Court Opinion

ID: 2896696
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 00:47:20.605884+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:38:48.765367
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-08-0207-CR

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                     AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL B

                               SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
                         ______________________________

                              YOHAWNN DANTE BYNES,

                                                              Appellant

                                            v.

                                THE STATE OF TEXAS,

                                                              Appellee

                       _________________________________

            FROM THE 31st DISTRICT COURT OF WHEELER COUNTY;

                NO. 4062; HON. STEVEN RAY EMMERT, PRESIDING
                       _______________________________

                           ON ABATEMENT AND REMAND
                         _______________________________

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

      Yohawnn Dante Bynes (appellant) appeals from his conviction for possession of a

controlled substance with intent to deliver. He filed his notice of appeal on May 15, 2008.

The clerk’s record was filed on June 23, 2008, and the reporter’s record July 15, 2008.

Appellant’s brief was due on August 14, 2008. No brief or extension was filed by that date

with the Court. On August 22, 2008, a letter was sent to appellant notifying him the brief
was overdue and that the brief or response was due on September 2, 2008.                On

September 12, 2008, we received a motion to extend the time to file his brief.

       Consequently, since appellant has no attorney and a determination must be made

on his indigency and whether he desires an attorney to represent him, we abate the appeal

and remand the cause to the 31st District Court (trial court) for further proceedings. Upon

remand, the trial court shall immediately cause notice of a hearing to be given and,

thereafter, conduct a hearing to determine the following:

       1.     whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeal

       2.    whether appellant is indigent and entitled to appointed counsel.

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

addressing the foregoing subjects. Should the trial court find that appellant desires to

pursue the appeal, is indigent and without counsel, we direct the trial court to appoint him

same unless appellant knowingly waives his right to counsel. In either situation, the name,

address, phone number, telefax number, and state bar number of the new counsel, if any,

who will represent appellant on appeal must also be included in the court’s findings of fact

and conclusions of law. Furthermore, the trial court shall also cause to be developed 1)

a supplemental clerk’s record containing the findings of fact and conclusions of law and 2)

a reporter’s record transcribing the evidence and argument presented at the

aforementioned hearing. Additionally, the trial court shall cause the supplemental clerk’s

record to be filed with the clerk of this court on or before October 22, 2008. Should

additional time be needed to perform these tasks, the trial court may request same on or

before October 22, 2008.

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      It is so ordered.

                              Per Curiam

Do not publish.

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