Court Opinion

ID: 2953574
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 23:21:23.797445+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:01.977860
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-10-00307-CR

Arnold Garza, Appellant

v.

The State of Texas, Appellee

FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 1 OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY

NO. 09-08516-1, HONORABLE BERT RICHARDSON, JUDGE PRESIDING

M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N

A jury found appellant Arnold Garza guilty of interference with public duties and
assessed his punishment at 180 days in jail and a $100 fine.  See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 38.15
(West 2011).  We affirm the conviction.
An attorney was appointed to represent appellant based on a finding of indigence. 
Before his trial began, however, appellant retained substitute counsel, and this retained attorney
remained appellant's counsel on appeal.  Appellant's brief was originally due on March 15, 2011. 
After the Court sent notice that the brief was overdue, we were advised that appellant's counsel had
been jailed in an unrelated matter and was unable to complete the brief.  We abated the appeal for
the trial court to conduct a hearing to determine whether appellant wished to prosecute the appeal
and, if so, whether he intended to employ new counsel or was again entitled to appointed counsel. 
Following this hearing, at which appellant appeared, the trial court found that appellant wished to
pursue the appeal.  The court also found, based on appellant's statements at the hearing, that
appellant intended to represent himself.  Appellant stated that he would not employ new counsel, and
he declined the court's offer to appoint counsel.
The Court subsequently attempted to notify appellant that his brief was due on
July 21, 2011.  This notice, which was mailed to the address appellant gave to the trial court at the
hearing, was returned unclaimed.  Under the circumstances, we conclude that appellant has failed
to make any arrangements for filing a brief.  Therefore, we may consider the appeal without briefs. 
Tex. R. App. P. 38.8(b)(4).
We have examined the appellate record and find no fundamental error or other matter
that should be considered in the interest of justice.  The judgment of conviction is affirmed.

				__________________________________________
				Melissa Goodwin, Justice
Before Justices Puryear, Rose and Goodwin
Affirmed
Filed:   August 18, 2011
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