Court Opinion

ID: 3215824
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-22 14:07:58.531355+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:04:16.136977
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 335

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION II
                                      No.CR-15-955

                                                  Opinion Delivered   June 22, 2016

 JIMMY MACK SHORT                        APPEAL FROM THE CRITTENDEN
                               APPELLANT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                         [NO. CR-2013-1070]
 V.
                                                  HONORABLE RALPH WILSON, JR.,
 STATE OF ARKANSAS                                JUDGE
                                 APPELLEE
                                                  AFFIRMED; MOTION TO
                                                  WITHDRAW GRANTED;
                                                  REMANDED FOR CORRECTION
                                                  OF THE CONDITIONS OF SIS

                          BRANDON J. HARRISON, Judge

       The Crittenden County Circuit Court revoked Short’s probation and sentenced

him to three years’ imprisonment. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967),

and Rule 4-3(k)(1) of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals,

Short’s attorney has filed a no-merit brief, along with a motion to withdraw, asserting that

there is no issue of arguable merit for an appeal. Short was notified of his right to file pro

se points for reversal via certified mail, but he has not done so. We affirm the revocation

and grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.

       In January 2014, Short pled guilty to a violation of the Arkansas Sex Offender

Registration Act and was placed on five years’ probation. In February 2015, the State

petitioned to revoke Short’s probation, alleging the following violations: (1) failure to pay

                                              1
                                  Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 335

fines, costs, and fees as directed; (2) failure to report to probation as directed; (3) failure to

pay probation fees; (4) failure to notify the sheriff and probation of his current address and

employment; (5) violation of the Arkansas Sex Offender Registration Act.

       At the revocation hearing held in August 2015, Sergeant Stacy Allen, a criminal

investigator for the West Memphis Police Department, testified that he was responsible for

overseeing the sex-offender registry. Allen explained that Short was required to check in

every six months, he had checked in on 30 May 2014, and he was expected to next check

in on 30 November 2014. On 2 September 2014, Short reported that he was moving to a

different street address in West Memphis. Allen testified that there was no further contact

from Short after September 2. Based on Short’s not reporting, Allen issued a warrant for

Short’s arrest. In February 2015, Allen received information that Short was living in

Millington, Tennessee. Allen faxed the Millington Police Department a copy of the

warrant, and Short was arrested.

       Officer Chancey Rainey, Short’s probation officer, testified that Short had been

reporting and was on an every-three-month reporting schedule, but that after reporting on

3 September 2014, he failed to report on his next scheduled date of 4 November 2014.

After some investigating, Rainey discovered that Short was living in Millington,

Tennessee, so Rainey contacted Allen and gave him Short’s address. Rainey also testified

that Short owed $70 in probation fees. Amy Peyton, an employee of the Crittenden

County Sheriff’s Department, testified that Short was ordered to pay $1520 in fines and

costs in January 2014, that he paid a total of $60 in 2014 and $250 in 2015, and that he

owed a balance of $1390.

                                                2
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 335

       At the close of the State’s case, defense counsel moved to dismiss the allegation of

failure to notify the sheriff of his current address and employment. The court granted the

motion with respect to the sheriff’s office.

       Short testified and agreed that he had pled guilty to a violation of the registration

act in January 2014 and was sentenced to five years’ probation. He explained that he had

been disabled since 2010 and had relied on oxygen assistance since 2011. He testified that

he was unable to work and that his income was $700 a month in government assistance.

He acknowledged that he had no excuse, other than a lack of transportation, for not

reporting as required in November 2014. He also acknowledged his obligation to pay $50

per month toward his fines and costs and stated that if given one more chance, he would

“up these fines to $100 a month” and “do the right thing.” The defense rested and did

not renew or make additional motions for dismissal. The defense also failed to renew or

make additional motions for dismissal after the State’s rebuttal evidence.

