Howard Thomas Douglas v. State

ACCEPTED 03-14-00605-CR 4904160 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 4/15/2015 3:49:41 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE CLERK CAUSE No. 03-14-00605-CR IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT FILED IN 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS 4/15/2015 3:49:41 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE HOWARD THOMAS DOUGLAS, Clerk Appellant, VS. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee. On appeal from Cause No. D-1-DC-12-900059, in the 331st Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas APPELLANT’S THIRD MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE APPELLANT’S BRIEF TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT: COMES NOW, Appellant, Howard Thomas Douglas, and files this Third Motion for Extension of Time to File Appellant’s Brief, and in support thereof respectfully shows this Court the following: I. APPELLANT SEEKS ONE WEEK EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE BRIEF 1. Appellant is appealing his conviction in the 331st Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas, for the felony offense of securing execution of a document by deception. 2. Appellant’s Brief is due to be filed on April 15, 2015. DEFENDANT’S THIRD MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE BRIEF PAGE 1 3. Appellant seeks a SEVEN (7) DAY extension of time in which to file his Appellant’s Brief. 4. Appellant’s counsel recently spent three days in trial in Miller, et al., v. De Fina, et al., Civil Action No. 4:13cv735, which was pending before United States Magistrate Don Bush in the Eastern District of Texas. In light of the trial, which began on April 7, 2015 and ended on April 9, 2015 and several days of pretrial preparation, Appellant’s counsel had to devote approximately 6 days almost exclusively to the Miller matter during the time shortly before the April 15, 2015, deadline for filing Appellant’s Brief. 5. Additionally, the State v. Douglas trial continues to be a challenge on appeal. Appellant anticipates asserting as one of his arguments on appeal that the evidence was not legally sufficient to support the jury’s verdict of guilty. Trial lasted one week and resulted in five volumes of testimony and six volumes of exhibits. Appellant’s counsel needs additional time to review all of the testimony and the exhibits in order to present a thorough analysis of such evidence to this Court. Appellant’s counsel respectfully submits that justice would be best served by allowing Appellant’s counsel additional time in which to prepare Appellant’s Brief. 6. Appellant respectfully moves this Court for an extension of SEVEN (7) DAYS in which to file Appellant’s Brief. See Tex. R. App. P. 10, 5(b), 38.6(d), which would make Appellant’s Brief due on April 23, 2015. DEFENDANT’S THIRD MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE BRIEF PAGE 2 7. State Does Not Oppose Extension. Appellant’s counsel conferred via telephone with Mr. Scott Taliaferro, chief of the appellate section for the Travis County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and counsel for the State of Texas, on April 15, 2015, regarding the merits of this Motion, and Mr. Taliaferro stated that the State does not oppose Appellant’s third motion to extend time to file Appellant’s Brief. II. PRAYER WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant moves this Court to grant Appellant an extension of seven (7) days in which to file Appellant’s Brief, making the Brief due on or before April 23, 2015. Appellant further seeks such other relief to which he may be entitled, at law or in equity. Respectfully submitted, /S/ Craig M. Price Craig M. Price State Bar No. 16284170 cmp@hammerle.com Hammerle Finley Law Firm 2871 Lake Vista Dr., Suite 150 Lewisville, Texas 75067 Tel: (972) 436-9300 Fax: (972) 436-9000 Attorney for Appellant DEFENDANT’S THIRD MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE BRIEF PAGE 3 CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE I certify that Appellant’s current counsel spoke with Mr. Scott Taliaferro, counsel for the State of Texas, on April 15, 2015, regarding the merits of this Motion, and Mr. Taliaferro stated that the State of Texas does not oppose Appellant’s Third Motion to Extend Time to File Appellant’s Brief. /S/ Craig M. Price Craig M. Price CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that on April 15, 2015, a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document was served on the District Attorney's Office, Travis County, PO Box 1748, Austin, Texas 78767, by e-service. /S/ Craig M. Price Craig M. Price DEFENDANT’S THIRD MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE BRIEF PAGE 4