State v. Bryant

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.

James A. Bryant, Appellant.

Appeal From Georgetown County

Edward B. Cottingham, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2009-UP-032

Submitted January 2, 2009 – Filed January
14, 2009

AFFIRMED

Appellate Defender Kathrine H. Hudgins, of Columbia, for Appellant.

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

PER CURIAM:  James A. Bryant appeals his convictions
and sentences for first-degree burglary, kidnapping, two counts of assault and
battery with intent to kill, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated
nature.  Specifically, Bryant alleges the trial judge erred in refusing to
accept his guilty plea.  Additionally, Bryant asserts the trial judge erred in
admitting evidence of prior bad acts.  We affirm[1] pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities: State v. Miller,
375 S.C. 370, 388, 652 S.E.2d 444, 453 (Ct. App. 2007) (stating a trial
judge is not required to accept a plea.); State v. Wood, 362 S.C. 520, 528, 608
S.E.2d 435, 439 (Ct. App. 2004) (“The res gestae theory recognizes that
evidence of other bad acts may be an integral part of the crime with which the
defendant is charged or may be needed to aid the fact finder in understanding
the context in which the crime occurred.”). 

AFFIRMED.

HEARN, C.J., SHORT and KONDUROS, JJ., concur. 

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