DISMISSED and Opinion Filed June 10, 2019
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-19-00313-CR
JOHNNIE OTIS DAVIS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 2
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F18-47214-I
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Schenck, Osborne, and Reichek
Opinion by Justice Schenck
Johnnie Otis Davis appeals the trial court’s order deferring adjudication of his guilt for the
offense of theft of property valued at $2500 or less with two previous theft convictions. By letter
dated April 16, 2019, the Court questioned its jurisdiction over this appeal on the ground the
certification of the right to appeal states this is a plea-bargain case and appellant has no right to
appeal. The Court solicited letter briefs from the parties regarding the jurisdictional issue and both
parties responded. Concluding the Court does not have jurisdiction, we dismiss the appeal.
The record reflects appellant and the State entered into a plea bargain agreement under
which appellant agreed to enter a plea of guilty and waive his right to appeal in exchange for being
placed on deferred adjudication for five years. On the plea agreement form, an “X” marks a box
indicating appellant would be required to “participate in and successfully complete” drug treatment
in either the SAFP program or else the CCJTC program at Wilmer. After a short plea hearing, the
trial court informed appellant that it would be placing him on deferred adjudication for five years,
that he would be receiving some conditions of probation, and that a hold would be placed on him
for an SAFP program. The trial court then asked appellant, “That is the agreement, correct?”
Appellant responded, “Yes, ma’am.”
In his letter brief, appellant concedes he entered into an agreement to accept deferred
adjudication in exchange for his guilty plea. Appellant contends, however, that there was a dispute
over whether he would be required to attend SAFP drug treatment and that he desires to appeal
this condition of his probation. Nothing in the record shows appellant disputed the requirement
that he attend SAFP drug treatment. To the contrary, the record shows the box for attending drug
treatment was clearly marked with an “X” on the plea agreement form and appellant affirmed to
the trial court that his agreement with the State included his attendance at an SAFP facility. The
record does not show appellant asked the trial court for permission to appeal the SAFP condition.
Rule 25.2(a)(2) provides that in a plea-bargained case in which the trial court assesses
punishment that does not exceed the punishment to which the defendant agreed, the defendant may
appeal only those matters raised by written motion filed and ruled on before trial or after getting
the trial court’s permission to appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). The record does not show
appellant filed any pretrial motions. As the trial court’s certification attests, appellant has not
received the trial court’s permission to appeal.
Moreover, when a defendant waives the right to appeal in exchange for valuable
consideration from the State, the waiver is enforceable provided it is made voluntarily, knowingly,
and intelligently. See Jones v. State, 488 S.W.3d 801, 807–08 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016); Ex parte
Broadway, 301 S.W.3d 694, 697–99 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). In this case, appellant expressly
waived his right to appeal in exchange for being placed on deferred adjudication. We conclude
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appellant’s waiver of the right to appeal is enforceable. See Jones, 488 S.W.3d at 807–08;
Broadway, 301 S.W.3d at 699; Blanco v. State, 18 S.W.3d 218, 220 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
An appeal must be dismissed if a certification showing that the defendant has the right to
appeal has not been made part of the record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d); Dears v. State, 154
S.W.3d 610, 613 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). In this case, the record supports the trial court’s
certification stating the appeal is a plea-bargained case and appellant has no right to appeal. The
record also shows appellant waived his right to appeal in exchange for valuable consideration from
the State. Because appellant has no right to appeal, we must dismiss the appeal without further
action. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d); Chavez v. State, 183 S.W.3d 675, 680 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
We dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.
/David J. Schenck/
DAVID J. SCHENCK
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b)
190313F.U05
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Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
JOHNNIE OTIS DAVIS, Appellant On Appeal from the Criminal District Court
No. 2, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-19-00313-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. F18-47214-I.
Opinion delivered by Justice Schenck.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Osborne and Reichek participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the appeal is DISMISSED.
Judgment entered this 10th day of June, 2019.
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