Order entered June 8, 2018
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-17-01177-CR
No. 05-17-01178-CR
RAYMON STEFFANI LAWRENCE, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause Nos. F16-20873-U, F17-00600-U
ORDER
Before the Court is appellant’s June 6, 2018 third motion to extend the time to file
appellant’s brief. Appellant’s motion is DENIED.
We ORDER the trial court to conduct a hearing to determine why appellant’s brief has
not been filed. In this regard, the trial court shall make appropriate findings and
recommendations and determine whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeals, whether
appellant is indigent, or if not indigent, whether retained counsel has abandoned the appeal. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b). If the trial court cannot obtain appellant’s presence at the hearing, the
trial court shall conduct the hearing in appellant’s absence. See Meza v. State, 742 S.W.2d 708
(Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1987, no pet.) (per curiam). If appellant is indigent, the trial court is
ORDERED to take such measures as may be necessary to assure effective representation, which
may include appointment of new counsel.
We ORDER the trial court to transmit a record of the proceedings, which shall include
written findings and recommendations, to this Court within THIRTY DAYS of the date of this
order.
This appeal is ABATED to allow the trial court to comply with the above order. The
appeals shall be reinstated thirty days from the date of this order or when the findings are
received, whichever is earlier.
/s/ CRAIG STODDART
JUSTICE