THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State,        Respondent,

v.

Melvin Lewis Rhinehart,        Appellant.

Appeal From York County
John C. Hayes, III, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-571
Submitted July 15, 2003 – Filed October 1, 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:  Melvin Lewis Rhinehart was convicted of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute within the proximity of a public park.  Rhinehart’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.  Rhinehart 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.

HEARN, C.J., CONNOR and ANDERSON, JJ., concur.