THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals


The State,        Respondent,

v.

Roy Chico Johnson,        Appellant.


Appeal From York County
Lee S. Alford, Circuit Court Judge


Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-363
Submitted March 26, 2003 - Filed May 21, 2003


APPEAL DISMISSED


Assistant Appellate Defender Tara S. Taggart, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Charles H. Richardson, all of Columbia; and Solicitor Thomas E. Pope, of York, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Roy Chico Johnson was convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, and escape.  He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for armed robbery, ten years concurrent for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, and ten years consecutive for escape.  Johnson’s appellate counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).  Counsel additionally submitted a petition to be relieved from representation, asserting there are no directly appealable issues of arguable merit.  Johnson filed a pro se response with the Court.

After a review of the record pursuant to Anders and State v. Williams, 305 S.C. 116, 406 S.E.2d 357 (1991), we dismiss the appeal and grant counsel’s petition to be relieved. [1]

APPEAL DISMISSED.

CURETON, ANDERSON, and HUFF, JJ., concur.


[1] We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.