THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State,        Respondent,

v.

Christopher Thomas,        Appellant.


Appeal From Richland County
L. Henry McKellar, Circuit Court Judge


Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-166
Submitted January 10, 2003 – Filed February 27, 2003   


APPEAL DISMISSED


Assistant Appellate Defender Aileen P. Clare, of Columbia

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh Assistant Deputy Attorney General Charles H. Richardson, of Columbia; Warren Blair Giese, of Columbia; for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Christopher Thomas appeals from his guilty plea to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.  Thomas argues the trial court violated the mandate of Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1965), by accepting his guilty plea because he disputed the State’s allegations.  Thomas’s counsel attached to the brief a petition to be relieved as counsel, stating she had reviewed the record and concluded Thomas’s appeal lacks merit.  After a thorough review of the record and counsel’s brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Williams, 305 S.C. 116, 406 S.E.2d 357 (1991), we dismiss [1] Thomas’s appeal and grant counsel’s motion to be relieved.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

HEARN, C.J., GOOLSBY and SHULER, JJ., concur.


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