Court Opinion

ID: 2914823
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-10 18:44:51.771955+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:35:30.166743
License: Public Domain

Opinion filed July 2, 2009

                                               In The

   Eleventh Court of Appeals
                                            ____________

                                      No. 11-09-00023-CR
                                          __________

                        CELIUS INMAN THOMAS, III, Appellant

                                                  V.

                                 STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                              On Appeal from the 30th District Court

                                       Wichita County, Texas

                                  Trial Court Cause No. 47,100-A

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION
          The jury convicted Celius Inman Thomas, III of robbery, and the trial court assessed his
punishment at confinement for four years. We dismiss.
          Appellant’s court-appointed counsel has filed a motion to withdraw. The motion is supported
by a brief in which counsel professionally and conscientiously examines the record and applicable
law and states that he has concluded that the appeal is frivolous. Counsel presents four potential
issues.
       In the first two potential issues, counsel contends that the evidence may be both legally and
factually insufficient to support the verdict. As counsel notes, two witnesses testified that appellant
had a bulge in the front of his shirt as he left the store. When appellant was confronted, he fled from
the store. Both witnesses pursued appellant, one on foot and one in a motor vehicle. The one who
gave chase in the vehicle reached appellant first and asked him to return the merchandise. Appellant
responded by hitting the witness in the head and mouth with the merchandise. Appellant denied ever
entering the store. Counsel correctly concludes that the evidence is both legally and factually
sufficient. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517
(Tex. Crim. App. 2009). The first two potential issues are overruled.
       In the third potential issue, counsel examines the trial court’s ruling on the State’s objection
to a hypothetical question asked by defense counsel during the cross-examination of the arresting
police officer. Defense counsel questioned the officer concerning what actions could constitute an
assault, and the trial court sustained the State’s objection that the question contained a misstatement
of the law. Counsel correctly concludes both that the question was improper and that error, if any,
would be harmless. The third potential issue is overruled.
       In the final potential issue, counsel examines whether appellant was denied the effective
assistance of trial counsel because an insanity defense was not pursued. As noted, trial counsel filed
a motion for examination regarding incompetency. The motion was granted, an examination was
conducted, and the report was admitted into evidence. In the report, the examiner concluded that
appellant’s “reality perception” was “generally within normal limits,” that the test results were
“indicative of residual signs of thought disorder” but appellant was “not presently psychotic,” that
appellant appeared to have a schizophrenic condition that was “largely in remission at this time,” and
that appellant appeared to have “exaggerated symptoms of mental disorders” during the examination
“suggestive of malingering.” As counsel concludes, the record does not support a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel. Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510 (2003); Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668 (1984); Andrews v. State, 159 S.W.3d 98 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Hernandez v. State,
988 S.W.2d 770 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). The fourth potential issue is overruled.

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       Counsel has provided appellant with a copy of the brief and advised appellant of his right to
review the record and file a response to counsel’s brief. A response has not been filed. Court-
appointed counsel has complied with the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967);
In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1991); High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); Currie v. State, 516
S.W.2d 684 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974); Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969);
Eaden v. State, 161 S.W.3d 173 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2005, no pet.).
       Following the procedures outlined in Anders, we have independently reviewed the record,
and we agree that the appeal is without merit. We note that counsel has the responsibility to advise
appellant that he may file a petition for discretionary review by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Ex parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d 670 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Likewise, this court advises appellant
that he may file a petition for discretionary review pursuant to TEX . R. APP . P. 66. Black v. State,
217 S.W.3d 687 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2007, no pet.).
       The motion to withdraw is granted, and the appeal is dismissed.

                                                              PER CURIAM

July 2, 2009
Do not publish. See TEX . R. APP . P. 47.2(b).
Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
McCall, J., and Strange, J.

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