Kristina Rhea Smith v. the State of Texas

• Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District (Texarkana)
• Decided: May 29, 2026
• Docket: 06-26-00087-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

In the Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

No. 06-26-00087-CR

KRISTINA RHEA SMITH, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 336th District Court Fannin County, Texas Trial Court No. CR-24-29005

Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ. Memorandum Opinion by Justice Rambin MEMORANDUM OPINION

On December 17, 2025, Kristina Rhea Smith pled guilty to the offense of theft by a

public servant of property valued at more than $300,000.00. Smith was sentenced to thirty

years’ confinement in jail. Despite the trial court’s certification that this was a plea-agreement

case and that she had no right of appeal, Smith filed a notice of her intent to appeal the trial

court’s judgment of conviction. Because we find that we are without jurisdiction, we will

dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.

The Texas Legislature has granted a very limited right of appeal in plea-bargain cases.

Rule 25.2(a)(2) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure details that right as follows:

(2) . . . In a plea bargain case—that is, a case in which a defendant’s plea was guilty or nolo contendere and the punishment did not exceed the punishment recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to by the defendant—a defendant may appeal only:

(A) those matters that were raised by written motion filed and ruled on before trial,

(B) after getting the trial court’s permission to appeal, or

(C) where the specific appeal is expressly authorized by statute.

TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). There is no indication in the record before this Court that (1) this

specific appeal is expressly authorized by statute, (2) Smith filed a motion that was ruled on

before trial, or (3) Smith obtained the trial court’s permission to appeal. To the contrary, the trial

court’s certification of Smith’s right of appeal indicates that she has no right of appeal. Pursuant

to Rule 25.2(d) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, this Court is required to dismiss an

2 appeal for lack of jurisdiction if, as in this case, the trial court’s certification indicates that there

is no right of appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d).

On April 30, 2026, this Court sent Smith a letter informing her of the apparent defect in

our jurisdiction over her appeal and afforded her an opportunity to respond and, if possible, cure

such defect. Smith did not respond to our April 30 correspondence.

Because Smith has no right of appeal due to her plea agreement with the State and

because the trial court’s certification correctly indicates that she is without a right of appeal, we

dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.

Jeff Rambin Justice

Date Submitted: May 28, 2026 Date Decided: May 29, 2026

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