STATE of North Carolina v. Donna Helms LEDBETTER.

No. COA15-414.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

Nov. 3, 2015.

Attorney General, Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General, Ashleigh P. Dunston, for the State.

Meghan A. Jones, for defendant-appellant.

TYSON, Judge.

*747Donna Helms Ledbetter ("Defendant") appeals from judgment entered after she pleaded guilty to driving while impaired. Defendant does not have a statutory right to appeal the issue she raised. Rule 21 of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure does not set forth the grounds Defendant asserts to issue the requested writ. We decline to suspend the Rules of Appellate Procedure to exercise our jurisdiction under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 1444(e) to issue the writ. We deny Defendant's petition for writ of certiorari and dismiss the appeal.

*I. Background*

Around 7:30 p.m. on 1 January 2013, Rowan County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Myers ("Deputy Myers") was called to the Enochville Food Center in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Upon arrival, Deputy Myers observed Defendant seated behind the wheel of the car, "slumped over," and apparently unconscious. The keys were in the ignition. Deputy Myers knocked on the window and instructed Defendant to exit the vehicle. Deputy Myers never observed Defendant drive the vehicle.

Deputy Myers conducted three separate field sobriety tests on Defendant: (1) the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test (HGN test); (2) the one-leg stand test; and (3) the walk-and-turn test. During the HGN test, Deputy Myers had to remind Defendant to keep her head still several times. The HGN test revealed five out of six indicators for impairment. During the one-leg stand test, Deputy Myers had to twice tell Defendant to not start before being told to do so, and to keep her hands by her side.

During the walk-and-turn test, Defendant lost her balance a couple of times, used her arms to balance repeatedly, and missed the heel-to-toe twice. Defendant made a 560-degree turn, rather than a 360-degree turn, and proceeded to walk backwards towards Deputy Myers. Deputy Myers administered an Alco-Sensor portable breath test to Defendant, which registered a negative reading for alcohol.

*748Defendant admitted she had taken Xanax and Oxymorphone about an hour prior to her encounter with Deputy Myers. Based upon his interactions with Defendant, Deputy Myers concluded Defendant was appreciably impaired and placed her under arrest for driving while impaired.

*166Defendant was transported to the Rowan Regional Medical Center for a blood test. Following the blood test, Defendant was transported to the Rowan County Magistrate's Office, where she appeared before Magistrate Todd Wyrick ("Magistrate Wyrick"). After speaking with Deputy Myers, Magistrate Wyrick found probable cause to believe Defendant was a danger to herself or others.

The detention order contains a findings of fact section, where the magistrate enters why Defendant posed a danger to herself or others. Magistrate Wyrick simply typed "BLOOD TEST" in this section. Magistrate Wyrick found probable cause to detain Defendant as an impaired driver.

The detention order required Defendant remain in custody for a 12-hour period or until released into the custody of a sober adult. Magistrate Wyrick failed to instruct Defendant to fill out an "implied consent offense notice" form ("Form AOC-271"), which advises a defendant of her right to have "other persons appear at the jail to observe [her] condition."

After her appearance before Magistrate Wyrick, Defendant was transported to the Rowan County Jail. Defendant used a phone at the jail to call several friends and acquaintances and asked them to come to the jail to allow her to be released into their custody. Defendant was released into the custody of Kenneth Paxton at 12:24 a.m. on 2 January 2013.

Defendant filed a motion to dismiss the charges on 23 December 2013. She argued the State violated N.C. Gen.Stat. § 20-38.4 and *State v. Knoll,* 322 N.C. 535, 369 S.E.2d 558 (1988), when Magistrate Wyrick: (1) failed to provide sufficient findings of fact to show Defendant was a danger to herself and others; and (2) failed to provide Defendant a copy of Form AOC-271 advising of her right to have witnesses observe her demeanor at the jail. The trial court denied Defendant's motion on 20 October 2014.

Following the court's denial of her motion, Defendant entered a plea of guilty. The plea arrangement states "[Defendant] expressly retains the right to appeal the Court's denial of her motion to dismiss/suppress her Driving While Impaired charge in this case and her plea of guilty is conditioned based on her right to appeal that decision[.]" Defendant appeals.

