Larry Joe Jones v. State

ACCEPTED 06-15-00124-CR SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS 7/8/2016 4:19:08 PM DEBBIE AUTREY CLERK No. 06-15-00124-CR LARRY JOE JONES § IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 6th COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS V. § SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 7/8/2016 4:19:08 PM DEBBIE AUTREY THE STATE OF TEXAS § OF TEXAS AT TEXARKANAClerk __________________________________________________________________ STATE’S MOTION TO STRIKE APPELLANT’S BRIEF __________________________________________________________________ TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS: Now comes the State of Texas, by and through its Assistant District Attorney, and files this Motion to Strike Appellant’s Brief that was filed by counsel on December 4, 2015. In support thereof, the State would show the following: I. On December 4, 2015, counsel for Appellant filed a brief. On December 10, 2015, Appellant Larry Jones filed his pro se motion with the Court requesting that counsel be dismissed and to allow him to proceed on his appeal, pro se. See the Court’s Order in Jones v. State, No. 06-15-00124-CR, at 2 (February 3, 2016). On December 17, 2015, the Court abated the appeal and instructed the trial court to hold a hearing on Jones’ motion. Id. After the hearing was held by the trial court and the case returned, this Court “grant[ed] Jones’ request to represent himself in this appeal. We overrule, as moot, Jones’ request to dismiss counsel.” Id. at 4. On May 17, 2016, Appellant filed his pro se brief. 1 Appellant does not have a right to hybrid representation. See Scheanette v. State, 144 S.W.3d 503, 505 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004)(Court of Criminal Appeals would not address pro se points of error because appellant had no right to hybrid representation). Because Appellant is not entitled to hybrid representation, he should not be allowed to rely on any brief filed by counsel – who no longer represents Appellant at Appellant’s request. Consequently, the brief filed by former counsel David Crawford on December 4, 2015 should be struck and not be addressed by this Court. PRAYER WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the State of Texas prays that this Motion to Strike Appellant’s Brief filed by counsel on December 4, 2015 be granted. /s/ Douglas Howell, III Douglas Howell, III Assistant District Attorney 300 E. 26th St., Suite 310 Bryan, Texas 77803 979-361-4320 State Bar No. 10098100 dhowell@brazoscountytx.gov 1 The State’s motion for extension of time to file its brief was granted until July 18, 2016. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I do hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing State’s Motion To Strike Appellant’s Brief was mailed to Larry Jones, TDCJ#02005311, Jester III Unit, 3 Jester Road; Richmond, TX 77406 this 8th day of July, 2016. /s/ Douglas Howell, III