Viator, Brandon Paul v. State

Dismissed and Opinion filed October 10, 2002

Dismissed and Opinion filed October 10, 2002.

 

 

In The

 

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

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NO. 14-02-00556-CR

NO. 14-02-00557-CR

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BRANDON PAUL VIATOR, Appellant

 

V.

 

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

 

 

On Appeal from the 232nd District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause Nos. 910,486 & 910,487

 

 

M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N

Appellant entered guilty pleas to two offenses of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit theft.  In accordance with the terms of a plea bargain agreement with the State, on May 14, 2002, the trial court sentenced appellant to confinement for fourteen years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, with the sentences to run concurrently.  We dismiss these appeals for want of jurisdiction.


To invoke an appellate court=s jurisdiction over an appeal, an appellant must give timely and proper notice of appeal.  White v. State, 61 S.W.3d 424, 428 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).  Appellant filed a timely general notice of appeal that did not comply with the requirements of Rule 25.2(b)(3) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.  See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(b)(3).  Rule 25.2(b)(3) provides that when an appeal is from a judgment rendered on a defendant=s plea of guilty or nolo contendere and the punishment assessed does not exceed the punishment recommended by the State and agreed to by the defendant, the notice of appeal must:  (1) specify that the appeal is for a jurisdictional defect; (2) specify that the substance of the appeal was raised by written motion and ruled on before trial; or (3) state that the trial court granted permission to appeal.  Id.  The trial court specifically noted in the record that permission to appeal was not granted and no pretrial motions were heard.  The time for filing a proper notice of appeal has expired; thus, appellant may not file an amended notice of appeal to correct jurisdictional defects.  State v. Riewe, 13 S.W.3d 408, 413-14 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).  Because appellant=s notice of appeal did not comply with the requirements of Rule 25.2(b)(3), we are without jurisdiction to consider any of appellant=s issues, including the voluntariness of the plea.  See Cooper v. State, 45 S.W.2d 77, 83 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (holding that appellant who files general notice of appeal may not appeal voluntariness of negotiated plea). 

Moreover, appellant signed written waivers of his right to appeal as part of his plea bargain agreements.  The trial court followed the plea bargain agreements in assessing punishment.  Appellant chose to enter into agreements that included a waiver of the right to appeal.  Appellant was informed of his right to appeal, knew with certainty the punishment he would receive, and that he could withdraw his plea if the trial court did not act in accordance with the plea agreements.  As appellant was fully aware of the consequences when he waived his right to appeal, it is Anot unfair to expect him to live with those consequences now.@  Alzarka v. State, 60 S.W.3d 203, 206 (Tex. App.BHouston [14th Dist.] July 26, 2001, pet. granted) (quoting Mabry v. Johnson, 467 U.S. 504, 104 S. Ct. 2543, 2547-48 (1984)).  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.CHouston [1st Dist.] 2001, no pet.). 


Accordingly, we dismiss the appeals. 

 

 

PER CURIAM

 

Judgment rendered and Opinion filed October 10, 2002.

Panel consists of Chief Justice Brister and Justices Hudson and Fowler.

Do Not Publish C Tex. R. App. P. 47.3(b).