Court Opinion

ID: 4341691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-11-15 13:37:20.050725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:11.331804
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                     San Antonio, Texas
                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

                                        No. 04-18-00015-CR

                                         David FONTANES,
                                              Appellant

                                                  v.

                                        The STATE of Texas,
                                              Appellee

                     From the 437th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                   Trial Court No. 2015CR4762
                           Honorable Lori I. Valenzuela, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Karen Angelini, Justice

Sitting:          Karen Angelini, Justice
                  Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
                  Irene Rios, Justice

Delivered and Filed: November 14, 2018

AFFIRMED

           David Fontanes appeals from the trial court’s judgment revoking his community

supervision. At the revocation hearing, Fontanes pled “true” to the State’s allegation that he had

violated the terms of his community supervision by committing a new offense. The trial court then

revoked his community supervision, sentenced him to three years of imprisonment, and imposed

a $2,000.00 fine.

           Fontanes’s court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief and motion to withdraw in

accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Counsel’s brief states he has diligently
                                                                                      04-18-00015-CR

examined the record and in his professional opinion this appeal is frivolous and without merit.

Counsel’s brief, which includes citations to the records and to relevant legal authorities, satisfies

the requirement of Anders, 386 U.S. at 744-45. See High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812-13 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1978). Counsel states that Fontanes was provided with a copy of the brief and motion

to withdraw, and was further informed of his right to review the record and file his own brief. See

Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313, 319-20 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Additionally, counsel advised

Fontanes that if he wished to review the record, he must file a motion in this court and enclosed a

form motion for that purpose. See id. Fontanes did not file a motion to review the record and did

not file a pro se brief.

        After reviewing the record, we agree with counsel’s conclusion that this appeal is frivolous

and without merit. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. Furthermore, we grant

counsel’s motion to withdraw. See Nichols v. State, 954 S.W.2d 83, 85-86 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio 1997, no pet.); Bruns v. State, 924 S.W.2d 176, 177 n.1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996,

no pet.).

        Additionally, although the trial court’s judgment does not order Fontanes to pay court-

appointed attorney’s fees, the record contains a certified bill of costs that lists the amount for

Fontanes’s court-appointed attorney as “TBD,” or to be determined. Attorney’s fees “as set forth

in a certified bill of costs are effective whether or not incorporated by reference in the written

judgment.” Armstrong v. State, 340 S.W.3d 759, 767 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). The record shows

that the trial court appointed counsel to represent Fontanes pursuant to article 26.04 of the Texas

Code of Criminal Procedure. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 26.04. Therefore, the trial court

found Fontanes to be indigent. See id. Nothing in the record shows a material change in Fontanes’s

financial circumstances. Absent a showing of a material change in Fontanes’s financial

circumstances, it would be error to assess court-appointed attorney’s fees against Fontanes. See
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                                                                                         04-18-00015-CR

Benavidez v. State, 423 S.W.3d 520, 522 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, no pet.). Because the

“TBD” reference indicates such fees could be assessed once an amount is determined, we order

the trial court clerk to prepare and file a corrected bill of costs showing that no court-appointed

attorney’s fees are assessed against Fontanes. See Moody v. State, No. 04-16-000017-CR, 2017
WL 2124512, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2017, no pet.) (not designated for publication)

(ordering corrected bill of costs when appellant qualifies as indigent and bill of costs lists amount

of court-appointed attorney’s fees as “TBD”).

        Finally, no substitute counsel will be appointed. Should Fontanes wish to seek further

review of this case by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he must either retain an attorney to

file a petition for discretionary review or file a pro se petition for discretionary review. Any petition

for discretionary review must be filed within thirty days from the later of (1) the date of this

opinion; or (2) the date the last timely motion for rehearing is overruled by this court. See TEX. R.

APP. P. 68.2. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed in the Texas Court of Criminal

Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3. Any petition for discretionary review should comply with the

requirements of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.4.

                                                    Karen Angelini, Justice

Do not publish

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