Court Opinion

ID: 4179361
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-21 14:06:06.148091+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:00.758788
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 399

                    ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                        DIVISION II
                                        No. CR-16-1107

                                                    Opinion Delivered   June 21, 2017

ISAIAH MARTIN                                       APPEAL FROM THE CRITTENDEN
                                                    COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                APPELLANT           [NO. 18CR-14-992]

V.                                                  HONORABLE JOHN FOGLEMAN,
                                                    JUDGE

STATE OF ARKANSAS                                   AFFIRMED; MOTION TO
                                  APPELLEE          WITHDRAW GRANTED

                                LARRY D. VAUGHT, Judge

       This is a no-merit appeal filed on behalf of Isaiah Martin after the Crittenden County

Circuit Court revoked his probation. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and

Rule 4-3(k) of the Rules of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Martin’s counsel has

filed a motion to withdraw on the ground that this appeal is wholly without merit. The motion

is accompanied by an abstract and addendum of the proceedings below, which addresses all

objections and motions decided adversely to Martin, and a brief in which counsel explains why

there is nothing in the record that would support an appeal. The clerk of this court provided

Martin with a copy of his counsel’s brief and notified him of his right to file a pro se statement

of points for reversal, but he submitted no points. We affirm the circuit court’s revocation of

Martin’s probation and grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.

       In October 2014, Martin was charged with battery in the second degree, a Class D

felony. The following May, he entered a negotiated plea of guilty and was sentenced to three
                                  Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 399

years’ probation. He signed the conditions of suspended sentence or probation, requiring him

to report to his probation officer as directed, cooperate with the probation office, and not use

or possess illegal drugs, among other conditions.

       On December 29, 2015, the State filed a petition to revoke his probation, alleging that

he had failed to pay his court-ordered fines, fees, and costs as directed; failed to report to

probation as directed; failed to pay probation fees; failed to notify the sheriff and the probation

office of his current address and employment; failed to live a law-abiding life and maintain

good behavior without violating any state, federal, or municipal law; and tested positive for

THC, heroin, and opiates on July 2, 2015. A hearing was held on September 1, 2016, at which

an employee of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department testified that Martin had not made

any payments toward his court-ordered fines, fees, and costs. She testified that he owed $1,170.

       Jennifer Clements testified that she is Martin’s probation officer through the Arkansas

Department of Community Correction. She testified that Martin began probation on May 22,

2015, but remained incarcerated on other charges until June 16, 2015. Although Martin

reported in June, July, and August, he failed to report after that. She testified that the next time

she saw Martin was in August 2016, when he was in jail. Clements also testified that Martin

tested positive for THC, alcohol, and opiates on July 2, 2015.

       Clements testified that, although he did not come in to report, Martin called her in

September 2015 and told her he was in the hospital after having been “jumped.” Clements

told Martin to file a police report and to bring her that report along with documentation from

the hospital. He never did so. Clements stated that she then tried several times to contact him

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by phone and by mail but could not reach him. After his arrest in August 2016, Martin told

Clements that he had been out of state, living in Ohio.

       Martin testified that he is married and is the father of two young children. He stated

that he was currently serving ninety days in jail for failure to appear for a court hearing. He

testified that, after beginning his probation, he worked for Paschall Truck Line, but that he

had only had enough money to support his wife and children, who were living with her aunt.

He stated that he was homeless. He stated that he didn’t have any money to pay his fines, fees,

or costs. Martin also testified that on August 27, 2015, his ankle was broken when he was

attacked by a group of young men while picking up his son. He stated that they shot out his

car window and beat him. He said that as a result of his incarceration and the attack, he had

developed anxiety and panic attacks and had become paranoid. His doctor prescribed

Seroquel. He stated that, although Clements had instructed him to report the incident to the

police, he could not do so due to fear of retaliation. He stated that “they shot up my wife’s

granny’s house” and “these dudes got guns and they’re crazy shooting.” He said that, because

he was afraid for his life, he “disappeared” to Ohio. When he finally returned to West

Memphis, his wife called the police and reported him “so we could get this handled.”

       He stated that he could now pay his fines, fees, and costs because his wife just got a

lump-sum payment from the army that could cover it. However, he also testified that he didn’t

have the ability to pay but would get a job and make payments.

       Martin testified that the reason he had stopped reporting to Clements was that she

scared him off when she told him to report the beating to the police or she would find him in

violation.

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       In closing arguments, Martin’s attorney conceded that Martin had failed to make

payments as required but argued that he was unable to pay based on lack of financial means.

The attorney also argued that the court should place Martin back on probation instead of

revoking his probation, so that he could remedy the problems by getting current on his

payments and living a law-abiding life. The court found Martin in violation, revoked his

probation, and sentenced him to four years’ incarceration.

       As this is a no-merit appeal, counsel is required to list each ruling adverse to the

defendant and to explain why each adverse ruling does not present a meritorious ground for

reversal. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-3(k)(1); Eads v. State, 74 Ark. App. 363,

365, 47 S.W.3d 918, 919 (2001). 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. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Eads, 74 Ark. App. at 365, 47 S.W.3d at 919. Pursuant to

Anders, we are required to determine of whether the case is wholly frivolous after a full

examination of all the proceedings. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Eads, 74 Ark. App. at 365, 47

S.W.3d at 919.

       We are satisfied that there are no nonfrivolous issues that would support an appeal.

Counsel correctly notes that Martin raised two objections below, both of which were

sustained, and the State raised one objection on which the court never ruled. The only adverse

ruling was the court’s decision to revoke Martin’s probation. In order to support revocation

of probation, the State has the burden of proof but need to prove only one violation of the

conditions of Martin’s probation. Peals v. State, 2015 Ark. App. 1, at 4, 453 S.W.3d 151, 154

(citing Robinson v. State, 2014 Ark. App. 579, 446 S.W.3d 190). In the present case, there was

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sufficient evidence to support the revocation on several grounds. For example, the State

presented evidence that Martin failed to report for approximately a year, tested positive for

illegal drugs, failed to make required payments, and left the state without obtaining permission

or updating the sheriff’s office and probation office as to his whereabouts. Therefore, we agree

that the record before us presents no nonfrivolous basis for an appeal. We grant counsel’s

motion to withdraw and affirm.

       Affirmed; motion to withdraw granted.

       HARRISON and BROWN, JJ., agree.

       Tyler C. Ginn, for appellant.

       No response.

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