Court Opinion

ID: 2926747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-11 22:37:34.96269+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:14.389302
License: Public Domain

NUMBERS 13-09-00029-CR
                                  13-09-00030-CR

                           COURT OF APPEALS

                 THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                   CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

BRIAN ALEXANDER WRIGHT,                                                Appellant,

                                         v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,                                                    Appellee.

                   On appeal from the 36th District Court
                        of Aransas County, Texas.

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Before Justices Rodriguez, Garza, and Vela
               Memorandum Opinion by Justice Rodriguez

      Appellant, Brian Alexander Wright, appeals from the revocation of his community

supervision in trial court cause number A-05-5193-CR (appellate cause number 13-09-

00030-CR). Appellant also appeals from the revocation of his community supervision in
trial court cause number A-06-5220-CR (appellate cause number 13-09-00029-CR). This

opinion consolidates the Court's analysis of both appeals. See TEX . R. APP. P. 47.1.

       On June 8, 2006, in trial court cause number A-05-5193-CR, appellant was placed

on ten years' deferred adjudication for the offense of aggravated assault. See TEX . PENAL

CODE ANN . § 22.02 (Vernon Supp. 2008). After the State filed its first motion to revoke in

September 2006, appellant was continued on community supervision. On November 5,

2008, the State filed a second motion to revoke, and on December 11, 2008, it filed an

amended motion. In its amended motion, the State alleged the following violations of the

terms and conditions of appellant's community supervision: (1) curfew violation; (2) use

of a controlled substance; (3) failure to report; (4) failure to submit to random urinalysis; (4)

failure to pay restitution; and (5) failure to pay court costs and fines.

       On November 20, 2006, in trial court cause number A-06-5220-CR, without a plea

bargain, appellant entered a plea of no contest to possession of methamphetamine with

intent to deliver, a first degree felony. See TEX . HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE ANN . § 481.112

(Vernon 2003). The trial court sentenced appellant to ten years' confinement in the

Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (ID-TDCJ), probated for

ten years. The court imposed a fine of $750.00 and court costs. On November 5, 2008,

the State filed a motion to revoke appellant's community supervision, and on December

11, 2008, it filed an amended motion alleging the following violations: (1) use of a

controlled substance; (2) failure to report; (3) curfew violations; (4) failure to complete out-

patient treatment; (5) failure to submit to urinalysis testing; and (6) failure to attend "AA"

meetings.

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        At an evidentiary hearing on both motions to revoke, appellant pleaded true to all

allegations identified above.1        Exhibits admitted in each case included appellant's

stipulation that he was the person who was tried for the specific crime and placed on

community supervision and appellant's stipulation and judicial confession that he pleaded

true to the violations. Each document was signed by appellant and approved by the trial

court and counsel for the State and for appellant.

        In trial court cause number A-05-5193-CR, the trial court revoked appellant's

community supervision, adjudicated appellant guilty, and sentenced him to ten years'

confinement in the ID-TDCJ. In trial court cause number A-06-5220-CR, the trial court

revoked appellant's supervision and sentenced him to ten years' confinement in the ID-

TDCJ. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. The trial court also assessed

costs and fines. Appellant appeals from each judgment.

        Concluding that each "appeal is frivolous and without merit," appellant's counsel

filed briefs in which he reviewed the merits, or lack thereof, of each appeal. We affirm the

judgments of the trial court.

                            I. Compliance with Anders v. California

        Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967), appellant’s

court-appointed appellate counsel has filed briefs with this Court, stating that "[t]here are

no meritorious points of error to present." Counsel’s briefs discuss the relevant portions

of the records. See In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 n.9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (“In

Texas, an Anders brief need not specifically advance ‘arguable’ points of error if counsel

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         In each case, the State also alleged that appellant received and possessed a firearm . However,
appellant pleaded not true to those allegations, and they were abandoned by the State.
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finds none, but it must provide record references to the facts and procedural history and

set out pertinent legal authorities.”) (citing Hawkins v. State, 112 S.W.3d 340, 343-44 (Tex.

