Opinion
No. 04-14-00338-CR
11-17-2014
Benny Cavazos VALVERDE, Appellant v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee
From the 290th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2012CR3980
Honorable Melisa Skinner, Judge Presiding
ORDER
On November 10, 2014, appellant's court-appointed attorney filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 368 U.S. 738 (1967), in which he asserts there are no meritorious issues to raise on appeal. Counsel has informed the appellant of his right to file his own brief and obtain a copy of the record. Nichols v. State, 954 S.W.2d 83, 85 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, no pet.); Bruns v. State, 924 S.W.2d 176, 177 n.1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, no pet.). On November 14, 2014, the State filed a letter waiving its right to file an appellee's brief unless the appellant files a pro se brief.
Appellant is represented on appeal by Mr. Dean Diachin. Mr. Diachin did not provide appellant with a copy of the record or provide him with a form motion requesting access to the record from this court as required by the Court of Criminal Appeals in Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Therefore, appellant may obtain a copy of the appellate record by filing a pro se motion for access to the appellate record, not later than December 4, 2014, with the clerk of this court, addressed to Clerk, Fourth Court of Appeals, 300 Dolorosa St., Suite 3200, San Antonio, Texas 78205. If appellant files a written request for the record with this court, the clerk of this court is ORDERED to immediately send a copy of the record to appellant.
If the appellant does not request access to the record, but still desires to file a pro se brief, he must do so no later than January 20, 2015. See Bruns, 924 S.W.2d at 177 n.1. If appellant requests access to the record, this briefing deadline will be reset.
If the appellant files a pro se brief, the State may file a responsive brief no later than thirty days after the date the appellant's pro se brief is filed in this court. It is further ORDERED that the motion to withdraw, filed by Mr. Diachin, is HELD IN ABEYANCE pending further order of the court.
We further ORDER the clerk of this court to serve a copy of this order on appellant, Mr. Diachin, the attorney for the State, and the clerk of the trial court.
/s/_________
Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 17th day of November, 2014.
/s/_________
Keith E. Hottle
Clerk of Court