State v. Miller

PER CURIAM: William E

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE.  IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE
239(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

The State,       
Respondent,

v.

William Ernest Miller, Sr.,       
Appellant.

Appeal From Georgetown County

J. Michael Baxley, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2004-UP-508

Submitted October 1, 2004 – Filed October
13, 2004

APPEAL DISMISSED

Assistant Appellate Defender Tara S. Taggart, of Columbia,
for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry D. McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney
General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Salley W. Elliott,
all of Columbia; and Solicitor John Gregory Hembree, of Conway, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  William Ernest Miller was convicted
of three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree
and one count of committing a lewd act upon a minor.  He was sentenced to thirty
years in prison for each criminal sexual conduct charge and fifteen years for
the lewd act upon a minor.  Miller appeals, arguing the trial judge erred in
failing to grant a directed verdict of acquittal on the lewd act charge.  On
appeal, counsel for Miller has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there were no meritorious grounds for appeal
and requesting permission to withdraw from further representation.  Miller has
not filed a 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. [1]

STILWELL, BEATTY and SHORT, JJ., concur.

[1] We decide this case without oral argument pursuant
to Rule 215, SCACR.