Branson v. State

After a jury trial in which he represented himself, Branson was convicted of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attachment of an unassigned tag to a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment on the cocaine charge and to time served on the misdemeanor offenses.

On appeal, Branson contends that the trial court erred by accepting his waiver of the right to appointed counsel in the absence of any warning that if convicted at trial and sentenced to prison, he might be subject to indefinite civil commitment under the Jimmy Ryce Act1 upon completion of his…