*749*II. Issue*

Defendant asserts the trial court erred in denying her motion to dismiss. She argues a substantial violation occurred during the crucial period in which she could have gathered witnesses on her behalf and she was deprived of her statutory and constitutional rights of access to witnesses.

*III. Right to Appeal*

The State filed a motion to dismiss Defendant's appeal. It argues Defendant has no statutory right to appeal the trial court's denial of her motion to dismiss when a plea of guilty has been entered. We agree.

A defendant's right to appeal in a criminal proceeding in North Carolina "is purely a creation of state statute." *State v. Pimental,* 153 N.C.App. 69, 72, 568 S.E.2d 867, 869, *disc. rev. denied,* 356 N.C. 442, 573 S.E.2d 163 (2002) (citations omitted); N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444 (2013). Absent express statutory authority, a criminal defendant does not have a state right to appeal from a judgment entered upon her conviction under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444. *Id.; see also* *State v. Ahearn,* 307 N.C. 584, 605, 300 S.E.2d 689, 702 (1983) (quoting N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) ) (noting that except as provided in N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979, a defendant has no right of appeal from the entry of a guilty plea). No federal constitutional right obligates state courts to hear appeals in criminal proceedings. *E.g.,* *Abney v. United States,* 431 U.S. 651, 656, 97 S.Ct. 2034, 2038-39, 52 L.Ed.2d 651, 657 (1977).

*A. N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979(b)*

The circumstances under which a defendant may appeal a guilty plea and conviction are found in N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979(b). A defendant who has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, as here, is entitled to appeal as a matter of right whether the sentence imposed:

> *167(1) Results from an incorrect finding of the defendant's prior record level under G.S. 15A-1340.14 or the defendant's prior conviction level under G.S. 15A-1340.21 ;

> (2) Contains a type of sentence disposition that is not authorized by G.S. 15A-1340.17 or G.S. 15A-1340.23 for the defendant's class of offense and prior record or conviction level; or

> (3) Contains a term of imprisonment that is for a duration not authorized by G.S. 15A-1340.17 or G.S. 15A-1340.23 for *750the defendant's class of offense and prior record or conviction level.

N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(a2) (2013).

Defendant attempts to appeal as a matter of right from an order denying her motion to dismiss prior to her guilty plea. This issue is not listed as one of the grounds for appeal of right set forth in N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444. Defendant contends that an appeal of right is proper pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-979(b), which provides:

> An order finally denying a *motion to suppress* evidence may be reviewed upon an appeal from a judgment of conviction, including a judgment entered upon a plea of guilty.

N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-979(b) (2013) (emphasis supplied). We disagree.

In this case, Defendant filed a "MOTION TO DISMISS DWI CHARGE." In her motion to dismiss, Defendant stated "pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-954, [Defendant] moves the Court for an Order dismissing" the charge of DWI.

While the trial court's order denying Defendant's motion was styled "order on motion to suppress Defendant's DWI Charge," and Defendant's transcript of plea purported to reserve a right to appeal the Court's denial of her "motion to dismiss/suppress," a review of the record and the transcripts of Defendant's motion hearing and plea hearing reveals the only motion filed by Defendant was the motion to dismiss. Defendant's motion specifically cited N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-954, North Carolina's motion to dismiss statute. Defendant did not file a motion to suppress and has no right of appeal after denial of her motion to dismiss and entering a plea of guilty. N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979(b).

The facts of this case are substantially similar to the circumstances presented in *State v. Rinehart,* 195 N.C.App. 774, 673 S.E.2d 769 (2009). In *Rinehart,* the defendant made two pre-trial motions to dismiss. 195 N.C.App. at 775, 673 S.E.2d at 770. Both were denied. *Id.* Following the denial of the motions to dismiss, the defendant entered a plea of guilty, while reserving the right to appeal the denial of his motions to dismiss. *Id.* On appeal, the defendant argued the trial court erred in denying his motions to dismiss. *Id.*

Our Court held the defendant did not have a right to appeal from a denial of his motions to dismiss after his plea of guilty was entered. *See* *id.*at 776, 673 S.E.2d at770-71 ; *see also* *751*id.* at 776 n. 1, 673 S.E.2d at771 n. 1. The holding in *Rinehart* was later characterized, in relevant part, as follows:

> The defendant in *Rinehart* appealed only from motions to dismiss; he did not additionally attempt to appeal from any order for which an appeal of right existed. Since the *Rinehart* defendant did not attempt to appeal from any order for which an appeal of right existed, his appeal was appropriately dismissed.

