Richard Worley, Jr. v. State

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS No. 10-11-00325-CR RICHARD WORLEY, JR., Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee From the 19th District Court McLennan County, Texas Trial Court No. 2011-172-C1 MEMORANDUM OPINION Richard Worley, Jr. was found guilty of the felony offense of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to sixty years in prison after Worley pleaded true to an enhancement paragraph. Worley appealed. Worley’s appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to withdraw and an Anders brief, asserting that he has diligently reviewed the appellate record and that, in his opinion, the appeal is frivolous. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Although informed of his right to do so, Worley did not file a pro se response to the Anders brief.1 In an Anders case, we must, “after a full examination of all the proceedings, … decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.” Id. at 744, 87 S.Ct. at 1400; accord Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 509-11 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). An appeal is “wholly frivolous” or “without merit” when it “lacks any basis in law or fact.” McCoy v. Court of Appeals, 486 U.S. 429, 439 n.10, 108 S.Ct. 1895, 1902 n.10, 100 L.Ed.2d 440 (1988). We have conducted an independent review of the record, and because we find this appeal to be wholly frivolous, we affirm the judgment. We grant appointed counsel’s motion to withdraw from representation of Worley. Notwithstanding this grant, appointed counsel must send Worley a copy of our decision, notify him of his right to file a pro se petition for discretionary review, and send this Court a letter certifying counsel’s compliance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 48.4. TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4; see also Ex parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d 670, 673-74 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). REX D. DAVIS Justice Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Affirmed Opinion delivered and filed April 25, 2012 Do not publish [CRPM] 1An apparent relative of Worley’s has filed an opposition to appointed counsel’s motion to withdraw and a response to the Anders brief. This person is not a licensed Texas attorney, nor does the response comply with Rule 11’s requirements for an amicus curiae brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 11. Accordingly, these documents will not be considered by the Court. Worley v. State Page 2