Court Opinion

ID: 9649974
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 15:16:32.636978+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:24.574247
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

                                        2023 WY 81

                                                                  April Term, A.D. 2023

                                                                      August 23, 2023

 ALANA ANN ARCHULETA,

 Appellant
 (Defendant),

 v.                                                 S-23-0047

 THE STATE OF WYOMING,

 Appellee
 (Plaintiff).

                   ORDER AFFIRMING THE DISTRICT COURT’S
                  ORDER FINDING DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY BY
                        REASON OF MENTAL ILLNESS
[¶1] This matter came before the Court upon its own motion following notification that
Appellant has not filed a pro se brief within the time allotted by this Court. Appellant filed
this appeal to challenge the district court’s January 17, 2023, Order Finding the Defendant
Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Illness, Pursuant to W.S. § 7-11-306.

[¶2] On May 25, 2023, Appellant’s court-appointed appellate counsel filed a Motion to
Withdraw as Counsel, pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396,
1400, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). This Court subsequently entered an Order Granting Motion
for Extension of Time to File Pro Se Brief. This Court ordered that, on or before July 20,
2023, Appellant was permitted to file with this Court a pro se brief specifying the issues
she would like the Court to consider in this appeal. This Court also provided notice that,
after the time for filing a pro se brief expired, this Court would make its ruling on counsel’s
motion to withdraw and, if appropriate, make a final decision on this appeal. This Court
later extended the time for Appellant to file a brief to August 4, 2023. Appellant did not
file a pro se brief or other pleading in the time allotted.

[¶3] Now, following a careful review of the record and the Anders brief submitted by
appellate counsel, this Court finds that appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw should be
granted and the district court’s Order Finding the Defendant Not Guilty by Reason of
Mental Illness, Pursuant to W.S. § 7-11-306 should be affirmed. It is, therefore,

[¶4] ORDERED that the Wyoming Public Defender’s Office, court-appointed counsel
for Appellant Alana Ann Archuleta, is hereby permitted to withdraw as counsel of record
for Appellant; and it is further

[¶5] ORDERED that the Natrona County District Court’s January 17, 2023, Order
Finding the Defendant Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Illness, Pursuant to W.S. § 7-11-
306, be, and the same hereby is, affirmed.

[¶6]   DATED this 23rd day of August, 2023.

                                              BY THE COURT:

                                              /s/

                                              KATE M. FOX
                                              Chief Justice