*State v. White,* 213 N.C.App. 181, 185-86, 711 S.E.2d 862, 865 (2011).

*B. State v. Chavez and State v. Labinski*

Our Court has long held a defendant is limited to a right to appeal from a judgment entered following a guilty plea as prescribed in N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979(b). *See, e.g.,* *State v. Carter,* 167 N.C.App. 582, 584, 605 S.E.2d 676, 678 (2004) ; *State v. Jeffery,* 167 N.C.App. 575, 578, 605 S.E.2d 672, 674 (2004) ; *State v. Jamerson,* 161 N.C.App. 527, 528-29, 588 S.E.2d 545, 546-47 (2003).

Defendant argues the State's motion to dismiss her appeal should be denied. She cites two cases in which this Court reviewed the trial court's denial of a defendant's motion to dismiss based on a *Knoll* violation following a plea of guilty. *See* *168*State v. Chavez,* --- N.C.App. ----, 767 S.E.2d 581 (2014) ; *State v. Labinski,* 188 N.C.App. 120, 654 S.E.2d 740 (2008). The Court in both the *Chavez* and *Labinski* cases reached the merits of the respective defendant's appeals without any discussion of, or citation to, N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444, 15A-979(b), or our precedents in *Carter, Jeffery* , or *Jamerson.*

We are bound by the decisions of our Supreme Court and by prior decisions of another panel of our Court addressing the same question, unless overturned by an intervening decision from a higher court. *In re Civil Penalty,* 324 N.C. 373, 384, 379 S.E.2d 30, 37 (1989). Where apparent inconsistency exists between precedents of this Court, the oldest controlling case prevails. *State v. Harris,* --- N.C.App. ----, ----, 776 S.E.2d 554, 556 (2015).

We are required to follow longstanding precedents, which hold a defendant's right to appeal from a judgment following a plea of guilty is limited to the grounds enumerated in N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979(b). *Carter,* 167 N.C.App. at 584, 605 S.E.2d at 678 ; *Jeffery,* 167 N.C.App. at 578, 605 S.E.2d at 674 ; *Jamerson,* 161 N.C.App. at 528-29, 588 S.E.2d at 546-47. Under these facts, Defendant does not have a statutory *752right to appeal from the trial court's denial of her motion to dismiss followed by a plea of guilty. Defendant's appeal is dismissed.

*IV. Writ of Certiorari*

Defendant petitioned this Court for a writ of certiorari to review the trial court's denial of her motion to dismiss. Defendant contends this Court has authority to issue the writ of certiorari pursuant to N.C. R.App. P. 21 and N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e). The Rules of Appellate Procedure do not allow us to issue the requested writ under these facts. We decline to invoke Appellate Rule 2 to suspend Appellate Rule 21 to exercise our discretion pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) to grant the writ.

Although N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) states a defendant who pleads guilty to a criminal offense "may petition the appellate division for review by writ of certiorari," this Court's authority to issue writs of certiorari is circumscribed by the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. Appellate Rule 21(a)(1) limits the Court's ability to grant petitions for writ of certiorari to the following situations: (1) "when the right to prosecute an appeal has been lost by failure to take timely action;" (2) "when no right of appeal from an interlocutory order exists;" or (3) to "review pursuant to [N.C. Gen.Stat.] § 15A-1422(c)(3) of an order of the trial court ruling on a motion for appropriate relief." N.C. R.App. P. 21(a)(1) (2015); *see* *State v. Stubbs,* 368 N.C. 40, ----, 770 S.E.2d 74, 76 (2015) (noting a writ of certiorari is appropriate to review the State's appeal of a trial court's grant of the defendant's motion for appropriate relief pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1422(c)(3) ). Here, Defendant's petition under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) does not invoke any of the three grounds set forth in Appellate Rule 21 to enable this Court to issue the writ under this rule. N.C. R.App. P. 21(a)(1).

