Jonathan Welborn v. State of Arkansas

Cite as 2021 Ark. App. 90
Elizabeth Perry ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document DIVISION IV
2023.06.22 14:15:20 -05'00' No. CR-20-129
2023.001.20174

Opinion Delivered: February 24, 2021

JONATHAN WELBORN
APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE SALINE
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V. [NO. 63CR-17-574]

STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE GRISHAM PHILLIPS,
APPELLEE JUDGE
REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION
TO WITHDRAW DENIED

MIKE MURPHY, Judge

Appellant Jonathan Welborn appeals his conviction by a Saline County jury of two

counts of negligent homicide and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor

stemming from the death of his two children. Welborn was sentenced to a total of fifty-

two years’ imprisonment in the Arkansas Department of Correction.

At trial, the State put on evidence that Welborn smoked methamphetamine, then

got into his truck with his two children. The children, ages two years and six months, were

in their car seats. Welborn reversed the truck and accelerated rapidly down a long driveway,

accidentally going into a pond. Instead of calling for help, however, Welborn went back up

the hill to the house, spent some time inside talking to his girlfriend and the people there,

and then after some time, he went outside and pretended the truck must have been stolen.
One witness testified that, by the time he got down to the water, the top of the pond

appeared undisturbed. By the time the children were found, they had drowned.

Welborn testified in his own defense. He admitted that he had been high on meth

when he drove the truck into the pond and that he did not immediately call for help. The

jury convicted Welborn, and Welborn appealed.

In this no-merit appeal, Welborn’s appellate attorney has filed a brief pursuant to

Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-3(k)(1)

(2020), seeking to withdraw as counsel on the basis that there is no merit to an appeal. The

clerk of this court served Welborn with a copy of his counsel’s brief and notified him of his

right to file pro se points for reversal. Welborn has not filed any points.

Having reviewed the record, we hold that appellant’s counsel’s no-merit brief is not

in compliance with Anders and Rule 4-3(k). Therefore, we order rebriefing and deny

without prejudice counsel’s motion to withdraw.

Rule 4-3(k)(1) requires that the argument section of a no-merit brief contain “a list

of all rulings adverse to the defendant made by the circuit court on all objections, motions

and requests . . . with an explanation as to why each adverse ruling is not a meritorious

ground for reversal.” The requirement for briefing every adverse ruling ensures that the

due-process concerns in Anders are met and prevents the unnecessary risk of a deficient

Anders brief resulting in an incorrect decision on counsel’s motion to withdraw. Pursuant

to Anders, we are required to determine whether the case is wholly frivolous after a full

examination of all the proceedings. T.S. v. State, 2017 Ark. App. 578, 534 S.W.3d 160. A

no-merit brief in a criminal case that fails to address an adverse ruling does not satisfy the

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requirements of Rule 4-3(k)(1), and rebriefing will be required. Jester v. State, 2018 Ark.

App. 360, 553 S.W.3d 198.

Our review of this record demonstrates that counsel failed to address an adverse ruling

related to a competency finding early in the proceedings. At a pretrial hearing, the court

made the explicit finding on the record that Welborn was fit to stand trial. Because this is a

ruling adverse to the defendant, counsel was obligated to discuss why it was not a

meritorious ground for reversal on appeal. Accordingly, rebriefing is required. See, e.g.,

Pettigrew v. State, 2019 Ark. App. 336.

Rebriefing is additionally required for a point that this court would like counsel to

develop more fully. Prior to trial, Welborn filed the following pro se motion:

Motion For Dismissal

Comes now before this Honorable Court Jonathan Welborn asking that Circuit
Court Case No 63CR-17-574 be dismissed on the grounds of a violation involving
AR Constitution 2-8 (Criminal Charges–self incrimination–Double Jeopardy–Bail–
Due process), AR Constitution 2-9 (Excessive bail or punishment prohibited). Also,
motion of dismissal is constituted by grounds regarding 16-89–113 (Acquittal upon
certain insufficient evidence) and 16-89-121 (Facts charged do not constitute
offense).

Counsel included the court’s reasoning for denying the pro se motion and then stated that

“[a]ppellate counsel has researched the issues raised in Appellant’s pro se motion, compared

that research to the trial court’s rulings, and can find no basis for reversal of the convictions.”

Counsel’s explanation does not adequately address the adverse ruling in the manner and

degree that would fulfill the letter and spirit of an Anders brief.

The deficiencies we have identified should not be considered exhaustive, and counsel

is encouraged to review Anders and Rule 4-3(k) regarding the requirements of a no-merit

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brief. Counsel has fifteen days from the date of this opinion to file a substituted brief that

complies with the rules. See Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-2(b)(3). After counsel has filed the

substituted brief, our clerk will attempt to forward counsel’s motion and brief to appellant,

and he will have thirty days within which to raise pro se points in accordance with Rule 4-

3(k). The State will likewise be given an opportunity to file a responsive brief if pro se points

are made.

Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

HARRISON, C.J., and WHITEAKER, J., agree.

Ogles Law Firm, P.A., by: John Ogles, for appellant.

One brief only.

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