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Waters v. State

Supreme Court of Georgia
Jul 8, 1982
293 S.E.2d 333 (Ga. 1982)

Opinion

38781.

DECIDED JULY 8, 1982.

Motor vehicle theft, etc.; constitutional question. Chatham Superior Court. Before Judge Oliver.

Stephen H. Harris, for appellant.

Spencer Lawton, Jr., District Attorney, Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, for appellee.


Gary Allen Waters was convicted of criminal attempt to commit robbery by intimidation, simple battery, and motor vehicle theft. He was sentenced to serve consecutive sentences of ten years, twelve months, and 5 years, respectively.

His appointed counsel has filed a motion and brief stating that after careful review of the record he finds no basis for an appeal, that any appeal in this case would be wholly frivolous, and requesting permission to withdraw from the appeal in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 ( 87 S.C. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493) (1967).

Six possible errors in the trial court are enumerated for our consideration. None has any merit.

1. Waters was not entitled to a preliminary hearing. State v. Middlebrooks, 236 Ga. 52 ( 222 S.E.2d 343) (1976).

2. Alcoholism was Waters' defense to the charges, there being no question but that he was the person who had committed the offenses. He was examined by the forensic services team of the Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah and was not, on the facts of this case, entitled to an independent medical examination. Blanchard v. State, 247 Ga. 415, 419 (5) ( 276 S.E.2d 593) (1981).

3. No harmful error was committed under the recidivist statute (Code Ann. § 27-2511) despite the fact that the indictments were not drawn in reference to that statute because the sentences Waters received are within the limits applicable to first offenders. Johnson v. Hopper, 238 Ga. 670, 671, fn. 1 ( 235 S.E.2d 27) (1977).

4. Neither is the recidivist statute (Code Ann. § 27-2511) unconstitutional for any reason enumerated. Knight v. State, 243 Ga. 770 ( 257 S.E.2d 182) (1979).

5. The sentences imposed were not cruel or unusual because of their lengths. Knight v. State, 243 Ga. at 772.

6. No abuse of discretion by the trial court during voir dire examination has been illustrated on appeal.

After review of the record and transcript, we have determined that the appeal is wholly frivolous. Accordingly, we grant defense counsel's motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment of the trial court. Norris v. State, 245 Ga. 136 ( 263 S.E.2d 161) (1980); Miller v. State, 245 Ga. 137 ( 263 S.E.2d 441) (1980); Quarterman v. State, 244 Ga. 215 ( 259 S.E.2d 468) (1979).

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.


DECIDED JULY 8, 1982.


Summaries of

Waters v. State

Supreme Court of Georgia
Jul 8, 1982
293 S.E.2d 333 (Ga. 1982)
Case details for

Waters v. State

Case Details

Full title:WATERS v. THE STATE

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Jul 8, 1982

Citations

293 S.E.2d 333 (Ga. 1982)
293 S.E.2d 333