"In considering [A]ppellate Rule 21 and N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444, this Court has reasoned that since the appellate rules prevail over conflicting statutes, we are without authority to issue a writ of certiorari except as provided in [Appellate] Rule 21." *State v. Smith,* 193 N.C.App. 739, 742, 668 S.E.2d 612, 614 (2008) ; *see also* *State v. Nance,* 155 N.C.App. 773, 774, 574 S.E.2d 692, 693 (2003) ; *Pimental,* 153 N.C.App. at 73-74, 568 S.E.2d at870 ; *State v. Dickson,* 151 N.C.App. 136, 137-38, 564 S.E.2d 640, 640-41 (2002).

These holdings are rooted in precedents from our Supreme Court. *See* *State v. Bennett,* 308 N.C. 530, 535, 302 S.E.2d 786, 790 (1983) (noting because rules of practice and procedure are "promulgated *753by the Supreme Court pursuant to its exclusive authority under the Constitution of North Carolina, Article IV, Section 13 (2)," where a statute is in conflict with an appellate rule, "the statute must fail."); *see also* *State v. Oglesby,* 361 N.C. 550, 554, 648 S.E.2d 819, 821 (2007) (striking down Rule of Evidence 103(a)(2) "to the extent it conflicts with Rule of Appellate Procedure 10(b)(1)").

*A. Suspension of Rule 21(a)(1)*

Precedents from our Supreme Court and this Court issued a writ of certiorari in circumstances *169not set forth by Appellate Rule 21(a)(1). *See* *Ahearn,* 307 N.C. at 605, 300 S.E.2d at702 ; *State v. Bolinger,* 320 N.C. 596, 601-02, 359 S.E.2d 459, 462 (1987) ; *State v. O'Neal,* 116 N.C.App. 390, 394-95, 448 S.E.2d 306, 310, *disc. rev. denied,* 338 N.C. 522, 452 S.E.2d 821 (1994) ; *see also* *State v. Demaio,* 216 N.C.App. 558, 563-64, 716 S.E.2d 863, 866-67 (2011) ; *State v. Blount,* 209 N.C.App. 340, 345, 703 S.E.2d 921, 925 (2011) ; *State v. Keller,* 198 N.C.App. 639, 641-42, 680 S.E.2d 212, 213-14 (2009) ; *State v. Carriker,* 180 N.C.App. 470, 471, 637 S.E.2d 557, 558 (2006) ; *State v. Carter,* 167 N.C.App. 582, 585, 605 S.E.2d 676, 678 (2004) ; *State v. Rhodes,* 163 N.C.App. 191, 193-94, 592 S.E.2d 731, 732-33 (2004).

In *Ahearn,* the defendant pleaded guilty to felonious child abuse and voluntary manslaughter and filed an appeal. *Ahearn,* 307 N.C. at 601, 300 S.E.2d at 699. Ahearn argued no factual basis was shown to support his plea of guilty to felonious child abuse. *Id.* at 605, 300 S.E.2d at 702.

Our Supreme Court cited N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e), and recognized a defendant who has pleaded guilty has no right of appeal, except as provided in N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 and 15A-979. *Id.* Defendant's argument was not a ground enumerated in either N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444 or 15A-979. *Id.* The Court reasoned "if we are to consider this assignment of error, we must treat it as a petition for writ of certiorari, which we do." *Id.*

The Court then reviewed the merits of the defendant's argument through a writ of certiorari. *Id.* at 605-07, 300 S.E.2d at 702-03. The Supreme Court in *Ahearn* did not cite nor discuss Appellate Rule 21. *See* *id.* at 593-608, 300 S.E.2d at 695-704.

