Title: Mayhew v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
JOHN MAYHEW,
Defendant Below-
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
Plaintiff Below-
Appellee.
§
§
§  No. 552, 2000
§
§
§  Court Below—Superior Court
§  of the State of Delaware,
§  in and for New Castle County
§  Cr.A. Nos. IN95-02-1067 thru -1068,
§  -1074 thru -1076, -1079 thru -1080,
§  and -1083 thru –1084
Submitted: May 14, 2001
  Decided:
June 25, 2001
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH, and HOLLAND, Justices.
O R D E R
This 25th day of June 2001, 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)
The defendant-appellant, John Mayhew, pled guilty in August
1995 to third degree escape, several counts of theft, attempted theft, and
receiving stolen property.  The Superior Court sentenced Mayhew to a total
of eight years imprisonment, suspended after four years for four years of
probation.  In October 2000, Mayhew was found to be in violation of his
probation.  The Superior Court revoked Mayhew’s probation and sentenced
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him to two and a half years at Level V, suspended after two years for six
months at Level IV.  This is Mayhew’s appeal from that ruling.
(2)
Mayhew's counsel on appeal has filed a brief and a motion to
withdraw pursuant to Rule 26(c).  Mayhew's counsel asserts that, based upon
a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably
appealable issues.  By letter, Mayhew's attorney informed him of the
provisions of Rule 26(c) and provided Mayhew with a copy of the motion to
withdraw and the accompanying brief.  Mayhew also was informed of his
right to supplement his attorney's presentation.  Mayhew has raised two
points for this Court's consideration.  The State has responded to Mayhew’s
points as well as to the position taken by Mayhew's counsel and has moved
to affirm the Superior Court's decision.
(3)
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:  (a) this Court must be satisfied that defense counsel
has made a conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable
claims; and (b) this Court must conduct its own review of the record and
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determine whether the appeal is so totally devoid of at least arguably
appealable issues that it can be decided without an adversary presentation.*
(4)
Mayhew’s first point is that “the sentences violates [sic] the
terms of my contract for the re-entry program.”  Whatever terms Mayhew
may be referring to, we find no error or abuse of discretion in the Superior
Court’s finding that Mayhew had violated his probation.  The evidence
presented at the violation hearing established not only that Mayhew had
violated the terms of the re-entry program by failing to report to Plummer
Center, but that he had violated his probation by committing new offenses,
including two bank robberies.
(5)
Mayhew’s second point is that he received ineffective
assistance of counsel at his violation hearing.  Mayhew, however, has made
no concrete allegations of cause or actual prejudice in order to substantiate
his claim to any degree.  Accordingly, this claim must fail.
(6)
This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded
that Mayhew’s appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably
appealable issue.  We also are satisfied that Mayhew's counsel has made a
                                                
*Penson 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).
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conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly
determined that Mayhew 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/Joseph T. Walsh
Justice