Haxan Waldell Palmer v. State

Opinion

DISMISS; Opinion Filed March 11, 2020

In the Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-20-00026-CR

HAXAN WALDELL PALMER, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 283rd Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. F18-58280-T

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Bridges, Molberg, and Carlyle Opinion by Justice Carlyle After a jury found him guilty of the first-degree felony offense of compelling

prostitution of a child, Haxan Waldell Palmer entered into a written plea bargain

agreement with the State which appears in the record. The State agreed to

recommend a seven-year sentence in exchange for Mr. Palmer waiving his right to

appeal. Mr. Palmer confirmed this agreement in open court. The trial court followed

the agreement, sentenced Mr. Palmer to seven years in prison, and certified that Mr.

Palmer had waived his right to appeal. Mr. Palmer filed a pro se notice of appeal with this Court. Mr. Palmer declined

appointment of counsel, stating he intended to represent himself on appeal.

Nevertheless, the trial court appointed standby counsel. This Court questioned its

jurisdiction. Standby counsel and the State agreed we lacked jurisdiction because

appellant waived his right to appeal in exchange for the seven-year sentence. Mr.

Palmer did not address the jurisdictional question but filed a brief challenging the

trial court’s judgment and asking us to overturn his conviction.

When an appellant waives his right to appeal as part of a plea bargain

agreement with the State, as Mr. Palmer did here, a subsequent notice of appeal fails

to “initiate the appellate process,” and this Court has no jurisdiction. Lundgren v.

State, 434 S.W.3d 594, 599, 600 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). If a court of appeals lacks

jurisdiction, it must dismiss the appeal. See Jones v. State, 488 S.W.3d 801, 808

(Tex. Crim. App. 2016).

We dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.

/Cory L. Carlyle/ CORY L. CARLYLE JUSTICE Do Not Publish TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b) 200026F.U05

–2– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT

HAXAN WALDELL PALMER, On Appeal from the 283rd Judicial Appellant District Court, Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. F18-58280-T. No. 05-20-00026-CR V. Opinion delivered by Justice Carlyle. Justices Bridges and Molberg THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee participating.

Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, we DISMISS this appeal for want of jurisdiction.

Judgment entered this 11th day of March, 2020.

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