NO. 01-14-00158-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS

HOUSTON CHRISTI, TEXAS

DJ CHRISTOPHER LOWE,

APPELLANT

VS.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE

RECEIVED

FIRST COURT OF APPEALS

HOUSTON, TEXAS

JUL 1 3 2015

CHRISTO

CLERK wr

RINE

MOTION TO WITHDRAW FROM FRIVOLOUS APPEAL

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEALS:

COMES NOW, Mark W. Racer, herein referred to as "Movant" in his capacity as

attorney appointed by the trial court to prepare an appeal for the Appellant, DJ CHRISTOPHER

LOWE, and submits this Motion to Withdraw from a Frivolous Appeal, and in support thereof

would show as follows:

1. On August 15, 2013, in the 400th Judicial District Court of FortBendCounty, Texas

the Defendant waived a trial by jury and entered a plea of guilty to the indictment

for delivery of a controlled substance in a drug free zone with intent to deliver.

After the punishment phase of trial, the trial court sentenced Defendant to 75 years

confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division.

The trial court appointed Movant to prepare an appeal for Appellant.
2. Movant has diligently searched and thoroughly reviewed the record, and has found

no good faith basis upon which to appeal, and has determined that any appeal so

advanced would be frivolous and without merit.

3. Attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is a brief that sets out an analysis ofthe record that

will not support error.

4. Attached hereto as Exhibit "B" is a copy of a letter to Appellant that informs him of

the right to proceed with an appeal on her own behalf.

WHEREFORE, Movant prays that he be allowed to withdraw from this cause and that

Appellant be allowed an extension of at least sixty (60) days after the receipt of his copies

ofthe record in order to submit a briefif he should so request.

Respectfully submitted,

A<^C~>/US^

Mark W. Racer

Texas Bar No. 16448450

212 E. Burleson

Wharton, Texas 77488

(979)531-0322

(979)531-0355 Fax

Attorney for Appellant
CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY

This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion to Withdraw has

been forwarded to counsel for the State of Texas, Mr. John Harrity, 309 South 4th Street, Suite

258, Richmond, Texas 77469 on this the 20th day of November ,

2014.

h^Ac^>

Mark W. Racer
EXHIBIT A
NO. 01-14-00158-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS

HOUSTON, TEXAS

DJ CHRISTOPHER LOWE,

APPELLANT

VS.

THE STATE OF TEXAS

APPELLEE

BRIEF FOR APPELLANT

Respectfully submitted,

Mark W. Racer

Texas Bar No. 16448450

212 E. Burleson

Wharton, Texas 77488

(979)531-0322

(409) 531-0355 FAX

Attorney for Appellant
AppellantAppelleeCounsel for AppellantCounsel for AppelleeIDENTITY OF THE PARTIES

Mr. Thomas Phillip Allen

The State ofTexas

Mr. Mark W. Racer

Texas Bar No. 16448450

212 E. Burleson

Wharton, Texas 77488

(979)531-0322

(979) 531-0355 FAX

Mr. John Harrity

309 South Fourth Street, Suite 258

Richmond, Texas 77469

(281)341-4460

(281) 341-3440 Fax
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

1. NAMES OF PARTIES 3

2. INDEX OF AUTHORITIES 5

3. STATEMENT OF THE CASE 6

4. ISSUES PRESENTED 7

5. STATEMENT OF FACTS 8

6. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT 9

7. ARGUMENT 10

8. PRAYER 13
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES

Jacks vs. State, 871 S.W.2d 741 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994)

Strickland vs. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984)

CONSTITUTION

U.S. Constitution Amendment VI

Texas Constitution Art. I. Sec. 10

STATUTES

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 21.02

Texas Penal Code Annotated 12.32
STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This case is a prosecution for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Appellant pled guilty

to the offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child on August 15, 2013. (CR 18-27). The Court

accepted the Appellant's plea of guilty and set the punishment phase ofthe trial for December 6,

