Alejandro Jimenez v. State

COURT OF APPEALS EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO, TEXAS § ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ, No. 08-08-00193-CR § Appellant, Appeal from § v. Criminal District Court No. 1 § THE STATE OF TEXAS, of El Paso County, Texas § Appellee. (TC # 20070D02194) § OPINION Alejandro Jimenez, pro se, appeals his convictions for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Appellant pled guilty to possession of cocaine in an amount more than four grams and less than 200 grams, enhanced (Count I), and to possession of cocaine in an amount more than 400 grams (Count II). In accordance with a plea bargain, the trial court sentenced him to fifteen years’ imprisonment (Count 1) and twenty years’ imprisonment (Count II), said sentences to be served concurrently in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice--Institutional Division. He was also fined $1.00 in connection with Count II. After Appellant's retained attorney filed a motion to withdraw due to Appellant’s indigence, we directed the trial court to conduct a hearing to determine whether Appellant had retained new counsel, or whether he was indigent and entitled to the appointment of counsel. The trial court called the case for hearing on June 11, 2008 and took judicial notice from the Judicial Information Management System that Appellant was not in jail. When Appellant did not appear, the bailiff called his name three times in the hallway. There being no response and no evidence before the court regarding Appellant’s financial status, the court entered an order that Appellant is not indigent. On July 24, 2008, this court notified Appellant regarding his failure to make financial arrangements for the reporter’s record. On July 30, 2008, we received Appellant’s pro se response asking the court to appoint counsel to represent him. The court then notified Appellant that (1) the trial court had determined he is not indigent, (2) the cause would be submitted without a reporter’s record, and (3) his pro se brief was due on or before September 13, 2008. No pro se brief having been filed, the court advised Appellant that the appeal would be considered without briefs pursuant to TEX .R.APP .P. 38.8(b)(4). In the interest of justice, we have reviewed the entire record for unassigned fundamental error. See TEX .R.APP.P. 38.8(b)(4); Lott v. State, 874 S.W.2d 687, 688 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994). Having found no unassigned fundamental error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. February 24, 2010 ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE, Justice Before Chew, C.J., McClure, and Rivera, JJ. (Do Not Publish)