Cody Lang Thomas v. State

ACCEPTED 06-14-00110-CR SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS 6/25/2015 6:12:07 PM DEBBIE AUTREY CLERK NO. 06-14-00110-CR CODY LANG THOMAS § IN THE FILED IN § 6th COURT OF APPEALS v § 6th COURT TEXARKANA, TEXAS § 6/25/2015 6:12:07 PM STATE OF TEXAS § OF APPEALS DEBBIE AUTREY Clerk APPELLEE’S 2ND MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE APPELLEE’S BRIEF TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF SAID COURT: Now comes The State of Texas, Appellee in the above styled and numbered cause, and moves this Court to grant an extension of time to file Appellee’s brief, pursuant to Rule 38.6 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and for good cause shows the following: 1. This case is on appeal from the 8th Judicial District Court of Hopkins County, Texas. 2. The case below was styled the STATE OF TEXAS vs. CODY LANG THOMAS and numbered as 1423904. 3. The Appellant was convicted and sentenced by the judge to 20 years in the penitentiary after pleading guilty and going “open” to the court for punishment. 4. The Appellee’s brief was due on June 26, 2015. Appellee requests an extension time of approximately thirty (30) days from the present date, i.e. July 27, 2015. 6. One previous extension to file the brief has been received by Appellee in this cause. 7. Appellee requests a thirty (30) day extension due to the following: i. Appellee’s attorney was heavily preparing for a murder trial beginning on June 8, 2015 in the 8th Judicial District Court entitled State of Texas v. Roy Dean Duffey, which is a retrial of a murder occurring in 2011. The previous conviction was reversed and remanded by this Court. This took much time and attention to both prepare and try. ii. Appellee’s attorney agrees with the main points in Appellant’s brief. However, Appellee’s attorney believes that there is a question as to where the trial court resumes action. While Appellant asserts that the case should be remanded for a new sentencing hearing, the possibility exists that the case should be remanded for a new trial entirely. If Appellant was improperly admonished on a second degree felony when, in actuality, he should have been admonished on a state jail or third degree felony, this could raise an issue as to whether the plea was truly voluntary. In looking at this issue, the courts have discussed whether the trial courts have been in “substantial compliance” with admonishing the defendant. However, each of these cases are very fact specific. Some involve pleas of guilty to the jury, while some are pleas to the court. iii. Appellee’s attorney will be out of the office on a family vacation the week of June 29th and back in the office on July 6th. While the full 30 days should not be necessary, Appellee’s attorney would appreciate a small window of time upon his return to research and thoroughly brief the issue discussed above. WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellee prays that this Court grant this Appellee’s 2nd Motion to Extend Time to File Appellee’s Brief, and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate. Respectfully submitted, By: //s// Will Ramsay Will Ramsay 8th Judicial District Attorney State Bar No. 24039129 P.O. Box 882 110 Main Street Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 Ph: (903) 885-0640 Fax: (903) 885-0641 wramsay@hopkinscountytx.org Attorney for Appellee CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE   I hereby certify that a copy of the above and foregoing APPELLEE’S 2ND MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE APPELLEE’S BRIEF was delivered via email to Martin Braddy, Attorney for Appellant, on June 26, 2015. //s//Will Ramsay WILL RAMSAY—Attorney for the Appellee