United States of America, Appellee, v. Otis Tyson, Appellant, 386 F.2d 418 (4th Cir. 1967)

At a trial by the court without a jury Otis Tyson was convicted of possession of nontaxpaid whiskey in violation of 26 U.S.C.A. §§ 5205(a) (2) and 5604(a) (1) and sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Shortly after trial, the court-appointed attorney who had represented him in the district court, acting in accordance with Tyson's wishes, filed notice of appeal to this court and in due course was appointed to represent him here. Several weeks later, however, following a careful examination of the trial transcript, the attorney concluded that there was absolutely no merit in the proposed appeal and that any minor errors which may have been committed at trial were not so prejudicial as to constitute grounds for a new trial. The attorney informed Tyson of his views. However, Tyson was still desirous of being heard by this court and even contacted another attorney who, after reviewing the record with Tyson's court-appointed counsel, agreed that an appeal would be futile and without possibility of success.

Thereafter, counsel, endeavoring to observe and follow the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Anders v. State of California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967), prepared a brief in which he discussed two points which, in his opinion, were "the only remotely possible" points on which an appeal could be based.¹  Counsel candidly concluded his brief by stating that in his opinion the possible errors to which our attention was directed were not so substantial as to constitute grounds for a new trial.

Counsel furnished Tyson a copy of the brief and forwarded the necessary copies to this court. With the brief he also filed a motion to withdraw as counsel in which he stated substantially the facts outlined above. However, at the time of presentation of the appeal and the oral arguments at the bar of this court no action had been taken on the motion.

We have reviewed the proceedings in this case, we have studied Tyson's brief, and we have examined the transcript of the trial fully and with great care. We are convinced that the appeal is without merit, and it is therefore dismissed. The motion of court-appointed counsel that he be permitted to withdraw is granted, effective as of the date of entry of this court's judgment of affirmance of Tyson's conviction. We commend counsel for his diligent efforts in his client's behalf and for his candor with his client and with this court in the proceedings on appeal.

Affirmed.