2013. At the punishment phase of the case the trial court sentenced Appellant to 75 years in the

Texas Department ofCriminal Justice-Institutional Division. (RR 13-14).
ISSUES PRESENTED

CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL

I, Mark W. Racer, counsel of record for Appellant, DJ Christopher Lowe, do hereby state

that I have diligently searched the record in Cause No. 10-DCR-055397, and have researched the

law applicable to the facts and issues contained therein, and it is my professional evaluation that

no reversible error is reflected in the record. Therefore, I am of the professional opinion that the

appeal is without merit and frivolous. In compliance with the applicable law pertaining to

appeals of this type, I have set forth no grounds of error that may arguably support an appeal.

I have cause a copy of this brief to be served on the Appellant, accompanied by a letter

informing the Appellant of his right to examine the entire appellate record for the purpose of

filing a pro se brief. A copy of this letter has been attached to this brief

Mark W. Racer

10
STATEMENT OF FACTS

Appellant was indicted for aggravated assault of a child. (CR 5). Appellant pledguilty to

the offense of aggravated assault of a child on August 15,2013. (CR 18-25). The Court accepted

the Appellant's plea and set the punishment phase of the trial for December 6, 2013. On

December 6, 2013 Appellant was sentenced to 75 years in the Texas Department of Criminal

Justice-Institutional Division. (RR 13-14).

11
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT

Appellant was arrested and indicted aggravated sexual assault ofa child. Appellant pled

guilty to the offense ofaggravated sexual assault ofa child. The Court accepted the Appellant's

plea and found Appellant guilty. The Court sentenced Appellant to 75 years in the Texas

Department of Criminal Justice-Institutioiial Division. There is no reversible error reflected in

the record.

12
ARGUMENT

Analysis of the pre-trial record

Indictment

The record contains no objection to the indictment at trial but was examined for error.

The requisites for a valid indictment as set forth in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art.

21.02 are:

Commence with "In the name and by the authority ofthe State ofTexas;"

Presented in the district court of Fort Bend County;

It was an act of a Fort Bend County grand jury;

Contains the name ofthe accused;

Recites the crime was committed within the jurisdiction of Fort Bend County;

The date ofthe crime was prior to the date the grand jury convened;

The recited offense tracks the language contained in the Texas Penal Code;

Concludes with "Against the Peace and Dignity ofthe State"; and

It was signed by the foreman ofthe grand jury.

The indictment in this cause complied with all of the requirements of Texas Code of

Criminal Procedure, Art. 21.02. There was no error in the indictment.

Analysis of the Trial Record

On August .15, 2013, the Appellant changed his plea from "Not Guilty" to "Guilty". (CR

18-25). The legal effect of a voluntary and knowing plea of guilty without a plea bargain is to

waive all non-jurisdictional defects that occur before the entry of the plea. Jack vs. State, 871

13
S.W.2d 741 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994). If the Appellant wishes to overturn his plea on appeal, he

must show that it was not voluntarily given or that he was not properly admonished.

Appellant signed Defendant's Plea of Guilty or Nolo Contendere-Written

Admonishments, Waiver of Statutory and Constitutional Rights, and Written Stipulation and

Judicial Confession which was also signed by Appellant's attorney, the prosecutor and the trial

judge. (CR 19-24). The Appellant affirmed the following to the trial court:

1. That he had fully consulted with his attorney before entering his plea and that

he was satisfied that his attorney had properly represented of him. (CR 22);

2. That he had a right to a trial byjury and was giving Up that right. (CR 20);

3. That he was pleading guilty voluntarily and that no one had coerced or

promised the Appellant anythingto get him to plead guilty. (CR 22);

Appellant's attorney confirmed that Appellant was competent and the Court found him to

be competent. (CR 24).

The record indicates that the Appellant did receive the proper admonishments. Therefore,

a prima facie case is made that the plea was given knowingly and voluntarily. The record

contains no facts to support a conclusion that Appellant did not know what he was doing when

he entered his plea of "Guilty." No error was found.

