Court Opinion

ID: 4460207
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-28 10:14:49.205025+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:56.754222
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                     San Antonio, Texas
                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                        No. 04-19-00481-CR

                                          Juan ORTIZ, Jr.,
                                             Appellant

                                                  v.

                                       The STATE of Texas,
                                             Appellee

                     From the 81st Judicial District Court, Wilson County, Texas
                                  Trial Court No. 18-08-137-CRW
                            Honorable Russell Wilson, Judge Presiding

PER CURIAM

Sitting:          Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
                  Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
                  Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: November 27, 2019

REINSTATED AND DISMISSED FOR WANT OF JURISDICTION

           Appellant seeks to appeal from the trial court’s judgment imposed on February 25, 2019.

Because appellant did not file a motion for new trial, the notice of appeal was due on March 27,

2019. TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2(a). Appellant filed an untimely notice of appeal on July 15, 2019. Id.

A late notice of appeal invokes the appellate court’s jurisdiction in a criminal case only if (1) it is

filed within fifteen days of the last day allowed for filing the notice of appeal, (2) a motion for

extension of time is filed in the court of appeals within the fifteen-day grace period, and (3) the

court of appeals grants the motion for extension of time. Olivo v. State, 918 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex.
                                                                                      04-19-00481-CR

Crim. App. 1996). Because appellant’s notice of appeal was filed more than fifteen days after the

last day for filing a notice of appeal and appellant did not file a motion for extension, we lack

jurisdiction over this appeal. Id.

       Upon appellant’s motion, unopposed by the State, this appeal was abated for ninety days

to permit appellant to seek permission to pursue an out-of-time appeal from the Court of Criminal

Appeals. On October 30, 2019, we issued an order requesting appellant to file a response stating

the status of his request for an out-of-time appeal and explaining why this appeal should not be

dismissed for lack of jurisdiction without prejudice to re-filing a new notice of appeal in the event

an out-of-time appeal is granted. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(f). Appellant filed a response stating

that the Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed his habeas corpus petition seeking an out-of-time

appeal as “premature” on October 23, 2019. In his response, appellant requests that this appeal be

dismissed without prejudice and that the mandate be issued simultaneously.

       It is therefore ORDERED that this appeal is REINSTATED on the docket of this court and

DISMISSED without prejudice for want of jurisdiction. TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(f); see Olivo, 918
S.W.2d at 522; see also Ater v. Eighth Court of Appeals, 802 S.W.2d 241, 243 (Tex. Crim. App.

1991) (an out-of-time appeal from a final felony conviction may be sought by filing a writ of

habeas corpus pursuant to article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure).

       We construe appellant’s request for expedited issuance of the mandate as a motion pursuant

to TEX. R. APP. P. 18.1(c) requesting immediate issuance of the mandate based on good cause. The

motion does not contain a certificate of conference; however, no response opposing the motion

has been filed by the State of Texas. Accordingly, having found good cause to issue the mandate

                                                -2-
                                                                             04-19-00481-CR

immediately, we GRANT appellant’s motion. The clerk of the court is instructed to issue the

mandate immediately. TEX. R. APP. P. 18.1(c).

                                                PER CURIAM

DO NOT PUBLISH

                                            -3-