Court Opinion

ID: 2763380
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-22 08:17:27.213703+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:41.697036
License: Public Domain

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed December 19, 2014.

                                       S    In The
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                    No. 05-13-00267-CR
                                    No. 05-13-00268-CR
                                    No. 05-13-00269-CR

                       CHRISTOPHER JAMES RYALS, Appellant
                                      V.
                          THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                    On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District Court
                                  Dallas County, Texas
           Trial Court Cause Nos. F05-18864-U, F12-40687-U, and F12-41706-U

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION
                       Before Justices O'Neill, Lang-Miers, and Brown
                                  Opinion by Justice Brown
       Christopher James Ryals appeals convictions for assault family violence, continuous

violence against the family, and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. In January

2006, appellant entered an open plea of guilty to possession with intent to deliver

methamphetamine in an amount of 200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams, and was placed

on deferred adjudication community supervision for ten years. No appeal was taken from the

deferred adjudication order.   In June 2012, appellant was placed on deferred adjudication

community supervision for assault family violence.     After appellant was indicted again in

October 2012 for continuous violence against the family, the State moved to revoke appellant’s

community supervision. In February 2013, appellant pleaded true to the allegations in the

motions to revoke and guilty to continuous violence against the family. The trial court revoked
appellant’s community supervision for possession with intent to deliver and assault family

violence. The court found appellant guilty of continuous violence against the family. The court

assessed punishment at ten years’ confinement for the family violence cases and twenty-five

years’ confinement for possession with intent to deliver. These appeals followed.

       In the two family violence cases, appellant’s attorney filed a brief in which she concludes

the appeals are wholly frivolous and without merit. The brief meets the requirements of Anders

v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). The brief presents a professional evaluation of the record

showing why, in effect, there are no arguable grounds to advance. High v. State, 573 S.W.2d
807, 811–12 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978). Counsel delivered a copy of the brief to

appellant. See Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313, 319–21 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (identifying

duties of appellate courts and counsel in Anders cases).

       Appellant filed a pro se response in the family violence cases, raising three issues. After

reviewing counsel’s brief, appellant’s pro se response, and the record, we agree the appeals are

frivolous and without merit. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–27 (Tex. Crim. App.

2005) (explaining appellate court’s duty in Anders cases). We find nothing in the record that

might arguably support the appeals.

       In the appeal of the drug conviction, appellate counsel has filed a separate brief, raising

one point of error. Appellant contends that under rule of appellate procedure 34.6, he is entitled

to a reversal of his conviction because the record of his original plea hearing on January 19,

2006, was lost or destroyed. We disagree.

       Rule 34.6 provides that an appellant is entitled to a new trial if: 1) he has timely

requested a reporter’s record; 2) without the appellant’s fault, a significant portion of the court

reporter’s notes and records has been lost or destroyed; 3) the lost or destroyed portion of the

                                               –2–
record is necessary to the appeal’s resolution; and 4) the lost or destroyed portion of the record

cannot be replaced by agreement of the parties. TEX. R. APP. P. 34.6(f).

       The deferred adjudication order is dated January 19, 2006, and reflects that appellant

appeared in court that day and entered his guilty plea. In January 2014, this Court ordered the

trial court to conduct a hearing to determine whether a hearing was conducted on January 19,

2006, and if a hearing was conducted, whether it was recorded.      The trial court found that no

hearing was conducted on January 19, 2006. The official court reporter had searched her log

books and did not find an entry that a hearing was held on that date or an entry that a substitute

reporter took any hearing on that date.

       Even if we assume that the record of the original plea hearing was lost or destroyed,

appellant is not entitled to relief. The only specific complaint appellant raises is that he is

entitled to a record of the plea hearing to determine if he was afforded all the proper

admonishments. But it is too late for appellant to raise any complaint about the admonishments

or lack thereof at his original plea hearing.    A defendant placed on deferred adjudication

community supervision may raise issues relating to the original plea proceeding only in appeals

taken when deferred adjudication community supervision is first imposed. Manuel v. State, 994
S.W.2d 658, 661–62 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Appellant cannot wait until he is adjudicated to

bring this issue. See Clark v. State, 997 S.W.2d 365, 368–69 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, no pet.).

Accordingly, we conclude appellant has failed to establish that the reporter’s record from his

original plea hearing is necessary to this appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.6(f). We overrule

appellant’s point of error.

                                               –3–
       We affirm the trial court’s judgments.

                                                      /Ada Brown/
                                                      ADA BROWN
                                                      JUSTICE

Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.

130267F.U05

                                                –4–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CHRISTOPHER JAMES RYALS,                            On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District
Appellant                                           Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                    Trial Court Cause No. F05-18864-U.
No. 05-13-00267-CR        V.                        Opinion delivered by Justice Brown. Justices
                                                    O'Neill and Lang-Miers participating.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 19th day of December, 2014.

                                             –5–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CHRISTOPHER JAMES RYALS,                            On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District
Appellant                                           Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                    Trial Court Cause No. F12-40687-U.
No. 05-13-00268-CR        V.                        Opinion delivered by Justice Brown. Justices
                                                    O'Neill and Lang-Miers participating.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 19th day of December, 2014.

                                             –6–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CHRISTOPHER JAMES RYALS,                            On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District
Appellant                                           Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                    Trial Court Cause No. F12-41706-U.
No. 05-13-00269-CR        V.                        Opinion delivered by Justice Brown. Justices
                                                    O'Neill and Lang-Miers participating.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 19th day of December, 2014.

                                             –7–