Court Opinion

ID: 2649336
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-15 16:59:18.368964+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:26:46.536215
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 20

                ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                      DIVISION I
                                     No. CR-13-557

                                                Opinion Delivered   January 15, 2014

ISMEAL LEAL                                     APPEAL FROM THE CRITTENDEN
                              APPELLANT         COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                                [NO. CR-2006-660]

V.                                              HONORABLE JOHN N.
                                                FOGLEMAN, JUDGE

STATE OF ARKANSAS                               REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION
                                APPELLEE        TO WITHDRAW DENIED

                        ROBERT J. GLADWIN, Chief Judge

       On June 15, 2006, appellant Ismeal Leal pled guilty to the offense of possession of a

controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class “C” felony, in case CR-2006-660, and

received a sentence of ninety-six months’ supervised probation. On January 4, 2011, the

State filed a petition to revoke. After a hearing on March 26, 2013, appellant was found to

have violated conditions of probation and was sentenced to thirty-six months in the Arkansas

Department of Correction.

       Appellant’s attorney filed a timely notice of appeal from the judgment upon

revocation. Subsequently, appellant’s attorney filed a no-merit brief pursuant to Ark. Sup.

Ct. R. 4-3(k) (2013), along with a motion to be relieved as counsel, asserting that there is

no issue of arguable merit to present on appeal. A request to withdraw on the ground that

the appeal is wholly without merit shall be accompanied by a brief including an abstract and
                                   Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 20

addendum. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(k)(1). The brief shall contain an argument section that

consists of a list of all rulings adverse to the defendant made by the circuit court with an

explanation as to why each adverse ruling is not a meritorious ground for reversal. Ark. Sup.

Ct. R. 4–3(k)(1). It is imperative that counsel follow the appropriate procedure when filing

a motion to withdraw as counsel. Brown v. State, 85 Ark. App. 382, 155 S.W.3d 22 (2004).

In furtherance of the goal of protecting constitutional rights, it is both the duty of counsel

and of this court to perform a full examination of the proceedings as a whole to decide if an

appeal would be wholly frivolous. Campbell v. State, 74 Ark. App. 277, 47 S.W.3d 915

(2001).

         We deny counsel’s motion and order that counsel rebrief this appeal, based on the

same reasons stated in Alls v. State, 2013 Ark. App. 434, handed down on June 26, 2013. In

that opinion, we held that the argument section of counsel’s brief was deficient, pointing to

the lack of a reference to Rule 4-3(k) or Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and a lack

of an adequate discussion or explanation as to why each of the two adverse rulings lacked

merit.

         In its petition for revocation, the State alleged that appellant violated the terms and

conditions of his probationary sentence by (1) failing to pay fines, costs and fees as directed;

(2) failing to report to probation as directed; (3) failing to pay probation fees; (4) failing to

notify, the sheriff and probation office of his current address and employment; (5) departing

from his approved residence; and (6) departing from jurisdiction without permission.

Counsel claims that the only adverse ruling against appellant was the revocation of his

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                                 Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 20

probation, which was based solely on his violation of Condition #1, failure to pay fines and

costs, as provided in the circuit court’s judgment and disposition order.

       Counsel abstracted the testimony of Amy Peyton, the collector of fines at the sheriff’s

office. She testified that appellant was assessed fines and costs in case CR-2006-660 in the

amount of $2270, which he was to pay at $50 a month beginning August 10, 2006. Between

August 28, 2007, and September 2010, when he made his last payment, defendant made

seventeen $50 payments totaling $845. He incurred transportation costs from Texas in the

amount of $720 and had an outstanding balance of $2565. She identified appellant’s fine

record reflecting her testimony. Counsel failed, however, to abstract or discuss the testimony

of Mary Marshall, appellant’s probation officer with respect to this case. She provided

evidence directly related to findings made by the circuit court with respect to the revocation.

       Based on these omissions, as well as the above referenced deficiencies, we conclude

that appellant’s counsel’s brief fails to comply with Rule 4-3(k), and we order counsel to

submit a complying no-merit brief within 15 days of this opinion. We urge counsel to

carefully examine the record and to review the rules before resubmitting a no-merit brief.

See Jefferson v. State, 2013 Ark. App. 325.

       Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

       PITTMAN and WHITEAKER , JJ., agree.

       C. Brian Williams, for appellant.

       No response.

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