Valdemar Flores IV v. State

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS FORT WORTH

NO. 2-09-143-CR

VALDEMAR FLORES IV APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS STATE

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FROM THE 213TH DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

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MEMORANDUM OPINION 1

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On January 25, 2008, pursuant to a plea bargain, Appellant Valdemar

Flores IV pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony. The

trial court placed Flores on seven years’ deferred adjudication community

supervision and imposed a fine of $700.00. The State filed a petition to

proceed to adjudication in August 2008 and a first amended petition to proceed

1  See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4. to adjudication in April 2009, alleging that Flores had violated several terms and

conditions of his community supervision by committing a new offense,

consuming alcohol, and having unapproved contact with Jesica Flores a/k/a

Jesica Lucas. Flores pleaded true to the alcohol consumption paragraph but not

true to the other two paragraphs. After a hearing, the trial court found that

Flores had violated the terms and conditions of his community supervision by

committing a new offense and by consuming alcohol, and it adjudicated Flores

guilty of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced him to eight years’ confinement.

Flores’s court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to withdraw

as counsel and a brief in support of that motion. In the brief, counsel avers

that, in his professional opinion, this appeal is frivolous. Counsel’s brief and

motion meet the requirements of Anders v. California 2 by presenting a

professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there are no arguable

grounds for relief. In addition, this court informed Flores that he may file a

pro se brief, but he has not done so. The State has also not filed a brief.

Once an appellant’s court-appointed counsel files a motion to withdraw

on the ground that the appeal is frivolous and fulfills the requirements of

Anders, we are obligated to undertake an independent examination of the

2  386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396 (1967).

2 record to see if there is any arguable ground that may be raised on his behalf.

See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Mays v.

State, 904 S.W.2d 920, 922–23 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1995, no pet.). Only

then may we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw. See Penson v. Ohio, 488

U.S. 75, 82–83, 109 S. Ct. 346, 351 (1988).

We have carefully reviewed the record and counsel’s brief. We agree

with counsel that the appeal is wholly frivolous and without merit. We find

nothing in the record that might arguably support the appeal. See Bledsoe v.

State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 827–28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); accord Meza v.

State, 206 S.W.3d 684, 685 n.6 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Accordingly, we

grant the motion to withdraw and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

BILL MEIER JUSTICE

PANEL: DAUPHINOT, GARDNER, and MEIER, JJ.

DO NOT PUBLISH Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)

DELIVERED: March 25, 2010