Court Opinion

ID: 4706306
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-26 07:18:01.900198+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:35.567991
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-20-00194-CR

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                           TYLER, TEXAS

ROBERT DANE WILBURN,                                     §       APPEAL FROM THE 145TH
APPELLANT

V.                                                       §       JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE                                                 §       NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS

                                       MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                           PER CURIAM
        Robert Dane Wilburn appeals his conviction for indecency with a child. Appellant’s
counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18
L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967) and Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969). Thereafter,
Appellant filed a pro se brief. We affirm.

                                                BACKGROUND
        Appellant was charged by indictment with indecency with a child and pleaded “guilty.”
The State further alleged that Appellant previously had been convicted of two felonies, to which
Appellant pleaded “true.” 1 The trial court accepted Appellant’s pleas, and the matter proceeded
to a trial on punishment.
        At the punishment hearing, the trial court heard testimony from a police officer, who
testified that Appellant was accused of committing another offense just days prior to the
commencement of punishment proceedings. The victim testified to the circumstances underlying
the offense. Moreover, Appellant’s sister testified that Appellant committed similar sexual

        1
         The State stipulated to the trial court that it only intended to use one of Appellant’s plea of “true” for
enhancement purposes.
offenses against her in the past. Appellant and his wife testified on Appellant’s behalf. During
his testimony, Appellant denied committing any sexual offenses against his sister.
         Ultimately, the trial court found Appellant “guilty” as charged, found the relevant
enhancement allegation to be “true,” and sentenced Appellant to imprisonment for ninety-nine
years. This appeal followed.

                             ANALYSIS PURSUANT TO ANDERS V. CALIFORNIA
         Appellant’s counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v. California and Gainous v.
State. Appellant’s counsel states that he has diligently reviewed the appellate record and is of the
opinion that the record reflects no reversible error and that there is no error upon which an appeal
can be predicated. He further relates that he is well acquainted with the facts in this case. In
compliance with Anders, Gainous, and High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel
Op.] 1978), Appellant’s brief presents a chronological summation of the procedural history of
the case and further states that Appellant’s counsel is unable to raise any arguable issues for
appeal. 2
         Thereafter, Appellant filed a pro se brief, in which he raised the following issues: (1) the
trial court erroneously held part of the punishment proceedings while he was absent; (2) he was
convicted in spite of the fact that he was charged outside of the applicable limitations period for
the offense; (3) he received ineffective assistance of counsel both at the trial and appellate level;
and (4) the evidence supporting his conviction is insufficient in light of evidence he presented
constituting an alibi. 3 We have reviewed the record for reversible error and have found none.
See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).

         2
           In compliance with Kelly v. State, Appellant’s counsel provided Appellant with a copy of the brief,
notified Appellant of his motion to withdraw as counsel, informed Appellant of his right to file a pro se response,
and took concrete measures to facilitate Appellant’s review of the appellate record. See Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d
313, 319 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

          3
            We have construed Appellant’s brief and the issues raised therein liberally in the interest of justice. See
Gill v. State, No. 12-11-00282-CR, 2012 WL 3804369, at *1 n.2 (Tex. App.–Tyler Aug. 31, 2012, pet. ref’d) (mem.
op., not designated for publication).

                                                          2
                                                  CONCLUSION
         As required by Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991), Appellant’s
counsel has moved for leave to withdraw. See also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008) (orig. proceeding). We carried the motion for consideration with the merits.
Having done so and finding no reversible error, Appellant’s counsel’s motion for leave to
withdraw is hereby granted and the appeal is affirmed.
         As a result of our disposition of this case, Appellant’s counsel has a duty to, within five
days of the date of this opinion, send a copy of the opinion and judgment to Appellant and advise
him of his right to file a petition for discretionary review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4; In re
Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 411 n.35. Should Appellant wish to seek review of this case by the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he must either retain an attorney to file a petition for
discretionary review on his behalf or he must file a petition for discretionary review pro se. Any
petition for discretionary review must be filed within thirty days from the date of either this
opinion or the last timely motion for rehearing that was overruled by this court. See TEX. R. APP.
P. 68.2. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed with the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3(a). Any petition for discretionary review should comply with
the requirements of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 68.4. See In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d
at 408 n.22.
Opinion delivered July 21, 2021.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

                                             (DO NOT PUBLISH)

                                                          3
                                   COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                           JUDGMENT

                                             JULY 21, 2021

                                         NO. 12-20-00194-CR

                                    ROBERT DANE WILBURN,
                                           Appellant
                                              V.
                                     THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                           Appellee

                                Appeal from the 145th District Court
                      of Nacogdoches County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. F1622665)

                        THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
                        It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
                    By per curiam opinion.
                    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.