       The circuit court found that Short had violated his probation by failing to “be of

good behavior” and not violate any state, federal, or municipal law; failing to report to

probation; violating the registration act by failing to report; and failing to promptly notify

his probation officer of any change of address. The court exempted Short from any

further payment obligations due to his disability. The court imposed a sentence of three

years’ imprisonment followed by three years’ suspended imposition of sentence (SIS). The

                                               3
                                   Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 335

court entered a written order on August 19, and Short has timely appealed from that

order. 1

           On appeal from a revocation, we review whether the circuit court’s findings are

clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Jones v. State, 2013 Ark. App. 466. In

order to revoke probation, the State has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the

evidence that a condition of probation was violated. Id. Evidence that is insufficient to

support a criminal conviction may be sufficient to support a revocation. Joiner v. State,

2012 Ark. App. 380. Proof of just one violation of the terms and conditions of release is

sufficient to support revocation. Richardson v. State, 85 Ark. App. 347, 157 S.W.3d 536

(2004).

           Short’s counsel argues that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal and asks to

withdraw as counsel. A request to withdraw on the ground that the appeal is wholly

without merit shall be accompanied by a brief that contains a list of all rulings adverse to

appellant and an explanation as to why each ruling is not a meritorious ground for

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

consists of a list of all rulings adverse to the defendant made by the circuit 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. Id.

           In this case, counsel explains that Short made a motion for dismissal at the close of

the State’s case but did not renew the motion at the close of all the evidence. Thus,

           1
          The conditions of Short’s SIS, also entered on August 19, indicate that Short
entered a negotiated plea of guilty. This is clearly an error because Short was found guilty
of violating his probation by the circuit court.
                                                 4
                                Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 335

counsel states, any argument challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is not preserved.

Counsel then goes on to discuss the grounds for revocation and explains why each one

does not present a meritorious basis for appeal. Counsel first discusses the failure to report

to probation as directed and failing to notify probation of his current address and

employment. Counsel asserts that both the probation officer’s testimony and Short’s own

testimony support revocation on this basis. Next, counsel discusses the failure to report

pursuant to the registration act and argues that Short admitted to the violation in his

testimony.   Thus, counsel argues, neither ground provides a meritorious basis for an

appeal. 2

        We disagree that any argument challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is not

preserved. In Barbee v. State, 346 Ark. 185, 56 S.W.3d 370 (2001), our supreme court

made clear that Ark. R. Crim. P. 33.1 and the requirements thereof, pertaining to

motions for dismissal and directed verdicts, do not apply to revocation hearings. We do,

however, agree that this case presents no meritorious ground for reversal. Short admitted

not reporting to probation and not reporting as required pursuant to the registration act,

and he gave no reasonable excuse for noncompliance.

        In deciding whether to allow counsel to withdraw from appellate representation,

the test is not whether counsel thinks the trial court committed no reversible error, but

whether the points to be raised on appeal would be wholly frivolous. Williams v. State,

        2
         The circuit court also found that Short violated his probation by failing to “be of
good behavior” and not violate any state, federal, or municipal law, and while counsel
does not specifically discuss this ground, the basis for the court making this finding was
Short’s failure to report pursuant to the registration act, which is adequately addressed by
counsel. So we see no need for a rebriefing in this instance.
                                              5
                                     Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 335

2013 Ark. App. 323. In this case, we find compliance with Rule 4-3(k)(1) and Anders and

hold that there is no merit to this appeal.

          As noted earlier, the conditions of Short’s SIS indicate that he entered a negotiated

plea of guilty when he was in fact found guilty of violating his probation by the circuit

court. We therefore remand to the circuit court for correction of the conditions of

Short’s SIS. See Britt v. State, 2015 Ark. App. 456, 468 S.W.3d 285.

          Affirmed; motion to withdraw granted; remanded for correction of the conditions

of SIS.

          GLOVER and VAUGHT, JJ., agree.

          S. Butler Bernard, Jr., for appellant.

          No response.

                                                   6