Opinion
No. CR 12–411.
05-31-2012
Appellant Teddy Jones was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault, and sentenced to a term of twenty years. Appellant is represented on appeal by Beverly C. Claunch, a full-time public defender. Ms. Claunch now asks that she be permitted to withdraw as counsel on the ground that she is ineligible for compensation for services as appellate counsel.
Act 1370 of 2001, codified as Arkansas Code Annotated section 19–4–1604(b)(2)(B) (Supp.2001), provides that persons employed as full-time public defenders who are not provided a state-funded secretary are eligible to seek compensation for appellate work. Counsel here affirms that she is a full-time public defender with a full-time, state-funded secretary. Under these circumstances, she is not entitled to be paid for services in this appeal and her request to be relieved is well founded. Mishion v. State, 369 Ark. 482, 255 S.W.3d 868 (2007) (per curiam).
We grant Ms. Claunch's motion to withdraw and appoint attorney Brett D. Watson to represent appellant.
Motion granted.