Court Opinion

ID: 2898876
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 23:49:42.564678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:15.678981
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-09-0203-CR

                                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                        FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                         AT AMARILLO

                                            PANEL D

                                    AUGUST 19, 2009
                            ______________________________

                             XAN ROSS ORMON, APPELLANT

                                                V.

                            THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
                          _________________________________

             FROM THE 181ST DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY;

                 NO. 47,237; HONORABLE DAVID L. GLEASON, JUDGE
                         _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.

                              ON ABATEMENT AND REMAND

       Appellant was sentenced in open court on May 26, 2009. His retained trial counsel

filed notice of appeal after the trial court issued a certification of his right to appeal, on June

16. Now pending before the Court is counsel’s motion to withdraw. In the motion, counsel

represents he has not been employed to represent appellant in the appeal of his

conviction, appellant has not communicated with counsel regarding the appeal, and

appellant has not provided funds for the appeal. Finding counsel’s motion substantially

complies with Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.5, we grant the motion to withdraw.
       Neither a clerk’s nor a reporter’s record has been filed. Also pending before the

Court is the court reporter’s request for an extension of time to file the reporter’s record,

until September 27, 2009. The request is granted.

       Finally, we abate the appeal, and remand the cause to the 181stJudicial District

Court of Potter County for further proceedings. On remand, the trial court shall utilize

whatever means it finds necessary to determine:

      1) whether appellant wishes to pursue the appeal;

      2) whether appellant is indigent;

      3) whether appellant has retained counsel to prosecute the appeal; and

      4) if appellant is indigent, whether he is entitled to appointed counsel on
      appeal and a free appellate record.

      In determining indigency, the court shall consider the factors set forth in article

26.04(m) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art.

26.04(m) (Vernon 2009); Gonzales v. State, 8 S.W.3d 679, 680 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1999,

no pet.). So too may it consider any other evidence relevant to the issue of whether

appellant “is not financially able to employ counsel.” See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art.

1.051(b) (Vernon 2005) (defining an indigent as one “who is not financially able to employ

counsel”); Conrad v. State, 537 S.W.2d 755, 757 (Tex.Crim.App.1976) (noting the absence

of a standard for determinations of indigency). However, that appellant previously retained

counsel to represent him at trial is not alone determinative, Conrad, 537 S.W.2d at 757,

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given that indigency must be assessed at the time the issue arises. Gonzales, 8 S.W.3d at

680.

       We further direct the district court to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law

addressing the subjects numerically itemized above. Should the district court find that

appellant desires to pursue his appeal, is without legal representation, and is indigent, then

we further direct the court to appoint counsel to assist in the prosecution of the appeal and

to order that a transcript of the trial court proceedings be provided to appellant free of

charge. The name, address, phone number, fax number, and state bar number of the

counsel who will represent appellant on appeal must also be included in the court's

appointment order. Furthermore, the district court shall also cause to be developed 1) a

supplemental clerk's record containing the findings of fact and conclusions of law and any

orders of the district court issued on remand and, 2) a reporter's record transcribing the

evidence and argument presented at any hearing held on remand. Additionally, the district

court shall cause the supplemental clerk's record to be filed with the clerk of this court on

or before September 25, 2009.

       It is so ordered.

                                                  Per Curiam

Do not publish.

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