State v. Lucas

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

The State,       
Respondent,

v.

James Michael Lucas,       
Appellant.

Appeal From Lexington County

R. Markley Dennis, Jr., Circuit Court
Judge

Opinion No.  2003-UP-103

Submitted November 20, 2002 - Filed
February 5, 2003 

APPEAL DISMISSED

Deputy Chief Attorney Joseph L. Savitz, III, of Columbia;
for Appellant

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney
General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Charles H. Richardson,
all of Columbia; Donald V. Myers, of Lexington; for Respondent(s).

PER CURIAM:  James Michael Lucas
appeals his conviction for murder.  The trial judge sentenced Lucas to life
imprisonment.

Pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967), counsel for Lucas attached to the final brief a petition
to be relieved as counsel, stating he had reviewed the record and concluded
Lucas’ appeal is without legal merit sufficient to warrant a new trial.  Lucas
filed a separate pro se response.

After a thorough review of the record
pursuant to Anders and State v. Williams, 305 S.C. 116, 406 S.E.2d
357 (1991), we dismiss the appeal and grant counsel’s petition to be relieved.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

CONNOR, STILWELL, and HOWARD, JJ.,
concur.