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Weeks v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas, Thirteenth District, Corpus Christi — Edinburg
Mar 17, 2011
No. 13-08-00272-CR (Tex. App. Mar. 17, 2011)

Opinion

No. 13-08-00272-CR

Delivered and filed March 17, 2011. DO NOT PUBLISH. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

On Appeal from the 36th District Court of Aransas County, Texas.

Before Justices GARZA, VELA, and PERKES.


MEMORANDUM OPINION


Appellant, Jason Christopher Weeks, was charged by indictment with one count of state jail felony theft. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03 (Vernon Supp. 2010). A jury found appellant guilty as charged in the indictment and assessed a punishment of twenty-three months of imprisonment in state jail without a fine. The trial court entered judgment on the verdict, ordered appellant to pay $150 in restitution, and ordered that appellant be given jail time credit for time spent in custody. This appeal followed. We affirm the judgment.

I. ANDERS BRIEF

Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967), appellant's court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief with this Court, stating that, based upon her review of the record, "there are no grounds of error upon which an appeal can be predicated" and "the appeal is wholly without merit." Although counsel's brief does not advance any arguable grounds of error, it does present a professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds to be advanced on appeal. See In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 n. 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) ("In Texas, an Anders brief need not specifically advance `arguable' points of error if counsel finds none, but it must provide record references to the facts and procedural history and set out pertinent legal authorities.") (citing Hawkins v. State, 112 S.W.3d 340, 343-44 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.)); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 510 n. 3 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). In compliance with High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978), appellant's counsel has carefully discussed why, under controlling authority, there are no errors in the trial court's judgment. Counsel has informed this Court that she has: (1) examined the record and found no arguable grounds to advance on appeal, (2) served a copy of the brief and counsel's motion to withdraw on appellant, and (3) informed appellant of his right to review the record and to file a pro se response. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 510 n. 3; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409 n. 23. More than an adequate period of time has passed, and appellant has not filed a pro se brief in this matter. See In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409.

II. INDEPENDENT REVIEW

Upon receiving an Anders brief, we must conduct a full examination of all the proceedings to determine whether the case is wholly frivolous. Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 (1988). We have reviewed the entire record and counsel's brief and have found nothing that would arguably support an appeal. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826-28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) ("Due to the nature of Anders briefs, by indicating in the opinion that it considered the issues raised in the briefs and reviewed the record for reversible error but found none, the court of appeals met the requirement of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 47.1."); Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 509. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

III. MOTION TO WITHDRAW

In accordance with Anders, appellant's attorney has asked this Court for permission to withdraw as counsel for appellant. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408 n. 17 (citing Jeffery v. State, 903 S.W.2d 776, 779-80 (Tex. App.-Dallas 1995, no pet.) ("If an attorney believes the appeal is frivolous, he must withdraw from representing the appellant. To withdraw from representation, the appointed attorney must file a motion to withdraw accompanied by a brief showing the appellate court that the appeal is frivolous.") (citations omitted)). We grant her motion to withdraw. Within five days of the date of this Court's opinion, counsel is ordered to send a copy of the opinion and judgment to appellant and to advise appellant of his right to file a petition for discretionary review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 412 n. 35; Ex parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).


Summaries of

Weeks v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas, Thirteenth District, Corpus Christi — Edinburg
Mar 17, 2011
No. 13-08-00272-CR (Tex. App. Mar. 17, 2011)
Case details for

Weeks v. State

Case Details

Full title:JASON CHRISTOPHER WEEKS, APPELLANT, v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

Court:Court of Appeals of Texas, Thirteenth District, Corpus Christi — Edinburg

Date published: Mar 17, 2011

Citations

No. 13-08-00272-CR (Tex. App. Mar. 17, 2011)