In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
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No. 06-10-00208-CR
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ZACHARY WAYNE LAWSON, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the Fifth Judicial District Court
Cass County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2007F00239
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Zachary Wayne Lawson attempts to appeal his convictions for possession of a controlled
substance. Lawson’s sentences were imposed December 4, 2009. His motion for new trial and
notice of appeal were filed October 27, 2010. We received the clerk’s record November 18, 2010.
The issue before us is whether Lawson timely filed his notice of appeal. We conclude that he did
not and dismiss the attempted appeal for want of jurisdiction.
A timely notice of appeal is necessary to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction. Olivo v. State,
918 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Rule 26.2(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure prescribes the time period in which a notice of appeal must be filed by a defendant in
order to perfect appeal in a criminal case. A defendant’s notice of appeal is timely if filed within
thirty days after the day sentence is imposed or suspended in open court, or within ninety days after
sentencing if the defendant timely files a motion for new trial. TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2(a); Olivo, 918
S.W.2d at 522.
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Because Lawson’s sentence was imposed December 4, 2009, and both his motion for new
trial and notice of appeal were not filed until October 27, 2010, almost a year later, Lawson has
failed to perfect his appeal. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.
Josh R. Morriss, III
Chief Justice
Date Submitted: November 23, 2010
Date Decided: November 24, 2010
Do Not Publish
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