Jeffery Neil Collins v. State

Opinion issued October 2, 2008 








 

                                                          

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

____________


NO. 01-08-00623-CR

____________


JEFFERY NEIL COLLINS, Appellant


V.


THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee





On Appeal from the 209th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 1169579




 

MEMORANDUM OPINION

          Appellant, Jeffery Neil Collins, pleaded guilty, with an agreed punishment recommendation from the State, to the offense of aggravated assault. Appellant, signed, under oath a document containing a written waiver of constitutional rights, an agreement to stipulate to evidence, and a judicial confession. The document included, among others, the following statements:

I intend to enter a plea of guilty and understand that the prosecutor will recommend that my punishment should be set at two years TDC; 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 document was also signed by appellant’s counsel, the prosecutor, and the trial court. In addition, appellant signed and swore to a trial court document styled “Advice of Defendant’s Right to Appeal” that states in part:

The court, pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 25.2, advises the Defendant as follows: (1) Texas law gives a defendant convicted of a crime the right o to appeal his conviction. (2) If you pled guilty or no contest and accepted the punishment recommended by the prosecutor, however, you cannot appeal your conviction unless this Court gives you permission. If you waived or gave up your right to appeal, you cannot appeal your conviction.


          After the trial court sentenced appellant to two years in prison, a punishment that fell within the terms of the plea bargain, the trial court certified that appellant had waived his right of appeal. The trial court’s certification of right of appeal is signed by the trial court judge, the appellant and appellant’s counsel. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2 (a)(2). The trial court did not give appellant permission to appeal.

           A pretrial or presentencing waiver of right to appeal is binding if the waiver is made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. See Ex Parte Delaney, 207 S.W. 3d 794, 796-97 (Tex Crim. App. 2006). One way to indicate that the waiver was knowing and intelligent is for the actual punishment or the maximum punishment to have been determined by the plea agreement when the waiver was made.” Id. at 799.         Therefore, we conclude that the certification of the right of appeal filed by the trial court is supported by the record and that appellant has waived his right of appeal. 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, we dismiss the appeal.

          Any pending motions are denied as moot.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Hanks, and Bland.


Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).