NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.

UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL

AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE

ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,

v.

WALFORD D. WILLIAMS, Appellant.

No. 1 CA-CR 17-0070 

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County

No. CR2016-115918-001

The Honorable Michael D. Gordon, Judge

AFFIRMED

COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix

By Joseph T. Maziarz

Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Legal Defender’s Office, Phoenix

By Cynthia Dawn Beck

Counsel for Appellant

FILED 8-9-2018
STATE v. WILLIAMS

Decision of the Court

2

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Chief Judge Samuel A. Thumma delivered the decision of the Court, in 

which Judge Peter B. Swann and Judge Maria Elena Cruz joined.

T H U M M A, Chief Judge:

¶1 This is an appeal under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967) 

and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969). Counsel for appellant Walford D. 

Williams has advised the court that, after searching the entire record, he has 

found no arguable question of law and asks this court to conduct an Anders

review of the record. Williams was given the opportunity to file a 

supplemental brief pro se, but has not done so. This court has reviewed the 

record and has found no reversible error. Accordingly, Williams’ conviction 

and resulting probation grant are affirmed. 

FACTS1 AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 In October 2015, a City of Mesa Police Sergeant serving on an 

interdiction squad pulled a heavily taped, suspicious package from a 

conveyor belt at a FedEx facility. After information on the address label did 

not track and a drug dog alerted on the package, a search warrant was 

obtained. When opened, the package contained 1.97 pounds of marijuana.

Williams’ fingerprint was located on a bucket inside the package. 

¶3 The next day, police learned that a person, who identified 

himself as “Denzel Washington,” called to ask why the package was not 

delivered. The telephone number for that call was traced to Williams. 

Surveillance footage showed a woman, later identified as Williams’ wife, 

had dropped off the package. 

¶4 After further investigation, in April 2016, Williams was 

arrested after police had to “rush and grab him” after he tried to get away. 

Williams was then charged by indictment with one count of sale or 

transportation of marijuana, a Class 3 felony.

 

1 This court views the facts “in the light most favorable to sustaining the 

verdict, and resolve[s] all reasonable inferences against the defendant.”

State v. Rienhardt, 190 Ariz. 579, 588-89 (1997) (citation omitted). 
STATE v. WILLIAMS

Decision of the Court

3

¶5 During a two-day trial, the jury heard testimony from law 

enforcement officers and forensic analysts. After the State rested, Williams 

unsuccessfully moved for a judgment of acquittal. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 20

(2018).2 Williams then elected not to testify or offer any affirmative 

evidence, as was his right. After the jury was instructed on the law and 

heard closing arguments, they deliberated and unanimously found 

Williams guilty as charged. The jury was polled and confirmed their 

verdict. The next day, after a juror failed to appear, the State chose not to

pursue an aggravated sentence.

¶6 At a January 2017 sentencing, after considering a presentence 

report, hearing from counsel and from Williams, the superior court 

suspended imposition of a sentence and placed Williams on supervised 

probation for three years.

¶7 This court has jurisdiction over Williams’ timely appeal 

pursuant to Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution and Arizona 

Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) sections 12-120.21(A)(1), 13-4031 and 13-4033(A).

DISCUSSION

¶8 Counsel for Williams advised this court that, after a search of 

the entire record, counsel found no arguable question of law. This court has 

reviewed and considered counsel’s brief and has searched the entire record 

for reversible error. See State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537 ¶ 30 (App.1999). 

Searching the record and brief reveals no reversible error. 

¶9 The record shows Williams was represented by counsel at all 

stages of the proceedings and counsel was present at all critical stages, or 

that he waived his presence. The record provided shows there was 

substantial evidence supporting Williams’ conviction. From the record, all 

proceedings were conducted in compliance with the Arizona Rules of 

Criminal Procedure, and the probation grant was authorized by statute. 

CONCLUSION

¶10 This court has read and considered counsel’s brief, and has 

searched the record provided for reversible error and has found none. Leon, 

104 Ariz. at300; Clark, 196 Ariz. at 537 ¶ 30. Accordingly, Williams’ 

conviction and resulting probation grant are affirmed. 

 

2 Absent material revisions after the relevant dates, statutes and rules cited 

refer to the current version unless otherwise indicated. 
STATE v. WILLIAMS

Decision of the Court

4

¶11 Upon the filing of this decision, defense counsel is directed to 

inform Williams of the status of the appeal and of his future options. 

Defense counsel has no further obligations unless, upon review, counsel 

identifies an issue appropriate for submission to the Arizona Supreme 

Court by petition for review. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 

(1984). Williams shall have 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed, 

if he desires, with a pro se motion for reconsideration or petition for review.