State v. Peppers

Appellant appeals her guilty plea for violating S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-50 (Supp.1995). She attempts to raise a number of constitutional challenges to this Court’s decision in Whitner v. State, 328 S.C. 1, 492 S.E.2d 777 (1997), and alleges the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to accept her plea. Because her guilty plea was a nullity, we decline to address the issues raised, and we vacate her plea and sentence.

FACTS/PROCEDURAL HISTORY

After giving birth tp a stillborn child, Brenda Peppers (“Peppers”) was charged with violating S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-50 (Supp.1995). 1

Prior to entering…