THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE.  IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State, Respondent,

v.

James A. Bryant, Appellant.

Appeal From Georgetown County
Edward B. Cottingham, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2009-UP-032
Submitted January 2, 2009 – Filed January 14, 2009

AFFIRMED

Appellate Defender Kathrine H. Hudgins, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Salley W. Elliott, all of Columbia; and Solicitor J. Gregory Hembree, of Conway, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  James A. Bryant appeals his convictions and sentences for first-degree burglary, kidnapping, two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.  Specifically, Bryant alleges the trial judge erred in refusing to accept his guilty plea.  Additionally, Bryant asserts the trial judge erred in admitting evidence of prior bad acts.  We affirm[1] pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities: State v. Miller, 375 S.C. 370, 388, 652 S.E.2d 444, 453 (Ct. App. 2007) (stating a trial judge is not required to accept a plea.); State v. Wood, 362 S.C. 520, 528, 608 S.E.2d 435, 439 (Ct. App. 2004) (“The res gestae theory recognizes that evidence of other bad acts may be an integral part of the crime with which the defendant is charged or may be needed to aid the fact finder in understanding the context in which the crime occurred.”). 

AFFIRMED.

HEARN, C.J., SHORT and KONDUROS, JJ., concur. 

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