THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State,        Respondent,

v.

Gordon Cooper,        Appellant.

Appeal From Marion County
James E. Brogdon, Jr., Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-425
Submitted April 18, 2003 – Filed June 24, 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 Edgar L. Clements, III, of Florence, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Gordon Cooper was convicted of distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within the proximity of a school.  He was sentenced to eighteen years for distribution of crack cocaine and fifteen years, concurrent, for distribution of crack cocaine within the proximity of a school.  Cooper’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.  Cooper did not file 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.