State v. Michael J. Laney

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL
VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

The State, Respondent,

v.

Michael J. Laney, Appellant.

Appeal
from Greenville County

G. Edward
Welmaker, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished
Opinion No. 2009-UP-614

Submitted
December 1, 2009 – Filed December 22, 2009

APPEAL
DISMISSED

Acting Chief 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, for Respondent.

 PER CURIAM: Michael
James Laney appeals his conviction of two consecutive terms of life
imprisonment without parole for two murders. Laney asserts the trial judge
erred by not understanding he had discretionary authority to sentence him to thirty
years imprisonment rather than life imprisonment without parole. After a
thorough review of the record and counsel's brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Williams, 305 S.C.
116, 406 S.E.2d 357 (1991), we dismiss Laney's appeal and grant counsel's
motion to be relieved.[1]

APPEAL DISMISSED.

WILLIAMS, PIEPER, and LOCKEMY, JJ., concur.

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