Walker v. State

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE MANDEL WALKER, § § No. 97, 2016 Defendant Below- § Appellant, § § v. _ § Court BeloW-Superior Court § of the State of DelaWare STATE OF DELAWARE, § § Cr. lD 140502l326 Plaintiff Below- § Appellee. § Submitted: August l, 2016 Decided: August 19, 2016 Before STR]NE, Chief Justice; HOLLAND, and VALIHURA, Justices. 0 R D E R This 19th day of August 20l6, 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) In February 20l5, a Superior Court jury found the defendant- appellant, Mandel Walker, guilty of Robbery in the Second Degree and Conspiracy in the Second Degree. By stipulation of the parties, the Superior Court deferred sentencing Walker in this matter pending the resolution of other charges. On February 25, 2016, the Superior Court sentenced Walker as a habitual offender in this case to a total period of seven years and six months at Level V incarceration to be suspended after serving five years and six months in prison for a period of probation. This is Walker’s direct appeal. (2) Walker’s counsel on appeal has filed a brief and a motion to withdraw under Rule 26(c). Walker’s counsel asserts that, based upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably appealable issues. By letter, Walker’s attorney informed him of the provisions of Rule 26(c) and provided Walker with a copy of the motion to withdraw and the accompanying brief. Walker also was informed of his right to supplement his attomey’s presentation. Walker did not file any points for this Court’s consideration. The State has responded to the position taken by Walker’s counsel and has moved to affirm the Superior Court’s judgment. (3) This Court’s review of a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief under Rule 26(c) is twofold: (i) we must be satisfied that defense counsel has made a conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (ii) we must conduct our 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.l (4) The Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that Walker’s appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably appealable issue. We also are satisfied that Walker’s counsel has made a conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly determined that Walker could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED. The motion to withdraw is moot. BY THE COURT: Justice §§ 1 Penson v. Ohz`o, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (l988); McCoy v. Court of Appeals of Wz'sconsz`n, 486 U.S. 429, 442 (1988); Anders v. Calzfornia, 386 U.S. 73 8, 744 (1967).