Court Opinion

ID: 2980857
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 19:17:33.124505+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:10.423086
License: Public Domain

Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed February 19, 2015.

                                      In The

                    Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                              NO. 14-14-00939-CR

                      PATRICIA ANN POTTS, Appellant
                                        V.

                      THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

            On Appeal from County Criminal Court at Law No. 2
                          Harris County, Texas
                      Trial Court Cause No. 1970525

                 MEMORANDUM                     OPINION

      This appeal is before the Court on its own motion for determination whether
the appeal should be dismissed for want of jurisdiction. We dismiss.

      This attempted appeal arises from a misdemeanor charge of criminal
trespass. The record reflects that in accordance with article 46B.004(e), the trial
court found appellant was incompetent, with no likelihood of restoration. See Tex.
Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.004(e). The trial court then proceeded under Subchapter
F of Article 46B. Id. The trial court found appellant is a person with mental illness
or mental retardation, ordered appellant transferred to Harris County Probate Court
Number 3 for civil commitment proceedings, and dismissed all charges. See Tex.
Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.151(a) and (b). The trial court ordered appellant held in
the Harris County Jail pending prompt transfer to a mental health facility. See Tex.
Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.151(b)(1). The record before this court contains no
further orders.

      Generally, we only have jurisdiction to consider an appeal by a criminal
defendant where there has been a final judgment of conviction. See Apolinar v.
State, 820 S.W.2d 792, 794 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). The rules of appellate
procedure provide that a criminal defendant has the right to appeal a judgment of
guilt or other appealable order. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(a)(2). An order dismissing
a charging instrument is not an appealable order for purposes of rule 25.2(a)(2) if a
defendant brings the appeal. See Petty v. State, 800 S.W.2d 582, 583–84
(Tex.App.—Tyler 1990, no pet.). Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction to consider an
appeal from the trial court’s order of dismissal. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(f);
Skinner v. State, 305 S.W.3d 593, 594 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).

      Absent any rule or any statutory or constitutional provision that authorizes
the defendant’s appeal, we lack jurisdiction. See Staley v. State, 233 S.W.3d 337,
338 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (dismissing the defendant’s appeal from order
compelling medication because it was not authorized by law). See also Abbott v.
State, 271 S.W.3d 694, 697 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (dismissing the defendant’s
appeal from trial court’s post-judgment order denying his time-credit motion).
Appellant’s first amended notice of appeal states that she seeks to appeal the
following orders:

      1.     Order Appointing Counsel And Releasing Medical Records

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      pursuant to Chapter 46B, signed September 22, 2014;
      2.    Order for Transfer of Civil Commitment signed October 07,
      2044 [sic];
      3.    Finding of Incompetence signed October 07, 2014;
      4.   Motion & Order for Finding Related to Competency signed
      October 17, 2014;
      5.    Alias Capias and Instanter issued September 17, 2014.
      Chapter 46B contains no provision for an appeal of orders issued under
Subchapter F and we are aware of no other law authorizing such an appeal. On
December 8, 2014, the parties were notified this court would consider dismissal of
the appeal on its own motion unless any party filed a response within 10 days.
Appellant filed no response.

      Accordingly, the appeal is ordered dismissed. Appellant’s pending motions
are denied as moot.

                                    PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Jamison, Busby and Brown.
Do Not Publish – Tex. R. App. P.47.2(b).

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