Court Opinion

ID: 4312116
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-13 14:27:09.770211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:27.248264
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                        San Antonio, Texas
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION

                                           No. 04-17-00312-CR

                                        Saturnino GUTIERREZ JR.,
                                                  Appellant

                                                    v.

                                           The STATE of Texas,
                                                 Appellee

                    From the 25th Judicial District Court, Guadalupe County, Texas
                                    Trial Court No. 15-0462-CR-A
                               Honorable William Old, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Irene Rios, Justice

Sitting:          Karen Angelini, Justice
                  Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
                  Irene Rios, Justice

Delivered and Filed: September 12, 2018

AFFIRMED

           A jury convicted Saturnino Gutierrez, Jr. of the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a

child, and the trial court assessed punishment at life imprisonment. Because we conclude this

appeal is frivolous and without merit, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

           Gutierrez’s court-appointed appellate counsel filed a brief with this court representing that

she conducted a professional evaluation of the record and determined there are no arguable grounds

to be advanced on Gutierrez’s behalf. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967). With

citations to the record and legal authority, counsel explains why she concluded the appeal is
                                                                                                         04-17-00312-CR

without merit. Counsel states she reviewed the indictment and evidence adduced at trial, as well

as the record of the revocation hearing. The brief meets the requirements of Anders as it presents

a professional evaluation showing why there is no basis to advance an appeal. Id. at 744–45;

Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 509–10, 510 n.3 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); High v. State, 573
S.W.2d 807, 812–13 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978).

         Counsel provided Gutierrez with copies of counsel’s Anders brief and motion to withdraw

and informed Gutierrez of his right to review the record and file his own brief. See Kelly v. State,

436 S.W.3d 313, 319–20 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Additionally, counsel advised Gutierrez to file

a motion in this court if he wished to review the appellate record and enclosed a form motion for

that purpose. See id; Nichols v. State, 954 S.W.2d 83, 85–86 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, no

pet.) (per curiam); Bruns v. State, 924 S.W.2d 176, 177 n.1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, no

pet.). Thereafter, we set deadlines for Gutierrez to file any motion for the record and any pro se

brief. Although Gutierrez requested access to the appellate record, Gutierrez did not file a pro se

brief.

         After reviewing the record and counsel’s Anders brief, we conclude there is no reversible

error and agree this appeal is frivolous and without merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial

court is affirmed, and appellate counsel’s request to withdraw is granted. 1 Nichols, 954 S.W.2d at

86; Bruns, 924 S.W.2d at 177 n.1.

                                                             Irene Rios, Justice

DO NOT PUBLISH

1
  No substitute counsel will be appointed. Should Gutierrez wish to seek further review of this case by the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals, Gutierrez must either retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary review or
Gutierrez must file a pro se petition for discretionary review. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed
within thirty days from the later of: (1) the date of this opinion; or (2) the date the last timely motion for rehearing is
overruled by this court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed in the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3. Any petition for discretionary review should comply with the
requirements of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.4.

                                                           -2-