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Ballard v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas, First District, Houston
Oct 8, 2009
Nos. 01-08-00947-CR, 01-08-00948-CR (Tex. App. Oct. 8, 2009)

Opinion

Nos. 01-08-00947-CR, 01-08-00948-CR

October 8, 2009. DO NOT PUBLISH. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

On Appeal from the 263rd District Court, Harris County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 1134332 1184428.

Panel consists of Justices JENNINGS, HIGLEY, and SHARP.


MEMORANDUM OPINION


We lack jurisdiction to hear these appeals. Appellant, Robert Eric Ballard, was charged with burglary of a building in trial court cause number 1134332 (appellate cause number 01-08-00947-CR). A year later, the charge was reindicted under trial court cause number 1184428 (appellate cause number 01-08-00948-CR) and two repeat-felony-offender enhancement paragraphs were added. The State moved for the trial court to transfer the motions filed in trial court cause number 1134332 to the newly indicted cause number 1184428, which was granted. The State moved to dismiss cause number 1134332 because of the subsequent indictment in cause number 1184428. The trial court granted the State's motion to dismiss and entered a judgment of dismissal in cause number 1134332. In cause number 1184428, appellant pleaded guilty to the offense of burglary of a building and pled true to the two repeat-felony-offender enhancement paragraphs. In accordance with his plea bargain agreement with the State, the trial court sentenced appellant to confinement for six years. Along with the plea, appellant, appellant's counsel, and the State signed a stipulation of evidence which included, among others, the following statements: "I intend to enter a plea of guilty and the prosecutor will recommend that my punishment should be set at 6 years TDC and I agree to that recommendation. . . . Further, I waive my right of appeal which I may have should the court accept the foregoing plea bargain agreement between myself and the prosecutor." The trial court's judgment is stamped, "Appeal waived. No permission to appeal granted." After the trial court sentenced appellant to punishment that fell within the terms of the plea bargain agreement in cause number 1184428, the trial court certified that that case is a plea-bargain case and the defendant has no right of appeal. Appellant filed a timely pro se notice of appeal for both cause numbers. As to cause number 1134332 (No. 01-08-00947-CR), we have no jurisdiction over this cause because the cause is finally disposed of by a judgment of dismissal and there is no judgment of conviction against appellant. See Workman v. State, 343 S.W.2d 446, 447 (Tex. Crim. App. 1961) (dismissing defendant's appeal of judgment discharging defendant from charge because it was not judgment of conviction); Petty v. State, 800 S.W.2d 582, 584 (Tex. App.-Tyler 1990, no pet.) (holding that order dismissing indictment is not order which defendant can appeal). We must therefore dismiss this appeal. As to cause number 1184428 (No. 01-08-00948-CR), we conclude that the certification of the right of appeal filed by the trial court is supported by the record and that appellant has no right of appeal due to the agreed plea bargain. TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a). Because appellant has no right of appeal, we must dismiss this appeal "without further action." Chavez v. State, 183 S.W.3d 675, 680 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).Accordingly, both of these appeals are dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Any pending motions are denied as moot.


Summaries of

Ballard v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas, First District, Houston
Oct 8, 2009
Nos. 01-08-00947-CR, 01-08-00948-CR (Tex. App. Oct. 8, 2009)
Case details for

Ballard v. State

Case Details

Full title:ROBERT ERIC BALLARD, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

Court:Court of Appeals of Texas, First District, Houston

Date published: Oct 8, 2009

Citations

Nos. 01-08-00947-CR, 01-08-00948-CR (Tex. App. Oct. 8, 2009)