Opinion
No. 411, 2001.
Submitted: April 9, 2002.
Decided: April 29, 2002.
Court Below — Superior Court of the State of Delaware, in and for New Castle County Cr.A. Nos. IN00-10-1759, IN01-01-1276.
Affirmed.
Unpublished Opinion is below.
FREDDIE FLONNORY, Defendant Below-Appellant, v. STATE OF DELAWARE, Plaintiff Below-Appellee. No. 411, 2001. Supreme Court of the State of Delaware. Submitted: April 9, 2002. Decided: April 29, 2002.
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH and HOLLAND, Justices
Joseph T. Walsh, Justice:
ORDER
This 29th day of April 2002, upon consideration of the appellant's Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, his attorney's motion to withdraw, and the State's response thereto, it appears to the Court that:
(1) The defendant-appellant, Freddie Flonnory, was convicted by a Superior Court jury of Assault in a Detention Facility and Reckless Burning.
On the assault conviction, Flonnory was sentenced to 8 years incarceration at Level V, to be suspended after 7 1/2 years for 6 months of Level III probation.
On the reckless burning conviction, he was sentenced to 1 year incarceration at Level V. This is Flonnory's direct appeal.
(2) Flonnory's counsel on appeal has filed a brief and a motion to withdraw pursuant to Rule 26(c). Flonnory's counsel asserts that, based upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably appealable issues. By letter, Flonnory's attorney informed him of the provisions of Rule 26(c) and provided him with a copy of the motion to withdraw and the accompanying brief. Flonnory also was informed of his right to supplement his attorney's presentation. Flonnory has not raised any issues for this Court's consideration. The State has responded to the position taken by Flonnory's counsel and has moved to affirm the Superior Court's decision.
(3) The standard and scope of review applicable to the consideration of a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief under Rule 26(c) is twofold: (a) this Court must be satisfied that defense counsel has made a conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (b) this Court must conduct its own review of the record and determine whether the appeal is so totally devoid of at least arguably appealable issues that it can be decided without an adversary presentation.
Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); McCoy v. Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 486 U.S. 429, 442 (1988); Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967).
(4) This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that Flonnory's appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably appealable issue. We are also satisfied that Flonnory's counsel has made a conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly determined that Flonnory could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal.
Although Flonnory did not raise any points for this Court to consider, his counsel states that, at sentencing, Flonnory was concerned about the length of the sentence the Superior Court imposed. Flonnory's counsel concedes, however, that Flonnory's sentence did not constitute an abuse of discretion by the Superior Court. Siple v. State, 701 A.2d 79 (Del. 1997); Mayes v. State, 604 A.2d 839 (Del. 1992).
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State's motion to affirm is GRANTED. The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.
The motion to withdraw is moot.