STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. BRYAN SENTARIO MCCLEAN (2026)

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. BRYAN SENTARIO MCCLEAN, Defendant.

No. COA25-445

Decided: February 18, 2026

Attorney General Jeff Jackson, by Special Deputy Attorney General Michael Bulleri, for the State. Center for Death Penalty Litigation, by Kailey Morgan, for defendant-appellant.

On or about 22 May 2024, the trial court entered a judgment convicting Defendant of first-degree murder. During Defendant's trial, after the jury had rendered its verdict, but before sentencing, Defendant gave oral notice of appeal. However, “[a]n oral notice of appeal given before entry of the final judgment violates Rule 4 [of the Rules of Appellate Procedure] and does not give this Court jurisdiction to hear the defendant's direct appeal.” State v. Jones, 296 N.C. App. 512, 515, 909 S.E.2d 373, 376 (2024), disc. review denied, ___ N.C. ___, 916 S.E.2d 259 (2025). Unlike in Jones, see id., Defendant here did not file a petition for a writ of certiorari, and thus his case must be dismissed without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction.

DISMISSED.

Report per Rule 30(e).

STROUD, Judge.

Chief Judge DILLON and Judge TYSON concur.

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