From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Thomas v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas, Second District, Fort Worth
Feb 9, 2006
No. 2-05-271-CR (Tex. App. Feb. 9, 2006)

Opinion

No. 2-05-271-CR

Delivered: February 9, 2006. DO NOT PUBLISH. Tex.R.App.P. 47.2(b).

Appeal from the 213th District Court of Tarrant County.

Panel F: CAYCE, C.J.; LIVINGSTON and DAUPHINOT, JJ.


MEMORANDUM OPINION


Lynn Dale Thomas has appealed following his adjudication of guilt for attempted burglary of a habitation. We affirm. Appellant's court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel and a brief in support of that motion. In the brief, counsel avers that, in his professional opinion, this appeal is frivolous. Counsel's brief and motion meet the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396 (1967), by presenting a professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds for relief. Additionally, this court informed appellant that he may file a pro se brief, but he has failed to do so. Once an appellant's court-appointed counsel files a motion to withdraw on the ground that the appeal is frivolous and fulfills the requirements of Anders, this court is obligated to undertake an independent examination of the record and essentially to rebrief the case for appellant to see if there is any arguable ground that may be raised on appellant's behalf. See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). Because this is an appeal from the trial court's adjudication of appellant's deferred adjudication community supervision, our independent review for potential error is limited to jurisdictional defects and post-adjudication matters unrelated to appellant's conviction. See Hargesheimer v. State, No. PD-1610-04, 2006 WL 120009, at *5 (Tex.Crim.App. Jan. 18, 2006); Id. at *7 (Johnson, J., concurring); Nix v. State, 65 S.W.3d 664, 667-68 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001); Vidaurri v. State, 49 S.W.3d 880, 885 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001). The trial court's decision to adjudicate is not appealable. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 5(b) (Vernon Supp. 2005); Hargesheimer, 2006 WL 120009, at *2, 5-6. Our independent review of the record reveals that counsel has correctly determined that there are no arguable grounds for relief. There are no jurisdictional defects. The indictment conferred jurisdiction on the trial court and provided appellant with sufficient notice to prepare a defense. See TEX. CONST. art. V, § 12(b); TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 4.05 (Vernon 2005); Duron v. State, 956 S.W.2d 547, 550-51 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). In addition, the trial court had jurisdiction to adjudicate appellant's guilt and sentence him, and the sentence is within the punishment range for the adjudicated offense. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts. 4.05, 42.12, § (5)(b); TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.34, 15.01(d), 30.02(c)(2) (Vernon 2003). Accordingly, we grant counsel's motion to withdraw and affirm the trial court's judgment.


Summaries of

Thomas v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas, Second District, Fort Worth
Feb 9, 2006
No. 2-05-271-CR (Tex. App. Feb. 9, 2006)
Case details for

Thomas v. State

Case Details

Full title:LYNN DALE THOMAS, Appellant, v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, State

Court:Court of Appeals of Texas, Second District, Fort Worth

Date published: Feb 9, 2006

Citations

No. 2-05-271-CR (Tex. App. Feb. 9, 2006)