App.–Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.)); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 510 n.3 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1991). Including record references to the facts and setting out pertinent legal

authorities, appellant's counsel has discussed why, under controlling authority, there are

no errors in the trial court's judgments. See High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 813 (Tex.

Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978).

        After searching the records and researching the applicable law, counsel has found

no reversible error reflected by the records and has forwarded copies of the briefs and

requests to withdraw as counsel to appellant. Counsel also informed appellant of his right

to review the record and to file a pro se response in each appeal.2 See Anders, 386 U.S.

at 744; Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 510 n.3; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409 n.23.

More than an adequate period of time has passed, and appellant has not filed a pro se

response in either appeal. See In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409.

                                       II. Independent Review

        Upon receiving an Anders brief, we must conduct a full examination of all the

proceedings to determine whether the case is wholly frivolous. Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S.
75, 80 (1988). We have reviewed the entire record and counsel's brief in each appeal and

have found nothing that would arguably support an appeal. See Bledsoe v. State, 178

        2
          The Texas Court of Crim inal Appeals has held that “the pro se response need not com ply with the
rules of appellate procedure in order to be considered. Rather, the response should identify for the court
those issues which the indigent appellant believes the court should consider in deciding whether the case
presents any m eritorious issues.” In re Schulman, 252 S.W .3d 403, 409 n.23 (Tex. Crim . App. 2008) (quoting
W ilson v. State, 955 S.W .2d 693, 696-97 (Tex. App.–W aco 1997, no pet.)).

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S.W.3d 824, 826-28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (“Due to the nature of Anders briefs, by

indicating in the opinion that it considered the issues raised in the briefs and reviewed the

record for reversible error but found none, the court of appeals met the requirement of

Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 47.1.”); Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 509. Accordingly, we

affirm the judgment in trial court cause number A-05-5193-CR (appellate cause number

13-09-00030-CR) and the judgment in trial court cause number A-06-5220-CR (appellate

cause number 13-09-00029-CR).

                                  III. Motion to Withdraw

       In accordance with Anders, appellant’s attorney has asked this Court for permission

to withdraw as counsel for appellant. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; see also In re

Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408 n.17 (citing Jeffery v. State, 903 S.W.2d 776, 779-80 (Tex.

App.–Dallas 1995, no pet.) (noting that “[i]f an attorney believes the appeal is frivolous, he

must withdraw from representing the appellant. To withdraw from representation, the

appointed attorney must file a motion to withdraw accompanied by a brief showing the

appellate court that the appeal is frivolous”) (citations omitted)). We grant counsel's motion

to withdraw filed in appellate cause number 13-09-00030-CR that was carried with the case

on April 16, 2009. We also grant counsel’s motion to withdraw filed in appellate cause

number 13-09-00029-CR that was carried with the case on April 23, 2009. Within five

days of the date of this Court’s opinion, counsel is ordered to send a copy of the opinion

and the judgment in each case to appellant and to advise appellant of his right to file

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petitions for discretionary review.3 See TEX . R. APP. P. 48.4; see also In re Schulman, 252
S.W.3d at 412 n.35; Ex parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).

                                                                        NELDA V. RODRIGUEZ
                                                                        Justice

Do not publish.
TEX . R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

Memorandum Opinion delivered and
filed this 9th day of July, 2009.

         3
           No substitute counsel will be appointed. Should appellant wish to seek further review of these cases
by the Texas Court of Crim inal Appeals, he m ust either retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary
review or file a pro se petition for discretionary review in each case. Any petition for discretionary review m ust
be filed within thirty days from the date of either this opinion or the last tim ely m otion for rehearing that was
overruled by this Court. See T EX . R. A PP . P. 68.2. Any petition for discretionary review m ust be filed with this
Court, after which it will be forwarded to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See T EX . R. A PP . P. 68.3; 68.7.
Any petition for discretionary review should com ply with the requirem ents of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of
Appellate Procedure. See T EX . R. A PP . P. 68.4.

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