Opinion
09-23-00163-CR
08-28-2024
ALFREDO ROSALES-VILLALOBOS, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
Do Not Publish
Submitted on June 26, 2024
On Appeal from the 435th District Court Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 21-11-16165-CR
Before Go lemon, C.J., Wright and Chambers, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
KENT CHAMBERS Justice
Alfredo Rosales-Villalobos appeals his conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021(a)(1)(B). After filing the notice of appeal, the trial court appointed an attorney to represent Rosales-Villalobos in his appeal. The attorney discharged his responsibilities to Rosales-Villalobos by filing an Anders brief. See Anders v. California,386U .S. 738, 744 (1967).
In the brief, Rosales-Villalobos's attorney represents there are no arguable reversible errors to be addressed in Rosales-Villalobos's appeal. See id.; High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978). The brief the attorney filed contains a professional evaluation of the record. In the brief, Rosales-Villalobos's attorney explains why, under the record in Rosales-Villalobos's case, no arguable issues exist to reverse the trial court's judgment. Id. Rosales-Villalobos's attorney also represented that he sent Rosales-Villalobos a copy of the brief and the record. When the brief was filed, the Clerk of the Ninth Court of Appeals notified Rosales-Villalobos, by letter, that he could file a pro se brief or response with the Court on or before February 26, 2024. Rosales-Villalobos did not file a response.
Our records indicate that Rosales-Villalobos filed two motions for extensions to file an appellate brief. This Court granted both extensions, setting a final deadline of February 26, 2024 for Rosales-Villalobos to file a brief. However, Rosales-Villalobos did not file a brief.
When an attorney files an Anders brief, we are required to independently examine the record and determine whether the attorney assigned to represent the defendant has a non-frivolous argument that would support the appeal. Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 (1988) (citing Anders, 386 U.S. at 744). After reviewing the clerk's record, the reporter's record, and the attorney's brief, we agree there are no arguable grounds to support the appeal. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d824,827-28 (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 requirements of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 47.1."). Thus, it follows the appeal is frivolous. Id. at 826. For that reason, we need not require the trial court to appoint another attorney to re-brief the appeal. See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503,511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
The trial court's judgment is affirmed.
Rosales-Villalobos may challenge our decision in the case by filing a petition for discretionary review. See Tex. R. App. P. 68.
AFFIRMED.