In *Bolinger,* the defendant contended the trial judge violated N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1022 by accepting his guilty plea. *Bolinger,* 320 N.C. at 601, 359 S.E.2d at 462. Our Supreme Court held "defendant is not entitled as a matter of right to appellate review of his contention that the trial court improperly accepted his guilty plea." *Id.* The Court further held *754that "[d]efendant may obtain appellate review of this issue only upon grant of a writ of certiorari." *Id.* Defendant Bolinger failed to petition the Court for a writ of certiorari, and the Court nonetheless elected to review the merits of the defendant's argument. *Id.*at 601-02, 359 S.E.2d at 462.

Our Supreme Court did not cite nor address Appellate Rule 21 in either *Ahearn* or *Bolinger.* The Court stated: "Neither party to this appeal appears to have recognized the limited bases for appellate review of judgments entered upon pleas of guilty. For this reason we nevertheless choose to review the merits of defendant's contention." *Id.* In cases which precede *Bolinger,* our Supreme Court has specifically stated where a conflict exists between the General Statutes and the Appellate Rules, the Appellate Rules control. *Bennett,* 308 N.C. at 535, 302 S.E.2d at790 ; *State v. Elam,* 302 N.C. 157, 160-61, 273 S.E.2d 661, 664 (1981).

In *O'Neal,* defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a life sentence. *O'Neal,* 116 N.C.App. at 391, 448 S.E.2d at 308. Defendant argued, *inter alia,* the trial court erred in denying his pretrial motion for further mental evaluation. *Id.*at 394, 448 S.E.2d at 310. This Court in *O'Neal* stated: "[g]enerally, a defendant who has entered a plea of guilty to a felony is not entitled to appellate review as a matter of right." *Id.*at 394-95, 448 S.E.2d at310 (citing *Ahearn,* 307 N.C. at 605, 300 S.E.2d at702 ; N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444 ).

After recognizing defendant did not have a right to appeal the issue he argued, the Court stated defendant "may petition the appellate division for review by writ of certiorari." *Id.* at 395, 448 S.E.2d at 310 (quoting N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) ). The Court stated:

> [I]n the present case where defendant pled guilty, we may not consider this assignment of error unless we treat his appeal as a writ of certiorari with respect to this assignment of error. Given the life sentence imposed upon defendant, we elect to treat the appeal as a petition for a writ of certiorari.

*Id.* This Court issued the writ of certiorari and reviewed the merits of the defendant's appeal. *Id.* As in *Ahearn* and *Bolinger,* this Court in *O'Neal* did not cite nor discuss *170Appellate Rule 21. *Id.*at 391-96, 448 S.E.2d at 308-11.

N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) clearly grants jurisdiction to the appellate courts to issue writs of certiorari to review the merits of defendant's argument, when no right of appeal exists following a plea of guilty *755pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 15A-1444(a1) - (a2). We recognize an apparent tension when comparing N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e), which grants appellate courts' jurisdiction to issue writs of certiorari, and Appellate Rule 21, which limits this Court's ability to grant such writs under the three specific grounds, none of which are applicable here. N.C. R.App. P. 21.

In neither *Ahearn* nor *Bolinger* did our Supreme Court cite to or address the requirements of Appellate Rule 21. In cases where this Court has issued the writ of certiorari to review issues surrounding guilty pleas under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e), this Court also did not cite nor analyze the three grounds to issue the writ set forth in Appellate Rule 21 to determine whether they applied to the facts of the case. *See e.g.,* *O'Neal,* 116 N.C.App. at 395, 448 S.E.2d at 310.

Other panels of this Court allowed certiorari by citing *Bolinger* and reached the merits of the defendants' arguments pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat § 15A-1444(e) for grounds not set forth in N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(a) or Appellate Rule 21. *See, e.g.,* *Rhodes,* 163 N.C.App. at 193, 592 S.E.2d at 732-33 (holding this Court could issue the writ of certiorari to review the defendant's challenge to the trial court's procedures employed in accepting his guilty plea); *Demaio,* 216 N.C.App. at 563-64, 716 S.E.2d at 866-67 (holding this Court could issue the writ of certiorari to review the defendant's argument that his plea was not the product of informed choice); *see also* *Keller,* 198 N.C.App. at 641, 680 S.E.2d at213 ; *Carter,* 167 N.C.App. at 585, 605 S.E.2d at 678.

