Lee Edward Booten v. State of Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: August 29, 2001
• Docket: 04-01-00443-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

No. 04-01-00443-CR

Lee Edward BOOTEN,

Appellant

v.

STATE of Texas,

Appellee

From the 208th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas

Trial Court No. 530364

Honorable Jan Krocker, Judge Presiding ⁽¹⁾

PER CURIAM

Sitting: Paul W. Green, Justice

Sarah B. Duncan, Justice

Karen Angelini, Justice

Delivered and Filed: August 29, 2001

MOTION TO WITHDRAW GRANTED; MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME DENIED; DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION

Lee Edward Booten pled guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a child and was granted deferred adjudication for ten years within the terms of a negotiated plea bargain. The State subsequently moved to revoke, and Booten pled true to violation of the conditions of his community supervision by delivery of cocaine. Pursuant to a second negotiated plea bargain, Booten was sentenced to ten years in prison. He thereafter filed a pro se general notice of appeal.

On July 27, 2001, following review of the clerk's record, we informed Booten that it appeared this court lacked jurisdiction over the appeal and ordered Booten to file a letter response explaining those points or issues that might warrant continuation of the appeal notwithstanding the jurisdictional limitations outlined in our order. In response, Booten's court-appointed attorney on appeal filed an Anders brief in which counsel concludes this appeal is frivolous and without merit. Counsel also filed a motion to withdraw.

Because Booten complains of a conviction based on a plea of guilty resulting in deferred adjudication community supervision and the punishment assessed did not exceed the punishment agreed to pursuant to the negotiated plea bargain, rule 25.2(b)(3) requires the notice of appeal specify the appeal is from a jurisdictional defect, specify the substance of the appeal was raised by written motion and ruled on before trial, or state the trial court granted permission to appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(b)(3); see Watson v. State, 924 S.W.2d 711, 714-15 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Booten's general notice of appeal does not meet any of these required conditions.

Further, article 42.12, section 5(b) provides that in a case involving a deferred adjudication, no appeal may be taken from the trial court's decision to proceed to adjudication of guilt. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 42.12, § 5(b) (Vernon Supp. 2001); see Connolly v. State, 983 S.W.2d 738, 741 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Additionally, if a post-adjudication appeal raises issues relating to the original deferred adjudication proceeding, the appeal is untimely and must be dismissed for want of jurisdiction unless the issue relates to whether the original judgment deferring appellant's adjudication is void. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.2(a); Nix v. State, No. 793-00, 2001 WL 717453, at *2 (Tex. Crim. App. June 27, 2001); Manuel v. State, 994 S.W.2d 658, 661-62 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

Because Booten's general notice of appeal does not comply with rule 25.2(b)(3), the court only has jurisdiction to consider issues relating to: (1) the trial court's jurisdiction; (2) the process by which the appellant was sentenced; or (3) whether the original judgment deferring appellant's adjudication is void. See Nix v. State, No. 793-00, 2001 WL 717453, at *2 (Tex. Crim. App. June 27, 2001); Vidaurri v. State, No. 151-99, 2001 WL 687375, at *4 (Tex. Crim. App. June 20, 2001); Cooper v. State, 45 S.W.3d 77, 78 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Martinez v. State, 5 S.W.3d 722, 724-25 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

Booten's response states no grounds on which this court may accept jurisdiction of his appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(b)(3). Booten's motion for extension of time to file a pro se brief is denied. We grant the motion to withdraw filed by Booten's counsel. Counsel's Anders brief is stricken for lack of jurisdiction. The appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

DO NOT PUBLISH

1. Judge Krocker signed the Judgment Adjudicating Guilt. Judge John H. Kyles signed the initial Probation Order and Deferment of Adjudication of Guilt.