State v. Lawton

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

The State,       
Respondent,

v.

James Lawton,       
Appellant.

Appeal From Aiken County

Rodney A. Peeples, Circuit Court
Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-619

Submitted August 20, 2003 – Filed
October 21, 2003

APPEAL DISMISSED

Assistant Appellate Defender Eleanor Duffy Cleary,
of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney
General John W. McIntosh and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Charles H. Richardson,
all of Columbia; and Solicitor Barbara R. Morgan, of Aiken, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  James Lawton pled guilty to
possession with intent to distribute marijuana within proximity of a school,
possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute
cocaine within proximity of a school, and possession with intent to distribute
cocaine.  He was sentenced to fifteen years, suspended upon the service of thirteen
years and five years probation for possession with intent to distribute cocaine;
ten years, suspended upon the service of seven years and five years probation
for the possession with intent to distribute cocaine within proximity of a school;
five years for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, consecutive to
possession with intent to distribute cocaine, but concurrent with possession
with intent to distribute cocaine within proximity of a school; and seven years
for possession with intent to distribute marijuana within proximity of a school,
consecutive to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, but concurrent
with possession with intent to distribute cocaine within proximity of a school
and possession with intent to distribute marijuana within proximity of a school. 
Lawton’s appellate counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967).  Counsel additionally submitted a petition to be relieved
from representation, asserting there are no directly appealable issues of arguable
merit.  Lawton filed a pro se response with the Court.

After a 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.
[1]

APPEAL DISMISSED.

HEARN, C.J., CONNOR and ANDERSON, JJ., concur.

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