*B. Appellate Rule 2*

Although the aforementioned cases do not cite nor discuss Appellate Rule 2, Rule 2 gives this Court the authority to suspend the limits of the Rules of Appellate Procedure:

> To prevent manifest injustice to a party, or to expedite decision in the public interest, either court of the appellate division may, except as otherwise expressly provided by these rules, suspend or vary the requirements or provisions of any of these rules in a case pending before it upon application of a party or upon its own initiative, and may order proceedings in accordance with its directions.

N.C. R.App. P. 2. The Appellate Rules may be suspended as long as such suspension does not enlarge the jurisdiction of the Court. N.C. R.App. P. 1(c) (noting the Rules of Appellate Procedure "shall not be construed to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the courts of the appellate division as *756that is established by law"); *see also* *Bailey v. North Carolina,* 353 N.C. 142, 157, 540 S.E.2d 313, 323 (2000) (citations omitted) (noting " suspension of the appellate rules under Rule 2 is not permitted for jurisdictional concerns").

The plain language of Appellate Rule 2 "grants this Court the discretion to suspend appellate rules either 'upon application of a party' or 'upon its own initiative.' " *Bailey,* 353 N.C. at 157, 540 S.E.2d at 323. Appellate Rule 2 "relates to the residual power of our appellate courts to consider, in exceptional circumstances, significant issues of importance in the public interest, or to prevent injustice which appears manifest to the Court and only in such instances." *Steingress v. Steingress,* 350 N.C. 64, 66, 511 S.E.2d 298, 299-300 (1999). This Court's discretionary exercise to invoke Rule 2 is "intended to be limited to occasions in which a 'fundamental purpose' of the appellate rules is at stake, which will necessarily be 'rare occasions.' " *State v. Hart,* 361 N.C. 309, 316, 644 S.E.2d 201, 205 (2007) (citations omitted).

On the record before us, Defendant has not demonstrated, and we do not find, the exceptional circumstances necessary to invoke Appellate Rule 2. We decline to suspend Appellate Rule 21(a)(1) pursuant to Appellate Rule 2 to exercise our discretionary review of Defendant's petition for writ of certiorari pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e).

*171We are bound by decisions of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. *See* *Cannon v. Miller,* 313 N.C. 324, 324, 327 S.E.2d 888, 888 (1985) (holding the Court of Appeals has a "responsibility to follow" decisions of the Supreme Court, "until otherwise ordered" by our Supreme Court). Likewise, a subsequent panel of this Court has no authority to overrule a previous panel on the same issue. *In re Civil Penalty,* 324 N.C. at 384, 379 S.E.2d at 37. We must follow our Supreme Court's holdings in *Bennett* and *Oglesby* that the appellate rules promulgated by our Supreme Court under constitutional authority prevail over conflicting general statutes, *Bennett,* 308 N.C. at 535, 302 S.E.2d at790 ; *Oglesby,* 361 N.C. at 554, 648 S.E.2d at 821, and this Court's oldest precedent ruling on the issue. *E.g.,* *Smith,* 193 N.C.App. at 742, 668 S.E.2d at614 ; *Nance,* 155 N.C.App. at 774, 574 S.E.2d at693 ; *Pimental,* 153 N.C.App. at 73-74, 568 S.E.2d at870 ; *Dickson,* 151 N.C.App. at 137-38, 564 S.E.2d at 640-41.

On the record before us, Defendant has not demonstrated, and we do not find, the 'exceptional circumstances' necessary to invoke Rule 2 and suspend the requirements of Rule 21 to review the merits of Defendant's argument by certiorari.

*757*V. Conclusion*

Under these facts, Defendant does not have a statutory right to appeal from the trial court's denial of her motion to dismiss prior to her plea of guilty. Defendant's petition to issue a writ of certiorari does not assert grounds which are included in or permitted by Appellate Rule 21(a)(1). In the exercise of our discretion, we decline to invoke Appellate Rule 2 to suspend the requirements of the appellate rules to grant the writ of certiorari pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1444(e) to review Defendant's argument. Defendant's petition is denied. Defendant's appeal is dismissed.

DENIED AND DISMISSED.

Judges McCULLOUGH and DIETZ concur.