Opinion
Nos. 01-07-00451-CR, 01-07-00452-CR
Opinion issued July 6, 2007. DO NOT PUBLISH Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
On Appeal from the 228th District Court, Harris County, Texas, Trial Court Cause Nos. 1067767 and 1067766.
Panel consists of Chief Justice RADACK, and Justices KEYES and HIGLEY.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant, Kendrick L. Elliot pleaded guilty to the offense of possession of a firearm by a felon in cause number 106776 and to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in cause number 1067766. Appellant signed under oath in each cause number a written waiver of constitutional rights, agreement to stipulate to evidence, and judicial confession. Each document provided, among other things, as follows: I intend to enter a plea of guilty and the prosecutor will recommend that my punishment should be set at 4 years TDC. . . and I agree to that recommendation. . . . Further, I waive any right of appeal which I may have should the court accept the foregoing plea bargain agreement between myself and the prosecutor. Each documents was also signed by appellant's counsel, the prosecutor and the trial court. The trial court proceeded to find appellant guilty of the offense of possession of a firearm by a felon in cause number 1067767, and guilty of the offense of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in cause number 1067766. The trial court followed the plea agreements in each case, an d assessed punishment in each case at confinement for four years to run concurrently. Despite having waived his right to appeal in each case, appellant filed a pro se notice of appeal in each case. The trial court's certification of appellant's right of appeal in each case states that appellant waived the right of appeal. There is nothing in the records indicating that appellant's waiver of his right to appeal in each case was not voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently made. There is also nothing indicating that the trial court gave his consent for an appeal in either case. In fact, the contrary is true. The trial court's judgments in cause number 1067767 and cause number 1067766 are each stamped, "Appeal waived. No permission to appeal granted." A valid waiver of the right to appeal will prevent a defendant from appealing without the consent of the trial court. Monreal v. State, No. 2289-01, slip op. at ___ (Tex.Crim.App. Mar. 12, 2003); see also Blanco v. State, 18 S.W.3d 218, 219-20 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Buck v. State, 45 S.W.3d 275, 278 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, no pet.); cf. Alzarka v. State, 90 S.W.3d 321, 323-24 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002) (holding the record directly contradicted and rebutted any presumption raised by the form waiver with numerous references to appeal from ruling on pretrial motion and trial court gave consent for appeal). Because the record in each case reflects that appellant's waiver of the right to appeal was valid and that the trial court did not consent to an appeal, we order the appeals in cause number 1067767 and in cause number 1067766 dismissed. We deny any pending motions as moot.