Court Opinion

ID: 4101509
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-23 08:16:52.264356+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:52.562056
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                    San Antonio, Texas
                                        November 21, 2016

                                        No. 04-16-00241-CR

                                      Cody Allen WATERS,
                                            Appellant

                                                  v.

                                       The STATE of Texas,
                                             Appellee

                   From the 437th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                 Trial Court No. 2015CR1094
                         Honorable Raymond Angelini, Judge Presiding

                                           ORDER
        Appellant’s brief was due on September 8, 2016. On September 16, 2016, after no brief
or motion for extension of time to file the brief was filed, we ordered Appellant’s attorney
Andrea Polunsky to file the brief or a motion to dismiss by September 26, 2016. On September
22, 2016, counsel filed her first motion for a thirty-day extension of time to file the brief, and this
court granted an extension until October 10, 2016. On October 14, 2016, counsel filed a second
motion for extension of time to file the brief, and this court granted an extension until November
9, 2016. In our order we warned counsel as follows: “NO FURTHER EXTENSIONS OF
TIME TO FILE APPELLANT’S BRIEF WILL BE GRANTED.” To date, Appellant has
not filed the brief or a further motion for extension of time to file the brief.
       On October 21, 2016, Appellant filed a letter with this court and expressed his “sincere
concern for the lawyer that has been appointed” in his case.
       In a separate appeal in this court numbered 04-15-00595-CR, Andrea Polunsky is court-
appointed counsel representing the appellant. In that appeal, the brief was due on June 3, 2016.
Because Andrea Polunsky repeatedly failed to file the appellant’s brief as ordered, this court had
to order the trial court to conduct an abandonment hearing. The trial court found the appellant
desired to appeal, counsel had not abandoned the appeal, and we ordered counsel to file the brief.
After counsel again failed to file the brief, we ordered the trial court to conduct a second
abandonment hearing. At the second hearing, based on Andrea Polunsky’s statements to the trial
court, the trial court found that Andrea Polunsky would file the brief on October 17, 2016.
Counsel did not file the brief as promised.
        On October 27, 2016, we ordered Andrea Polunsky to file the appellant’s brief by
November 7, 2016, or we would order her to appear in this court to show cause why she should
not be held in contempt for failing to file the brief. Ten days after the deadline, on November 17,
2016, counsel filed the brief.
       We ABATE this appeal and REMAND the cause to the trial court. See TEX. R. APP. P.
38.8(b); Samaniego v. State, 952 S.W.2d 50, 52–53 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, no pet.).
We ORDER the trial court to conduct a hearing in compliance with Rule 38.8(b) to answer the
following questions:

       (1)     Does Appellant desire to prosecute his appeal?

       (2)     In light of Andrea Polunsky’s repeated delays in filing the appellant’s brief in
               appeal number 04-15-00595-CR, should Andrea Polunsky be removed from this
               appeal? If so, the trial court must appoint new counsel.

       (3)     By her failing to file the brief as ordered, has appointed counsel effectively
               abandoned the appeal? Because sanctions may be necessary, the trial court
               should address this issue even if new counsel is retained or substituted before the
               date of the hearing. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b)(4).

        The trial court, in its discretion, may receive evidence on the first question by sworn
affidavit from Appellant or by allowing Appellant to appear via electronic means (e.g., telephone
or video conference). However, the trial court shall order Andrea Polunsky to be physically
present at the hearing. See id. R. 38.8(b)(3).
       The trial court is further ORDERED to file supplemental clerk’s and reporter’s records in
this court, not later than THIRTY DAYS from the date of this order, which shall include the
following: (1) a transcription of the hearing and copies of any documentary evidence admitted,
(2) written findings of fact and conclusions of law, and (3) recommendations addressing the
above enumerated questions. See id. This court will consider the supplemental records in its
determination whether to initiate contempt proceedings against Appellant’s counsel. See id. R.
38.8(b)(4); In re Fisch, 95 S.W.3d at 732; Samaniego v. State, 952 S.W.2d at 53.
       All other appellate deadlines are SUSPENDED pending further order of this court.

                                                     _________________________________
                                                     Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 21st day of November, 2016.
___________________________________
Keith E. Hottle
Clerk of Court