RAYMOND RINGGOLD, Defendant Below-Appellant,
v.
STATE OF DELAWARE, Plaintiff Below-Appellee.
No. 226, 2008.
Supreme Court of Delaware.
Submitted: November 6, 2008. Decided: December 12, 2008.Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and BERGER, Justices.
ORDER
RANDY J. HOLLAND, Justice.
This 12th day of December 2008, upon consideration of the appellant's Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, his attorney's motion to withdraw, and the State's response thereto, it appears to the Court that:
(1) The defendant-appellant, Raymond Ringgold (Ringgold), was convicted following a bench trial of third degree burglary, second degree conspiracy, misdemeanor theft, and criminal impersonation. The Superior Court sentenced Ringgold to a total period of four years at Level V incarceration, to be suspended after serving one year for one year at Level III probation. This is Ringgold's direct appeal.
(2) Ringgold's counsel on appeal has filed a brief and a motion to withdraw pursuant to Rule 26(c). Ringgold's counsel asserts that, based upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably appealable issues. By letter, Ringgold's attorney informed him of the provisions of Rule 26(c) and provided Ringgold with a copy of the motion to withdraw and the accompanying brief. Ringgold also was informed of his right to supplement his attorney's presentation. Ringgold has not raised any issues for this Court's consideration. The State has responded to the position taken by Ringgold's counsel and has moved to affirm the Superior Court's judgment.
(3) The standard and scope of review applicable to the consideration of a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief under Rule 26(c) is twofold: (a) this Court must be satisfied that defense counsel has made a conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (b) this Court must conduct its own review of the record and determine whether the appeal is so totally devoid of at least arguably appealable issues that it can be decided without an adversary presentation.[*]
(4) This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that Ringgold's appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably appealable issue. We also are satisfied that Ringgold's counsel has made a conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly determined that Ringgold could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State's motion to affirm is GRANTED. The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.
The motion to withdraw is moot.
NOTES
[*] Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); McCoy v. Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 486 U.S. 429, 442 (1988); Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967).