Court Opinion

ID: 4524679
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-13 07:18:20.178295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:12.449602
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS
                                 EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                      EL PASO, TEXAS

                                                   §
  JOSEPH RUSSEL PIEDRA,                                             No. 08-20-00077-CR
                                                   §
  Appellant,                                                          Appeal from the
                                                   §
  v.                                                                120th District Court
                                                   §
  THE STATE OF TEXAS,                                             of El Paso County, Texas
                                                   §
  Appellee.                                                         (TC# 20190D04745)
                                                   §

                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION

       Appellant Joseph Russel Piedra is attempting to appeal his conviction for burglary. We

dismiss the appeal because the trial court certified that Appellant does not have a right to appeal.

       Rule 25.2(a)(2) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure requires that the trial court enter

its certification of a defendant's right of appeal each time it enters a judgment of guilt or other

appealable order. TEX.R.APP.P. 25.2(a)(2). Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. The trial

court’s certification reflects that the appeal “is a plea-bargain case, and the defendant has NO right

of appeal.” The record supports the trial court’s conclusion that Appellant waived his right to a

jury trial and entered a negotiated guilty plea. In a plea-bargain case, a defendant may appeal only

those matters raised by written motion and ruled on before trial, or after getting the trial court’s

permission to appeal. TEX.R.APP.P. 25.2(a)(2)(A)(B). The appellate record does not reflect that
the trial court ruled on any pretrial motions or that Appellant obtained permission to appeal any

issues.

          The clerk’s office notified Appellant that the certification reflects he has no right of appeal

in this case and requested a response. Appellant’s attorney filed a response stating that he is unable

to rebut the certification. Based on the trial court’s certification and the record before us, we

conclude that Appellant does not have a right to appeal. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal.

April 9, 2020
                                                 YVONNE T. RODRIGUEZ, Justice

Before Alley, C.J., Rodriguez, and Palafox, JJ.

(Do Not Publish)

                                                    2