Court Opinion

ID: 4356376
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-07 08:14:03.036453+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:26.555687
License: Public Domain

Susan Williams
                                 Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 528
2019.01.03
12:36:43 -06'00'   ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION IV
                                      No. CV-12-779

D.S., MINOR                                      Opinion Delivered September 25, 2013
                               APPELLANT
                                                 APPEAL FROM THE BENTON
V.                                               COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                                 [NO. J-2011-825-D]

STATE OF ARKANSAS                                HONORABLE MARK THOMPSON
                                  APPELLEE       FRYAUF, JUDGE

                                                 AFFIRMED; MOTION TO
                                                 WITHDRAW GRANTED

                               RITA W. GRUBER, Judge

         Appellant, a minor, was adjudicated delinquent based on a finding that he committed

the offenses of rape, disorderly conduct, and failure to appear. The Benton County Circuit

Court placed appellant on probation and committed him to the Arkansas Department of

Human Services, Division of Youth Services (DYS). Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386
U.S. 738 (1967), and Rule 4-3(k) of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court

of Appeals, appellant’s counsel has filed a motion to withdraw on the ground that the appeal

is wholly without merit. The motion is accompanied by an abstract and brief referring to

everything in the record that might arguably support an appeal and a statement of reasons

why none of those rulings would be a meritorious ground for appeal.1 Appellant has filed pro

         1
        We previously ordered rebriefing because counsel failed to include all rulings adverse
to appellant in his initial brief. D.S. v. State, 2013 Ark. App. 141.
                                  Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 528

se points for reversal,2 and the State has filed a brief asserting that his arguments are either

barred or without merit.

       We agree with the State that appellant’s pro se points are not preserved for appeal or

do not otherwise support reversal. For example, appellant contends that his disposition

differed from the dispositions of his two codefendants, but he admits that he did not object

to DYS’s recommended disposition for him because he “knew [he] needed help for [his]

behaviors.” Moreover, unlike the dispositions of his codefendants, appellant’s disposition was

not only for the rape offense but also for the offenses of disorderly conduct and failure to

appear. In addition, three of his points concern the credibility and competency of witnesses.

The question of the competency of a witness is a matter lying within the sound discretion

of the circuit court and, in the absence of clear abuse, we will not reverse on appeal. King v.

State, 317 Ark. 293, 302, 877 S.W.2d 583, 589 (1994). The issue of competency of a witness

is one in which the trial judge’s evaluation is particularly important due to the opportunity

he is afforded to observe the witness and the testimony. Id. Finally, any evaluation as to the

credibility of the witness is a matter for the finder of fact. Richey v. State, 2013 Ark. App. 382,

at 5. In this case, the court found appellant’s victim credible, and its finding of guilt may rest

solely on her testimony, even though she is a child. Id.

       From our review of the record and brief presented to us, we find compliance with

Rule 4-3(k) and that the appeal is wholly without merit. Accordingly, we affirm the court’s

       2
        Appellant’s mother also filed pro se points. Although she was a party in the
proceedings below, Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-311 (Supp. 2011), she did not file an appeal;
therefore, we will not consider her points.

                                                2
                               Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 528

adjudication and disposition and grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.

      Affirmed; motion to withdraw granted.

      HIXSON and WOOD, JJ., agree.

      Ballard & Ballard, P.A., by: Andrew D. Ballard, for appellant.

      Dustin McDaniel, Att’y Gen., by: Laura Shue, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.

                                             3