State of Louisiana v. Charles D. Washington

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

KA10-55

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

CHARLES WASHINGTON

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APPEAL FROM THE
SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF CONCORDIA, NO. 08-0310
HONORABLE LEO BOOTHE

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BILLY H. EZELL
JUDGE

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Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Billy H. Ezell, and Shannon J. Gremillion,
Judges.

APPEAL DISMISSED. DEFENDANT IS PERMITTED TO FILE AN
APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY WRITS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS
OF THE DATE OF THIS OPINION.

Hon. Bradley R. Burget
District Attorney
4001 Carter Street, Suite 4
Vidalia, LA 71373
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

W. Jarred Franklin
Louisiana Appellate Project
3001 Ole Minden Road
Bossier City, LA 71112
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
Charles Washington

Ezell, J.

On March 10, 2009, after a bench trial, the trial court convicted the Defendant,

Charles Washington, of simple battery, a violation of La.R.S. 14:35. The trial court

then sentenced the Defendant on March 11, 2009, to six months in the parish jail, to

run concurrently with any other sentence he may be serving. On September 29, 2009,

the Defendant filed an application for post conviction relief, seeking an out-of-time

appeal, and the instant appeal was granted. Thereafter, this court issued a rule to

show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed as it is not appealable. In

response, the Defendant filed a memorandum in this court, acknowledging that he

was not entitled to an appeal. The Defendant requested that this appeal be dismissed

and he be granted thirty days from its dismissal to file an application for supervisory

writs.

The judgment at issue, a misdemeanor conviction, is not appealable. La.Code

Crim.P. art. 912.1. That being the case, we hereby dismiss the Defendant’s appeal.

However, the Defendant may seek supervisory writs within thirty days of the date of

this decision. The Defendant is not required to file a notice of intent to seek writs nor

obtain an order from the trial court setting a return date as is generally required by

Uniform Rules–Courts of Appeal, Rule 4-3. Although the Defendant did not seek a

timely appeal which could be construed as a timely filed notice of intent to seek a

supervisory writ, in the absence of a showing that the delay in seeking review was

due to the Defendant’s fault and in the absence of any objection by the State, the

Defendant’s application for supervisory writs will be considered on the merits. State

v. Goppelt, 08-576 (La. 10/31/08), 993 So.2d 1188.

APPEAL DISMISSED. DEFENDANT IS PERMITTED TO FILE AN
APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY WRITS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS
OF THE DATE OF THIS OPINION.