State v. Costa

Re:

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

The State,       
Respondent,

v.

Christopher J. Costa,       
Appellant.

Appeal From Horry County

James E. Brogdon, Jr., Circuit Court
Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-399

Submitted April 18, 2003 – Filed June
17, 2003

APPEAL DISMISSED

Assistant Appellate Defender Robert M. Dudek, of Columbia,
for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney
General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka,
all of Columbia; and Solicitor John Gregory Hembree, of Conway; for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Appellant, Christopher J. Costa,
was indicted for murder, armed robbery, and criminal conspiracy.  The State
sought the death penalty.  The jury found appellant guilty on all three charges
and, following the penalty phase of the trial, recommended a sentence of life
imprisonment.  The trial judge sentenced Costa to life imprisonment without
the possibility of parole for murder, thirty years for armed robbery, and five
years for criminal conspiracy.  We dismiss pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967) and State v. Williams, 305 S.C. 116, 406 S.E.2d 357
(1991).  Counsel’s petition to be relieved is granted.

APPEAL DISMISSED. 

CURETON, ANDERSON, and HUFF, JJ., concur.