Opinion
Appellate case number: 01-18-00077-CR
09-11-2018
Ecknozzio Okeith Fontenot v. The State of Texas
ORDER Trial court case number: 1540146 Trial court: 185th District Court of Harris County
Without an agreed punishment recommendation, appellant, Ecknozzio Okeith Fontenot, pleaded guilty to the felony offense of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The trial court found appellant guilty and assessed his punishment at confinement for eight years. Appellant timely filed a pro se notice of appeal.
On May 31, 2018, we abated the appeal and remanded the case to the trial court to clarify appellant's right of appeal and, if necessary, appoint counsel to represent appellant on appeal. On August 20, 2018, the trial court held a hearing at which appellant appeared by videoconference. At that hearing, appellant stated that he intended to go forward with the appeal and "plan[ed] on hiring a lawyer" within "the next couple of months." However, no attorney has appeared in this Court on appellant's behalf and he has now filed a request for court-appointed counsel.
The trial court clerk has filed a supplemental clerk's record that includes a certification of appellant's right of appeal stating that the case "is not a plea-bargain case, and [appellant] has the right of appeal."
The clerk's record filed in this appeal shows that the trial court found that appellant was indigent, and appointed counsel represented appellant in the trial court. Accordingly, we direct the trial court to appoint counsel, at no expense to appellant, to represent him on appeal. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(a), (c), (d)(1), 26.04 (b)(1), (c), (p).
The trial court clerk is directed to file a supplemental clerk's record containing the trial court's order appointing appellate counsel within 30 days of the date of this order.
The appeal remains abated, treated as a closed case, and removed from this Court's active docket.
It is so ORDERED. Judge's signature: /s/ Terry Jennings
[v] Acting individually [ ] Acting for the Court Date: September 11, 2018