THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State,        Respondent,

v.

Thomas Lee Coleman,        Appellant.


Appeal From Jasper County
Jackson V. Gregory, Circuit Court Judge


Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-204
Submitted January 29, 2003 – Filed March 17, 2003


APPEAL DISMISSED


Senior Assistant Appellate Defender Wanda H. Haile, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka, all of Columbia;  and Solicitor Randolph Murdaugh, Jr., of Hampton; for Respondent.


PER CURIAM: Thomas Lee Coleman pled no contest to murder, strong arm robbery, and kidnapping and was sentenced to thirty years imprisonment.  Coleman appeals, arguing the plea judge erred in accepting his pleas prior to an inquiry as to whether any factual basis existed in support of the pleas.  Appellate counsel has filed a final brief and a petition to be relieved.  Coleman did not file a pro se response.

After a thorough review of the record on appeal 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 grant counsel’s petition and dismiss the appeal.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

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