State v. Perea

Michael J

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

The
State,        Respondent,

v.

Lawrence J. Perea,        
Appellant.

Appeal from Aiken County

James R. Barber, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-504

Submitted May 30, 2003 – Filed August
27, 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, Assistant Deputy Attorney
General Charles H. Richardson, of Columbia, Barbara R. Morgan,
Of Aiken, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Lawrence J. Perea appeals his
convictions for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree burglary,
and kidnapping.  The trial judge sentenced Perea to twenty-one years imprisonment
for each charge.  After hearing a motion for reconsideration, the judge reduced
the sentences to fourteen years imprisonment.  The sentences were to be served
concurrently.

Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.
738 (1967), counsel for Perea attached to the final brief a petition to be relieved
as counsel, stating she had reviewed the record and concluded Perea’s appeal
is without legal merit sufficient to warrant a new trial.  Perea filed a separate
pro se response.

After a thorough 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.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

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