Court Opinion

ID: 3155733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-18 19:11:10.534693+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:00:43.523733
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                    San Antonio, Texas
                                        November 17, 2015

                                       No. 04-15-00700-CR

                                       Evonta GARRETT,
                                           Appellant

                                                 v.

                                      The STATE of Texas,
                                            Appellee

                   From the 290th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                 Trial Court No. 2015CR8308
                           Honorable Melisa Skinner, Judge Presiding

                                          ORDER

        Evonta Garrett entered into a plea bargain with the State, pursuant to which he pleaded
guilty to burglary of a habitation – force. As part of his plea bargain, Garrett signed a separate
“Waiver of Appeal” that states:

       I understand that upon my plea of guilty or nolo contendere, where the
       punishment does not exceed that recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to
       by me, my right to appeal will be limited to only: (1) those matters that were
       raised by written motion filed and ruled on before trial, or (2) other matters on
       which the trial court gives me permission to appeal. I understand that I have this
       limited right to appeal. However, as part of my plea bargain agreement in this
       case, I knowingly and voluntarily waive my right to appeal under (1) and (2) in
       exchange for the prosecutor’s recommendation, provided that the punishment
       assessed by the court does not exceed our agreement.

The trial court imposed sentence in accordance with the agreement and signed a certificate
stating this “is a plea-bargain case, and the defendant has NO right of appeal” and “the defendant
has waived the right of appeal.” See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). Garrett timely filed a notice of
appeal. The clerk’s record, which includes the trial court’s rule 25.2(a)(2) certification and a
written plea bargain agreement, has been filed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d). This court must
dismiss an appeal “if a certification that shows the defendant has the right of appeal has not been
made part of the record.” Id.
        The clerk’s record establishes the punishment assessed by the court does not exceed the
punishment recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to by the defendant. Ordinarily, “[i]n a
plea bargain case ... a defendant may appeal only: (A) those matters that were raised by written
motion filed and ruled on before trial, or (B) after getting the trial court’s permission to appeal.”
TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). However, when a defendant waives this limited right to appeal, the
defendant may appeal only if the trial court later gives its express permission. See Willis v. State,
121 S.W.3d 400, 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Monreal v. State, 99 S.W.3d 615, 622 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2003). The clerk’s record reflects the trial court denied permission to appeal. The trial
court’s certification therefore appears to accurately reflect that this is a plea bargain case, Garrett
does not have a right to appeal, and Garrett waived any limited right to appeal. See Dears v.
State, 154 S.W.3d 610 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (holding that court of appeals should review
clerk’s record to determine whether trial court’s certification is accurate).

        Garrett is hereby given notice that this appeal will be dismissed pursuant to rule 25.2(d)
of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure unless written consent to appeal and an amended
certification showing that he has the right to appeal is made part of the appellate record by
December 8, 2015. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d); Daniels v. State, 110 S.W.3d 174 (Tex. App.—
San Antonio 2003, order), disp. on merits, No. 04-03-00176-CR, 2003 WL 21508347 (July 2,
2003, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).

        We order all appellate deadlines suspended until further order of the court. We further
order the clerk of this court to serve copies of this order on the attorneys of record and the court
reporter.

                                                       _________________________________
                                                       Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 17th day of November, 2015.

                                                       ___________________________________
                                                       Keith E. Hottle
                                                       Clerk of Court