THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State,        Respondent,

v.

Derrick Lorenzo Williams,        Appellant.

Appeal From Beaufort County
Perry M. Buckner, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-509
Submitted May 30, 2003 – Filed August 27, 2003

APPEAL DISMISSED

Deputy Chief Attorney Joseph L. Savitz, 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 Randolph Murdaugh, III, of Hampton, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Derrick Lorenzo Williams was convicted of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.  The judge sentenced him to consecutive sentences of thirty years for murder and five years for possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.  Williams’ 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.  Williams 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.

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