Analysis of the Trial Record on Punishment

Fairness of the Punishment

Appellant was assessed punishment of seventy-five (75) years confinement in the Texas

Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division. If a punishment is excessive then such

punishment would be cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment and the Appellate Court

14
should grant a new trial. In the instant case Appellantwas charged with aggravated sexualassault

of a child. The range of punishment for this offense was imprisonment in the institutional

division for life or any term of not more that 99 years or less than 20 years and a fine not to

exceed $10,000.00. Tex. Penal Code Ann, 12.32Vernon's 1994). Texas courts have consistently

held that where the trial court sentences a defendant within the statutorily prescribed range, then

the punishment is not cruel and unusual.

Ineffective assistance of counsel

In all proceedings, a person is entitled to the assistance of counsel." U.S.Const. Amend.

VI and Tex.Const.Art I, Sec.10. In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of

counsel, the defendant must first show that trial counsel's performance was deficient. Second, the

defendant must show that this deficient performance prejudiced the defense which requires a

demonstration that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial.

Strickland vs. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). In this case Appellant pled guilty to the offense

of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The trial court assessed the punishment of Appellant

within the range of punishment for the offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child. There is

ho valid claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.

15
PRAYER

WHERFORE, Appellant respectfully requests that judgment of the trial court be reversed

and a new trial granted and any and all reliefto which he may be entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark W. Racer

Texas Bar No. 16448450

212 E.Burleson

Wharton, Texas 77488

(979)531-0322

(979) 531-0355 FAX

Attorney for Appellant

CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY

This is to certify thata true and correct copy of the foregoing brieffor Appellant hasbeen

forwarded to counsel for the State of Texas, Mr. John Harrity, 309 South 4th Street, Suite 258,

Richmond, Texas 77469 on this the day of , 2014.

Mark W. Racer

16
EXHIBIT B

17
MARK W. RACER

ATTORNEY AT LAW

212 E.Burleson

Wharton, Texas 77488

(979)531-0322

(979) 531-0355 Fax

November 20,2014

ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE

Mr. DJ Christopher Lowe

TDCJ# 01912512

Telford Unit

3899 Hwy 98

New Boston, Texas 75570

Re: Cause No. 01-14-00158-CR; DJ Christopher Lowe vs. The State

of Texas; In The Court of Appeals-FirstDistrict

Dear Mr. Lowe:

Enclosed please find a copy ofthe briefthat was filed inyour case. Inthese circumstances

I have a responsibility to prepare a briefto the Court ofAppeals and advise them ofthe analysis I

have made ofthe record onyour behalf. In your case I did not find any error inthe record.

1have also enclosed a Motion to Withdraw which has been sent to the Court of Appeals

for review. The justices will examine your case and determine ifthe brief that I have prepared

provided athorough search ofthe record for any possible point oferror. They will also determine

if I have drawn the proper conclusion that an appeal would be frivolous. Ifthe Court ofAppeals

determines that my brief is inadequate then they may order me to rebrief the case or order the

trial court to appoint a new appellate attorney to investigate the record and file a new brief.

On the other hand, if the Court of Appeals agrees with my brief that the record is

insufficient to support a point of error, it does not end your right of appeal. You still have a right

to receive a copy of your record and prepare your own arguments. I have enclosed a copy ofthe

record in your case.

Ifyou have any other questions please contact us atthis address.

Very truly yours,

Mark W. Racer

18
19
umrcos

POSTAL S

i

Mark W. Racer

Attorney at Law

212 E. Burleson

Wharton, Texas 77488

•

FILED 

1ST COURT OF 

HOUSTON. 

JUL 1 3 

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Clerk, FirstCourt ofAppeals

301 Fannin

Houston, Texas 77002

CHRISTOPHER 

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MAIL RECEIVE

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IFIRST COURT OF APPE

HOUSTON, TEXAS

JUL 1 3 2015

ICHRISTOPHER A. PR

ICLERK