Court Opinion

ID: 4038066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 21:35:10.871406+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:58.359510
License: Public Domain

CAUSE NOS. 07-13-00234-CR; 07-13-00235-CR; 07-13-00236-CR;
          07-13-0023 7-CR; 07-13-00238-CR; AND 07-13-00239-CR

                  IN THE SEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS
                           AMARILLO, TEXAS
                                                                  December 27, 2013

                          AARON EDWARD BELL
                                                      Appellant,
                                      vs.

                           THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                                      Appellee.

APPEALING THE JUDGMENTS AND SENTENCES IN CAUSE NUMBERS
1288725D, 1288726D, 1288727D AND 1288728D, 1290870D, AND 1290871D IN THE
372Nn DISTRICT COURT FOR TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS, HON. SCOTT
WISCH, JUDGE PRESIDING.

                   APPELLANT'S ORIGINAL BRIEF
                             (Certified Frivolous)

                                                DAVID L. RICHARDS
     Oral Argument is not requested             SBN: 16845500
                                                3001 West 5th Street, Ste. 800
                                                FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76107
                                                (817) 332-5567 (phone)
                                                (817) 885-7688 (fax)

                                                COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT
                            IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

 The Parties to the trial      Aaron Edward Bell                          Defendant
 Court' s judgment are:

 Trial counsel were:           Hon. G. Dewayne Huston                     Defense Counsel
                               100 East 15th Street, Ste. 620
                               Fort Worth, Texas 76102

                               The State of Texas                         Prosecution

                              Hon. Elizabeth Beach                        Tarrant County

                              Office of the Tarrant County District Attorney
                              401 W. Belknap Street
                              Fort Worth, Texas 76196
                              (817) 884-1400

Appellate counsel are:        David Richards                              Appellant
                              3001Weat5th Street, Ste. 800
                              Fort Worth, Texas 76107
                              (817) 332-5567

                              Hon. Charles M. Mallin                      State of Texas

                              Tarrant County District Attorney's Office
                              Appellate Section
                              Address Above
                                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Identi~ of Parties and Counsel                 ..............................................                                      1

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Index of Authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Statement of the Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Procedural History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Statement of Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Statement as to Why No Points are Presented on Appeal ......................... 4

         COUNSEL ON APPEAL CERTIFIES THAT HE HAS CAREFULLY
         REVIEWED THE TRIAL COURT RECORD, BUT CAN FIND NO
         ARGUABLE ERROR. HE THEREFORE CERTIFIES THIS APPEAL AS
         FRIVOLOUS AND HAS FORWARDED BOTH A COPY OF THE RECORD
         AND A COPY OF THIS BRIEF TO APPELLANT.

Conclusion, Prayer and Certificate of Service ................................... 6

                                                                 11
                                          INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Alejandro v. State,
      493 S.W.2d 230, 231 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973) .......................................... .4

Anders v. California,
      386 U.S. 738 (1967) ................................................................................... 5

Gutierrez v. State,
      36 S.W.3d 509, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) ............................................ .4

McDuffv. State, 939 S.W.2d 607
     (Tex. Crim. App.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 844 (1997) .............................. .4

Sanchez v. State,
      120 S. W 2d 359 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) .. ....... .... ... .. ....... ... ..... ................ ..4

Stafford v. State,
       813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) ................................................... 5

Strickland v. Washington,
       466 U.S. 668 (1984) ................................................................................... 4

                                                             lll
                STATEMENT ON APPEAL

     COUNSEL ON APPEAL CERTIFIES THAT HE HAS CAREFULLY
REVIEWED THE TRIAL COURT RECORD, BUT CAN FIND NO
ARGUABLE ERROR. HE THEREFORE CERTIFIES THESE APPEALS AS
FRIVOLOUS AND HAS FORWARDED BOTH A COPY OF THE RECORD
AND A COPY OF THIS BRIEF TO APPELLANT.

