Court Opinion

ID: 2620302
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 16:58:55.11132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:31:05.336754
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 619

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION II
                                      No. CR-13-533

RODOLFO SOTO                                     Opinion Delivered OCTOBER 30, 2013

                               APPELLANT
                                                 APPEAL FROM THE CRITTENDEN
V.                                               COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                                 [NO. CR-2009-213]

STATE OF ARKANSAS                                HONORABLE RANDY F.
                                 APPELLEE        PHILHOURS, JUDGE

                                                 AFFIRMED; MOTION TO BE
                                                 RELIEVED GRANTED

                              DAVID M. GLOVER, Judge

       On June 22, 2009, appellant Rodolfo Soto pleaded guilty to Class C felony non-

support. He was placed on seven years’ supervised probation and was ordered to pay court

costs, a $250 fine, $15,125 in restitution, and various fees. On August 29, 2012, the State

filed a petition for revocation of probation, alleging that Soto had failed to pay fines,

restitution, costs, and fees as directed; to report as directed; to pay probation fees; and to

notify the sheriff and probation office of his current address and employment; it also alleged

that he had moved from his approved residence without permission. Following a hearing, the

trial court revoked Soto’s probation and sentenced him to four years in a regional punishment

facility, to be followed by a six-year suspended imposition of sentence.
                                  Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 619

       Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967),1 and Rule 4-3(k) of the Arkansas

Rules of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Soto’s counsel has filed a motion to

withdraw on the grounds that the appeal is wholly without merit. Counsel’s motion was

accompanied by a brief referring to everything in the record that might arguably support an

appeal, including a list of all rulings adverse to Soto made by the trial court on all objections,

motions, and requests made by either party, with an explanation as to why each adverse ruling

is not a meritorious ground for reversal. Although the clerk of this court furnished Soto with

a copy of his counsel’s brief and notified him of his right to file pro se points, Soto has filed

no points.

       At the revocation hearing, Amy Peyton, who collects fines and fees for the Crittenden

County Sheriff’s Department, testified that Soto was ordered to pay a $250 fine, $770 in costs,

and $15,125 in restitution, to be paid at the rate of $195 per month thirty days after his release

from jail. Peyton stated that Soto had paid a total of $460 and had not contacted her with any

information as to why he had not been paying, where he had been working, or where he was

living. Angela Brandstetter, the general secretary over felony records at the sheriff’s office,

then testified that Soto was released from the county jail on October 16, 2009, and that he

was to begin making payments thirty days after release.

       Constance Brown, Soto’s probation officer, testified that Soto had last reported for

       1
       We note that counsel cites the proper rule, Rule 4-3(k), in his brief, but he makes no
mention of Anders, the seminal case with regard to what is required to be included in criminal
no-merit briefs. As a caveat, counsel should both acquaint himself with the framework found
in Anders for no-merit criminal briefs and include the Anders citation in his brief.

                                                2
                                  Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 619

probation on December 19, 2011, and that she had filed a violation report on August 22,

2012. Brown also stated that, at the time she filed the violation report, Soto was behind on

probation fees in the amount of $383, and that her records reflected Soto was not working.

       Soto testified in his own defense. He stated that when his probation began, he was

working at an apartment complex as a painter. While he admitted that he had agreed to pay

$195 per month on his financial obligations, he said that the job did not pay much, he had to

pay for food, and he had eventually lost his job. Soto testified that he had difficulty finding

work due to his felony conviction. He stated that he did not report for probation after

December 2011 because he was trying to find work and “put off” reporting in the hope that

he would be able to make enough money to become current on his payments.

       The trial court found that Soto had violated the terms and conditions of his probation

by failing to pay his fines, costs, fees, and restitution. It further found that Soto had failed to

report. The trial court then revoked Soto’s probation and sentenced him to four years in a

regional punishment facility, with an additional six-year suspended imposition of sentence.

       The only adverse ruling in this case is that the trial court found sufficient evidence to

revoke Soto’s probation. A sentence of probation may be revoked when a trial court finds

by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has inexcusably failed to comply with

a condition of probation. Denson v. State, 2012 Ark. App. 105. The State need only show

that the defendant committed one violation to sustain a revocation. Maxwell v. State, 2010
Ark. App. 822. Great deference is given to the trial court in determining the preponderance

of the evidence because the trial judge is in a superior position to determine the credibility

                                                3
                                Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 619

of witnesses and to determine the weight to be given to their testimony. Denson, supra. The

appellate courts will not reverse a revocation unless the decision is clearly against the

preponderance of the evidence. Denson, supra.

       Soto admitted that he was behind in his payments and that he had not reported for

probation since December 2011. While he offered excuses for the violation of his probation,

the trial court was not required to believe him or excuse Soto’s failure to comply with the

conditions of his probation. See, e.g., Ingram v. State, 2009 Ark. App. 729, 363 S.W.3d 6. The

evidence before the trial court was sufficient to support the revocation of Soto’s probation.

       From our review of the record and the brief presented to this court, we conclude that

appellant’s counsel has complied with the requirements of Rule 4-3(k) of the Arkansas Rules

of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals and that the appeal is without merit.

Counsel’s motion to be relieved is granted and Soto’s conviction is affirmed.

       Affirmed; motion to be relieved granted.

       WYNNE and VAUGHT, JJ., agree.

       C. Brian Williams, for appellant.

       No response.

                                              4