IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL E
OCTOBER 7, 2002
______________________________
FABIAN JAMES TANKESLY, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
_________________________________
FROM THE 47TH DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY;
NO. 41,975-A, 41,941-A, & 41,926-A ; HONORABLE DAVID GLEASON, JUDGE
_______________________________
Before QUINN and REAVIS, JJ. and BOYD, S.J. (1)
ABATEMENT AND REMANDPursuant to guilty pleas, on April 11, 2001, appellant Fabian James Tankesly was convicted of theft over $1,500 in cause number 41,975-A, securing execution of documents by deception over $20,000 and under $100,000 in cause number 41,941-A, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in cause number 41,926-A, all state jail felonies, and punishment was assessed at two years confinement and a $100 fine, suspended for three years community supervision. Upon the State's amended motion, on March 7, 2002, community supervision was revoked for violations of three of the conditions thereof, and the original punishment was imposed.
Proceeding in forma pauperis, appellant timely filed notices of appeal. The appellate record was filed on May 6, 2002. After two motions for extensions of time in which to file a brief were granted extending the deadline to August 5, 2002, a third request was granted to September 4, 2002, with the admonition that no additional extensions would be granted absent extreme and unusual circumstances. A fourth motion for extension of time was filed explaining that additional time was necessary to diligently research the record and pertinent case law to prepare a proper brief, appellate counsel attended to family illness, and matters pending in the District Court still needed to be addressed. The fourth request was granted extending the deadline to October 1, 2002, with the same admonishment previously given. On October 1, 2002, appellant filed a fifth motion for extension of time citing the same reasons as in the fourth request.
Appellant's fifth motion for extension of time in which to file a brief is hereby denied and we now abate the appeal and remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings pursuant to Rule 38.8(b)(2) and (3). Upon remand, the trial court shall immediately cause notice of a hearing to be given and, thereafter, conduct a hearing to determine the following:
1. whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeal;
2. whether appellant is indigent and entitled to new appointed counsel; and
3. whether appellant has been denied effective assistance of counsel given appellate counsel's failure to file a brief.
The trial court shall cause the hearing to be transcribed. Should it be determined that appellant desires to continue the appeal and is indigent, then the trial court shall also take such measures as may be necessary to assure appellant effective assistance of counsel, which measures may include the appointment of new counsel. If new counsel is appointed, the name, address, telephone number, and state bar number of said counsel shall be included in the order appointing new counsel. Finally, the trial court shall execute findings of fact, conclusions of law, and such orders as the court may enter regarding the aforementioned issues, and cause its findings and conclusions to be included in a supplemental clerk's record. A supplemental record of the hearing shall also be included in the appellate record. Finally, the trial court shall file the supplemental clerk's record and the supplemental reporter's record with the Clerk of this Court by Thursday, November 21, 2002.
It is so ordered.
Per Curiam
Do not publish.
1. John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment.
d.
We find the Bonner analysis of Rules of Appellate Procedure 6.1(c) and 6.2 helpful in disposition of the motion before us. The appearance of Brown shall be noted on our docket, but we shall continue to show appellant's appointed counsel as lead counsel. Because appointed counsel has not requested to be relieved of her continuing obligations to appellant, we need not address that issue. The trial court retains authority over the appointment of counsel for appellant. Enriquez, 999 S.W.2d at 908. Any request for clarification of appointed counsel's continuing role in this appeal under these circumstances is properly directed initially to the trial court. Appellant is directed to supplement the appellate record with the appropriate documentation of any further action taken by the trial court with respect to appointed counsel.
The appearance of attorney Mike Brown shall be noted on the docket by the clerk of this court. The remainder of the motion is denied.
Per Curiam
Do not publish.