Opinion
No. 14-09-00663-CR
Opinion filed August 13, 2009. DO NOT PUBLISH — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
On Appeal from the 506th District Court Grimes County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 16369.
Panel consists of Justices SEYMORE, BROWN, and SULLIVAN.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury convicted appellant of retaliation. Appellant entered a plea of true to an enhancement paragraph. On March 5, 2009, the trial court sentenced appellant to confinement for fifteen years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division. No timely motion for new trial was filed. Appellant's notice of appeal was not filed until May 18, 2009. A defendant's notice of appeal must be filed within thirty days after sentence is imposed when the defendant has not filed a motion for new trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2(a)(1). A notice of appeal that complies with the requirements of Rule 26 is essential to vest the court of appeals with jurisdiction. Slaton v. State, 981 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). If an appeal is not timely perfected, a court of appeals does not obtain jurisdiction to address the merits of the appeal. Under those circumstances it can take no action other than to dismiss the appeal. Id. Accordingly, the appeal is ordered dismissed.