                          1
                              STATEMENT OF THE CASE
       Appellant's full name is Aaron Edward Bell (hereinafter "Mr. Bell"). He is an inmate

of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division and has been assigned

inmate No. 01861465, 2664 FM 2054, Tennessee Colony, Tx. 75886. Mr. Bell was

sentenced by the trial court to multiple concurrent sentences of fifty years ' and forty years'

confinement, following his pleas of guilty and "true" to the enhancement paragraphs, and

his conviction and subsequent sentencing hearings, in these cases of aggravated robbery,

jointly tried, on May 31, 2013. RR. Vol. II, p. 44-45.

       STATEMENT AS TO THE WAIVER ORAL ARGUMENT
       No argument is requested; however, should appellant request oral argument in

connection with an appellate brief he may file pro-se, counsel requests that the Court not

consider this waiver as a ground to overrule that request.

                                PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Appellant was convicted and sentenced in each case on May 13, 2013. RR. Vol. II, p.

44-45. Written Notice of Appeal was timely given on June 3, 2013. CR. Vol. 1, p. 48.

Following an extension granted by this Court, this brief is tendered on December 22, 2013.

                                              2
                               STATEMENT OF FACTS

      Mr. Bell admitted that he committed multiple aggravated robberies occurring in

Tarrant County in 2012. CR. Vol I, p. 5, RR. Vol. II, p. 43-44.

      Further review of the facts is deferred to the "Discussion" section of this brief, below.

                                             3
             STATEMENT AS TO WHY NO POINTS ARE PRESENTED

            COUNSEL ON APPEAL CERTIFIES THAT HE HAS CAREFULLY
       REVIEWED THE TRIAL COURT RECORD, BUT CAN FIND NO
       ARGUABLE ERROR. HE THEREFORE CERTIFIES THIS APPEAL AS
       FRIVOLOUSANDHASFORWARDEDBOTHACOPYOFTHERECORD
       AND A COPY OF THIS BRIEF TO APPELLANT.

                                        DISCUSSION

        The reflects that Mr. Bell, after being properly admonished of his rights by the trial

court, entered pleas of guilt and admitted each allegation contained the indictment in each

case. RR. Vol. II, p. 6; CR. I, P. 38-43. There evidence was therefore sufficient. See Sanchez

v. State, 120 S. W 2d 359 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); McDuffv. State, 93_9 S.W.2d 607, 614 (Tex.

Crim. App.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 844 (1977).

       There was mitigating evidence offered by the defense at the sentencing hearing, and

that evidence was weighed by Judge Wisch prior to his determination of the sentences

assessed. RR. Vol. II, p. 12-29. The arguments were objection free, save for one instance in

which the trial court overruled an objection by the State. RR. Vol. II, p. 30-31.

       All entences were below the maximum sentences of 99 years or life, and there was no

objection to the sentences on that ground. RR Vol. I-II, p. 44-45. Therefore there was no

error in that regard. See Gutierrez v. State, 36 S.W.3d 509, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).

        Nothing in either defense counsel' s argument nor the prosecutor' s argument was

inappropriate or outside the areas of permissible argument. See Alejandro v. State, 493
S.W.2d 230, 231 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973).

       Mr. Bell was represented by counsel at trial and nothing in the record indicates that

trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668

(1984)(setting forth test for ineffective assistance). He zealously represented Mr. Bell and

made an effective argument prior to the trial court' s decisions. Id.

                                               4
       Wherefore, counsel requests that the Court accept this brief as one properly certified

frivolous, and allow counsel to withdraw from further representation on appeal. See Anders

v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967); Stajfordv. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App.

1991 ). Contemporaneous with the filing of this brief counsel is drafting a letter to Mr. Bell

explaining his rights, including the filing of a pro-se brief, as well as a copy of the clerk' s

record and court reporter' s record.    Counsel is also presenting a courtesy copy of this brief

to the trial court, with the note that Mr. Bell is in-custody and that appropriate

accommodations may become necessary should he decide to file a pro-se brief.

                              CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

       For the reasons set forth above, appellant requests that Court accept this certified

frivolous brief, permit counsel to withdraw as attorney of record, and permit Mr. Bell, should

he so desire, to file a brief, pro-se, and for such other and further relief as he may show

himself entitled at law or in equity.

                                                          Respectfu ly submitted,

                                                                     ,~ L
                                                          DAVIJ.D L. RI