Court Opinion

ID: 9955079
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-27 16:18:26.436037+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:15.457827
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

                                        2024 WY 32

                                                                October Term, A.D. 2023

                                                                      March 27, 2024

 MICHELLE L. PEOPLES,

 Appellant
 (Defendant),

 v.                                                 S-23-0250

 THE STATE OF WYOMING,

 Appellee
 (Plaintiff).

  ORDER AFFIRMING THE DISTRICT COURT’S JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE
[¶ 1] This matter came before the Court upon its own motion following notification that
Appellant has not filed a pro se brief in the time allotted. Pursuant to a plea agreement,
Appellant entered an unconditional guilty plea to one felony count of theft. Wyo. Stat.
Ann. § 6-3-402. The district court imposed a two to four-year sentence. Appellant took
this appeal to challenge the district court’s August 2, 2023, Judgment and Sentence.

[¶ 2] On January 24, 2024, 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
March 11, 2024, 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.
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 appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw should be
granted and the district court’s judgment should be affirmed. It is, therefore,
[¶ 4] ORDERED that the Wyoming Public Defender’s Office, court-appointed counsel
for Appellant Michelle L. Peoples, is hereby permitted to withdraw as counsel of record
for Appellant; and it is further

[¶ 5] ORDERED the Laramie County District Court’s August 2, 2023, Judgment and
Sentence be, and the same hereby is, affirmed.

[¶ 6] DATED this 27th day of March, 2024.

                                                     BY THE COURT:*

                                                     /s/

                                                     KATE M. FOX
                                                     Chief Justice

* Justice Kautz retired from judicial office effective March 26, 2024, and, pursuant to Article 5,
§ 5 of the Wyoming Constitution and Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-1-106(f) (2023), he was reassigned to
act on this matter on March 27, 2024.