Christopher Michael Hottell v. the State of Texas

• Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio)
• Decided: June 3, 2026
• Docket: 04-26-00249-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-26-00249-CR

Christopher Michael HOTTELL, Appellant

v.

The STATE of Texas, Appellee

From the 399th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2024-CR-012179-02 Honorable Jefferson Moore, Judge Presiding

PER CURIAM

Sitting: Irene Rios, Justice Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice Lori Massey Brissette, Justice

Delivered and Filed: June 3, 2026

DISMISSED

Pursuant to a plea-bargain agreement, appellant pled no contest to one count of

manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. The trial court

sentenced appellant to ten years’ confinement for each count and ordered the sentences to run

concurrently. On March 25, 2026, the trial court signed a certification of defendant’s right to

appeal stating that “the defendant has waived the right of appeal” and this “is a plea-bargain case, 04-26-00249-CR

and the defendant has NO right of appeal.” See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). The clerk’s record,

which includes the trial court’s certification, has been filed. See id. 25.2(d).

Generally, in a plea bargain case, a defendant may appeal only: (1) those matters that were

raised by written motion filed and ruled on before trial; (2) after getting the trial court’s permission

to appeal; or (3) where the specific appeal is expressly authorized by statute. See id. 25.2(a)(2).

The clerk’s record, which contains a written plea bargain, establishes the punishment assessed by

the court does not exceed the punishment recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to by the

appellant. See id. The clerk’s record does not include a written motion filed and ruled upon before

trial; nor does it indicate that the trial court gave its permission to appeal. See id. The trial court’s

certification, therefore, appears to accurately reflect that this is a plea-bargain case and that

appellant does not have a right to appeal. We must dismiss an appeal “if a certification that shows

the defendant has the right of appeal has not been made part of the record . . . .” Id. 25.2(d).

On April 8, 2026, we informed appellant that this appeal would be dismissed pursuant to

Rule 25.2(d) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure unless an amended trial court certification

showing that appellant has the right to appeal was made part of the appellate record by April 22,

2026. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d), 37.1; Daniels v. State, 110 S.W.3d 174, 177 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio 2003, order). To date, appellant has not responded to our order and no such amended trial

court certification has been filed. Therefore, this appeal is dismissed pursuant to Rule 25.2(d) of

the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

DO NOT PUBLISH

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