Opinion
No. 11-17-00146-CR
07-13-2017
LEON FLETCHER, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 259th District Court Jones County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 011444
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant pleaded not guilty to the offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The jury found Appellant guilty of the offense, and the trial court assessed his punishment at confinement for a term of twenty years in accordance with the terms of an agreement as to punishment. We dismiss the appeal.
This court notified Appellant that we had received information from the trial court that Appellant waived his right of appeal in this cause. We requested that Appellant respond and show grounds to continue the appeal. Appellant has filed a response in which he states that he "didn't know what a[n] appeal was" and that he "didn't get to read any of the papers [that he] signed."
The documents on file in this court reflect that Appellant entered into a sentencing agreement in which he waived various rights, including his right to appeal. The agreement provides as follows:
Defendant agrees to waive any right to a motion for new trial and appeal . . . .The sentencing agreement was signed by Appellant, his attorney, and the trial judge.
Having been informed of whatever right to pursue a motion for new trial and appeal may exist, and having agreed to waive those rights, and after having consulted with my attorney, I hereby voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waive those rights in exchange for this sentencing agreement.
I, the Defendant, do swear or affirm that I voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently make the foregoing waivers . . . .
The trial judge specifically found that Appellant voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently entered into the agreement and that Appellant understood the consequences of waiving his right to a motion for new trial and appeal. The documents on file in this cause therefore show that Appellant waived his right of appeal. Texas has "long held that a valid waiver of appeal prevents a defendant from appealing without the trial court's consent." Monreal v. State, 99 S.W.3d 615, 617 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). A waiver of the right to appeal is valid if it was made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. Id. We note also that the trial court has not given Appellant permission to appeal. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal without further action. See id. at 622-23; see also TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d).
This appeal is dismissed. July 13, 2017
PER CURIAM Do not publish. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b). Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
Willson, J., and Bailey, J.