District III/II

 


January 23, 2013 


To:


Hon. Mark A. Warpinski

Circuit Court Judge

Brown County Courthouse

P.O. Box 23600

Green Bay, WI 54305-3600

 

Jason B. Beck

Clerk of Circuit Court

Brown County Courthouse

P.O. Box 23600

Green Bay, WI 54301-3600

 

Chris A. Gramstrup

Gramstrup Law Office

1409 Hammond Ave., Ste. 322

Superior, WI 54880


David L. Lasee

District Attorney

P.O. Box 23600

Green Bay, WI 54305-3600

 

Gregory M. Weber

Assistant Attorney General

P.O. Box 7857

Madison, WI 53707-7857

 

Cesar D. Zapeda 584911

New Lisbon Corr. Inst.

P.O. Box 4000

New Lisbon, WI 53950-4000

 


 

You are hereby notified that the Court has entered the following opinion and order: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012AP1478-CRNM

State of Wisconsin v. Cesar D. Zapeda (L.C. # 2011CF33)

 

 

 


Before Brown, C.J., Neubauer, P.J., and Gundrum, J.  

Cesar D. Zapeda appeals from a judgment convicting him of incest with a child.  Zapeda’s appellate counsel filed a no-merit report pursuant to Wis. Stat. Rule 809.32 (2009-10)[1] and Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).  Zapeda received a copy of the report, was advised of his right to file a response, and has elected not to do so.  After reviewing the record and counsel’s report, we conclude that there are no issues with arguable merit for appeal.  Therefore, we summarily affirm the judgment.  See Wis. Stat. Rule 809.21.

The no-merit report addresses the following appellate issues:  (1) whether Zapeda’s plea of no contest was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered; (2) whether the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion at sentencing; and (3) whether Zapeda was afforded effective assistance of counsel.

With respect to the entry of the no contest plea, the record shows that the circuit court engaged in a colloquy with Zapeda that satisfied the requirements of Wis. Stat. § 971.08(1)(a), State v. Bangert, 131 Wis. 2d 246, 266-72, 389 N.W.2d 12 (1986), and State v. Hampton, 2004 WI 107, ¶¶33, 38, 274 Wis. 2d 379, 683 N.W.2d 14.  In addition, a signed plea questionnaire and waiver of rights form was entered into the record.  Finally, according to the no-merit report, Zapeda does not assert that he did not understand any aspect of the plea agreement or any of the rights he waived by entering his plea.  For these reasons, we agree with counsel that any challenge to the entry of Zapeda’s no contest plea would lack arguable merit.

With respect to the sentence imposed, the record reveals that the circuit court’s sentencing decision had a “rational and explainable basis.”  State v. Gallion, 2004 WI 42, ¶76, 270 Wis. 2d 535, 678 N.W.2d 197 (citation omitted).  In imposing its sentence, the court considered the seriousness of the offense, Zapeda’s character, and the need to protect the public.  State v. Ziegler, 2006 WI App 49, ¶23, 289 Wis. 2d 594, 712 N.W.2d 76.  Under the circumstances of the case, the sentence of twenty years of imprisonment, which was half of the maximum sentence Zapeda faced, does not “shock public sentiment and violate the judgment of reasonable people concerning what is right and proper.”  Ocanas v. State, 70 Wis. 2d 179, 185, 233 N.W.2d 457 (1975).  Accordingly, we agree with counsel that a challenge to Zapeda’s sentence would lack arguable merit.

Finally, with respect to whether Zapeda was afforded effective assistance of counsel, there is nothing in the record to suggest that Zapeda’s trial counsel was ineffective.  Moreover, according to the no-merit report, Zapeda is unable to cite any specific deficiency in his trial counsel’s performance.  Consequently, this court is satisfied that the no-merit report properly analyzes this issue as without merit, and this court will not discuss it further.

Our independent review of the record does not disclose any potentially meritorious issue for appeal.  Because we conclude that there would be no arguable merit to any issue that could be raised on appeal, we accept the no-merit report and relieve Attorney Chris A. Gramstrup of further representation in this matter.

Upon the foregoing reasons,

IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the circuit court is summarily affirmed pursuant to Wis. Stat. Rule 809.21.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney Chris A. Gramstrup is relieved of further representation of Zapeda in this matter.


 

Diane M. Fremgen

Clerk of Court of Appeals



[1]  All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2009-10 version.