Antonio Darnell Johnson v. State

COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 02-12-00641-CR ANTONIO DARNELL JOHNSON APPELLANT V. THE STATE OF TEXAS STATE ---------- FROM THE 355TH DISTRICT COURT OF HOOD COUNTY ---------- MEMORANDUM OPINION1 ---------- Appellant Antonio Darnell Johnson pleaded guilty to burglary of a building, and a jury assessed his punishment at two years’ confinement. Johnson’s court- appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to withdraw and a brief in support of that motion. Counsel avers that in her professional opinion, the appeal is frivolous. Counsel’s brief and motion meet the requirements of Anders v. California by presenting a professional evaluation of the record demonstrating 1 See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4. why there are no arguable grounds for relief. See 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396 (1967). This court informed Johnson that he may file a pro se brief, but he did not do so. The State declined to submit a brief. Once an appellant’s court-appointed attorney files a motion to withdraw on the ground that the appeal is frivolous and fulfills the requirements of Anders, this court is obligated to undertake an independent examination of the record. See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Mays v. State, 904 S.W.2d 920, 922–23 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1995, no pet.). Only then may we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw. See Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 82– 83, 109 S. Ct. 346, 351 (1988). We have carefully reviewed the record and counsel’s brief. We agree with counsel that this appeal is wholly frivolous and without merit; we find nothing in the record that might arguably support the appeal. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 827–28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); see also Meza v. State, 206 S.W.3d 684, 685 n.6 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Accordingly, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the trial court’s judgment. /s/ Bill Meier BILL MEIER JUSTICE PANEL: DAUPHINOT, GARDNER, and MEIER, JJ. DO NOT PUBLISH Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b) DELIVERED: January 30, 2014 2