Opinion
No. 14-09-00316-CR
Opinion filed June 25, 2009. DO NOT PUBLISH — APP. P. 47.2(b).
On Appeal from the 268th District Court Fort Bend County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 46,012.
Panel consists of Chief Justice HEDGES and Justices YATES and FROST.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant entered a guilty plea to arson without an agreed recommendation on punishment. On December 8, 2009, the trial court sentenced appellant to confinement for ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, probated for five years, and assessed a fine of $100. No timely motion for new trial was filed. Appellant's notice of appeal was not filed until March 3, 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.