Michael Louis Taylor v. The State of Wyoming ( 2023 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING
2023 WY 96October Term, A.D. 2023
October 4, 2023
MICHAEL LOUIS TAYLOR,
Appellant
(Defendant),
v. S-23-0144
THE STATE OF WYOMING
Appellee
(Plaintiff).
ORDER AFFIRMING THE DISTRICT COURT’S ORDER SUSPENDING
PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO WYOMING STATUTE § 7-13-301
[¶1] This matter came before the Court upon its own motion following notification that
Appellant has not filed a pro se brief in the time allotted. Pursuant to a plea agreement,
Appellant entered an unconditional guilty plea to one count of felony stalking. Wyo. Stat.
Ann. § 6-2-506(b) and (e)(iv). The district court suspended proceedings pursuant to Wyo.
Stat. Ann. § 7-13-301, while imposing three years of supervised probation. Appellant filed
this appeal to challenge the district court’s February 14, 2023, Order Suspending
Proceedings Pursuant to Wyoming Statute § 7-13-30[1].
[¶2] On August 7, 2023, Appellant’s court-appointed appellate counsel e-filed a Motion
to Withdraw as Counsel, pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S.Ct.
1396, 1400, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). This Court subsequently entered an Order Granting
Motion for Extension of Time to File Pro Se Brief. This Court ordered that, on or before
September 21, 2023, Appellant was permitted to file with this Court a pro se brief
specifying the issues he would like the Court to consider in this appeal. This Court also
provided notice that, after the time for filing a pro se brief expired, this Court would make
its ruling on counsel’s motion to withdraw and, if appropriate, make a final decision on this
appeal. Appellant did not file a pro se brief or other pleading in the time allotted.
[¶3] Now, following a careful review of the record and the Anders brief submitted by
appellate counsel, this Court finds that appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw should be
granted and the district court’s Order Suspending Proceedings Pursuant to Wyoming
Statute § 7-13-301 should be affirmed. It is, therefore,
[¶4] ORDERED that the Wyoming Public Defender’s Office, court-appointed counsel
for Appellant Michael Louis Taylor, is hereby permitted to withdraw as counsel of record
for Appellant; and it is further
[¶5] ORDERED that the Sweetwater County District Court’s February 14, 2023, Order
Suspending Proceedings Pursuant to Wyoming Statute § 7-13-301 be, and the same hereby
is, affirmed.
[¶6] DATED this 4th day of October, 2023.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
KATE M. FOX
Chief Justice