Court Opinion

ID: 5140991
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-28 12:14:53.120327+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:26.653436
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                     San Antonio, Texas
                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                        No. 04-21-00196-CR

                                 Ricky Maurice RICHARDSON, Jr.,
                                             Appellant

                                                  v.

                                        The STATE of Texas,
                                              Appellee

                    From the 451st Judicial District Court, Kendall County, Texas
                                        Trial Court No. 5898
                            Honorable Kirsten Cohoon, Judge Presiding

PER CURIAM

Sitting:          Rebeca C. Martinez, Chief Justice
                  Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
                  Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice

Delivered and Filed: December 22, 2021

APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED

           On August 9, 2021, court reporter Ms. Tonya Thompson filed a Notification of Late Record

stating, in part, that “Defense Counsel said [appellant] no longer wanted to appeal and [the] record

was no longer needed, hence, no payment [sic] for transcript preparation [sic].” Appellant is

represented on appeal by Ms. Stefanie Collins. On August 10, 2021, this court ordered Ms. Collins

to file in this court, no later than August 20, 2021, either (1) a motion to dismiss this appeal that

fully complies with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.2(a) or (2) if appellant wishes to

continue his appeal, written proof to this court that either (a) Ms. Thompson’s fee has been paid
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or arrangements have been made to pay the fee, or (b) appellant is entitled to appeal without paying

the fee. Ms. Collins did not respond to our August 10, 2021 order or file appellant’s brief.

       On September 27, 2021, this court ordered Ms. Collins to respond to this court, in

writing no later than October 7, 2021, stating a reasonable explanation for failing to timely respond

to our August 10, 2021 order and for failing to file the brief, and demonstrate the steps being taken

to remedy the deficiency. Our order informed Ms. Collins that if she failed to file an adequate

response by October 7, 2021, this appeal would be abated to the trial court for an abandonment

hearing, and the trial court would be asked to consider whether sanctions are appropriate. TEX. R.

APP. P. 38.8(b)(2).

       On October 8, 2021, Ms. Collins filed a motion requesting an extension of time until

November 8, 2021 to file appellant’s brief. Ms. Collins contended appellant informed her that he

no longer wished to prosecute his appeal in this case, and he would not pay for the reporter’s record

necessary for the appeal. Ms. Collins stated she mailed a motion for voluntary dismissal to

appellant at his current TDCJ Unit, Ellis Unit, for his signature as required by the Rules of

Appellate Procedure; however, the motion with his signature was not returned to her. Ms. Collins

stated she was attempting to schedule an inmate telephone call with appellant to determine if he

received the motion and if he intended to sign it. On October 11, 2021, this court granted the

motion and ordered Ms. Collins to file no later than November 8, 2021 (1) a motion to dismiss this

appeal that fully complies with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.2(a) or (2) appellant’s brief.

On November 9, 2021, Ms. Collins filed a motion to withdraw in which she recounted her

unsuccessful efforts to contact appellant; therefore, she filed neither a Rule 42.2(a) motion to

dismiss nor a brief.

       On November 9, 2021, we abated this case to the trial court and ordered the trial court to

conduct a hearing to answer the following questions:

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                                                                                      04-21-00196-CR

       (1) Does appellant desire to prosecute his appeal?

       (2) Is appellant indigent? If appellant is indigent, the trial court shall take such
       measures as may be necessary to assure the effective assistance of counsel, which
       may include the appointment of new counsel if appellant desires to prosecute his
       appeal.

       (3) If appellant is not indigent, does he intend to make or has he already made the
       necessary arrangements for filing a brief?

See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b); 42.4. We held in abeyance all appellate filing dates and Ms. Collins’s

motion to withdraw pending further order of this court.

       On December 3, 2021, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing at which appellant, Ms.

Colins, and the State were present. The trial court asked appellant if he wanted to pursue his appeal

and appellant replied that he did not.      In its conclusions of law, the trial court (1) found

“Appellant’s testimony credible” and (2) that he “under oath testified that he did not wish to

prosecute an appeal in this case.” The court also concluded his appeal should be dismissed.

       This appeal is reinstated on the court’s docket. We dismiss this appeal and grant Ms.

Collins’s motion to withdraw.

                                                  PER CURIAM

Do not publish

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