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.

Kent McDowell,        Appellant.


Appeal From Spartanburg County
Edward W. Miller, Circuit Court Judge


Unpublished Opinion No. 2004-UP-275
Submitted February 20, 2004 – Filed April 22, 2004


APPEAL DISMISSED


Assistant Appellate Defender Tara S. Taggart, Office of Appellate Defense, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry D. McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Charles H. Richardson, all of Columbia; and Solicitor Harold W. Gowdy, III, of Spartanburg, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Kent McDowell pled guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct.  He was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment.  McDowell appeals, arguing his plea did not comply with the mandates set forth in Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969).  On appeal, counsel for McDowell has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there were no meritorious grounds for appeal and requesting permission to withdraw from further representation.  McDowell has not filed a pro se response. 

After a thorough 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.

APPEAL DISMISSED. [1]

GOOLSBY, STILWELL, and HOWARD, JJ., concur.


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