsel leading to involuntary guilty plea, and (ii)
police misconduct.  The State has responded to Lecates’ points, as well as to the
position taken by Lecates’ counsel, and has moved to affirm the Superior
Court’s decision.
(4)
The standard and scope of review applicable to the consideration
of a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief under Rule 26(c) is
twofold.   First, this Court must be satisfied that defense counsel has made a
conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims.
Second, this Court must conduct its own review of the record and determine
1Penson v.  Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); McCoy v.  Court of Appeals of Wisconsin,
486 U.S. 429, 442 (1988); Anders v.  California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967).
2Wing v.  State, 690 A.2d 921, 923 (Del.  1996).
3See Howard v.  State, 458 A.2d 1180, 1185 (1983) (listing required elements of plea
colloquy).
4Downer v.  State, 543 A.2d 309 (1988); Russell v.  State, 1999 WL 507303 (Del.
Supr.). 
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whether the appeal is so totally devoid of at least arguably appealable issues
that it can be decided without an adversary presentation.1
(5)
This Court will not consider a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel for the first time on direct appeal.  Accordingly, we will not review
Lecates’ ineffective assistance of counsel claim in this appeal.2
(6)
The record is clear that the Superior Court conducted a careful and
complete guilty plea colloquy prior to accepting Lecates’ guilty plea.3  A
properly entered plea of guilty constitutes a waiver of all errors or defects
occurring before the plea.4  Lecates cannot now complain of any alleged errors
that occurred prior to the entry of his guilty plea.  
(7)
This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded
that Lecates’ appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably
appealable issue.  We also are satisfied that Lecates’ counsel has made a
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conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly
determined that Lecates could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State’s motion to affirm
is GRANTED.  The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.  The
motion to withdraw is moot.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ E. Norman Veasey
Chief Justice