Court Opinion

ID: 9964557
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-30 14:12:07.354847+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:25:34.906916
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                       San Antonio, Texas
                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                           No. 04-24-00117-CR

                                        Norma Lisa ELIZONDO,
                                               Appellant

                                                     v.

                                          The STATE of Texas,
                                                Appellee

                      From the 187th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                    Trial Court No. 2023CR4167
                            Honorable Stephanie R. Boyd, Judge Presiding

PER CURIAM

Sitting:          Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
                  Irene Rios, Justice
                  Beth Watkins, Justice

Delivered and Filed: April 24, 2024

DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION

           Appellant Norma Elizondo entered into a plea bargain with the State, and pled nolo

contendere to a felony offense. The clerk’s record shows on January 9, 2024, 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).

           A timely notice of appeal is necessary to invoke this court’s jurisdiction. See Olivo v. State,

918 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Elizondo’s notice of appeal was due by February 8,

2024, without a motion for new trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2(a)(1) (stating notice of appeal must
                                                                                         04-24-00117-CR

be filed within thirty days after sentence imposed); 26.2(a)(2) (stating notice of appeal must be

filed within ninety days after sentence imposed if defendant timely files motion for new trial). The

record does not show Elizondo filed a motion for a new trial. See id. R. 26.2. Elizondo’s notice of

appeal is dated February 12, 2024 and was mailed on February 13, 2024. And the record does not

include a motion for an extension of time to file a notice of appeal. See id. R. 26.3.

       In addition, 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. R. 25.2(a)(2). The clerk’s record

includes the written plea bargain agreement which includes a waiver of the right to appeal those

matters that were raised by written motion, filed, and ruled on before trial. See id. The record

establishes the punishment assessed by the court does not exceed the punishment recommended

by the prosecutor and agreed to by the defendant. See id. The record also appears to support the

trial court’s certification Elizondo does not have a right to appeal. See Dears v. State, 154 S.W.3d

610, 615 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (holding court of appeals should review clerk’s record to

determine whether trial court’s certification is accurate).

       Because it appeared the notice of appeal was untimely filed and there was no certification

showing Elizondo had a right to appeal, we ordered Elizondo to file a response establishing (1) the

notice of appeal was timely and (2) an amended certification showing she has the right to appeal

has been made part of the appellate record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d), 26.2(a), 37.1. On April 1,

2024, Elizondo’s counsel filed a response explaining “[t]he Court of Appeals is correct on all

points in its order,” and “this Appeal should be dismissed as the Appellant waived her right to

appeal in this matter, and the Trial Court followed the Plea Bargain Agreement in this matter.”

       Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

                                                   PER CURIAM

DO NOT PUBLISH

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