Court Opinion

ID: 2905538
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 23:03:47.995656+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:50.251969
License: Public Domain

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

____________________

NO. 09-04-239 CR

NO. 09-04-240 CR

NO. 09-04-241 CR

____________________

ROLAND LEE HARRINGTON, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 253rd District Court
Liberty County, Texas

Trial Cause Nos. 21,175, 21,176 and 21,177

MEMORANDUM OPINION (1)
	Roland Lee Harrington appeals the trial court's denial of a post-conviction motion
for DNA testing.  The court based its order on its finding that there was no biological
material recovered as evidence in the three causes.  On appeal, Harrington's appointed
counsel concludes this appeal presents no error which would arguably support an appeal.
See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967); High v.
State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); Murphy v. State, 111 S.W.3d 846, 847-48 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2003, no pet.). On August 12, 2004, we granted an extension of
time for Harrington to file a pro se brief.  On January 14, 2005, Harrington filed a
response in which he complains that the trial notes of his criminal proceeding may not have
been preserved.  No issue relating to preservation of the court reporter's trial notes was
presented to the trial court, so the complaint is not preserved for appellate review.  Tex.
R. App. P.  33.1.  
	In 1996, Harrington pleaded guilty to two indictments for indecency with a child
by contact and one indictment for aggravated sexual assault of a child by penetration.  In
each case, Harrington executed a judicial confession and stipulation of evidence, although
in the aggravated sexual assault case the confession and stipulation addressed only one of
the two means of commission alleged in the corresponding indictment.  In all three cases,
the trial court convicted and sentenced Harrington in accordance with the plea bargain
agreement.  
	In 2004, Harrington filed a pro se motion for DNA testing in all three cases.  The
motion is not accompanied by his affidavit and does not allege that identity was an issue
in the cases. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 64.01(a); 64.03(b) (Vernon Supp.
2005). Harrington filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis and requested
appointment of counsel.  The trial court appointed counsel on January 7, 2004.  The
State's response, supported by affidavits from two sheriff's deputies, alleged "No evidence
containing biological material was secured in relation to the offenses for which appellant
was convicted. . . ."  The trial court adopted Harrington's proposed findings of fact, which
found there was no biological material recovered as evidence in the three causes, and
denied the motion for forensic testing.  
	A convicting court may order forensic DNA testing under Chapter 64 only if the
court finds that the evidence still exists, is in a condition making DNA testing possible, 
has been subjected to a sufficient chain of custody, and that identity was or is an issue in
the case.  Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 64.03(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2005).  In this
case, it is not arguable that the trial court erred in denying the motion for DNA testing
because the record gives no indication of the existence of any testable evidence. 
	We have reviewed the clerk's record and find no arguable error requiring us to
order appointment of new counsel.  Compare Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1991).  The judgment is affirmed.
	AFFIRMED.
									PER CURIAM

Submitted on January 27, 2005
Opinion Delivered February 2, 2005
Do Not Publish
Before McKeithen, C.J., Gaultney and Horton, JJ.
1. Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.