ACCEPTED
01-15-00559-CR
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
11/24/2015 1:40:19 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
APPEAL NO. 01-15-00559-CR
__________________________
FILED IN
1st COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE HOUSTON, TEXAS
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT HOUSTON, TEXAS11/24/2015 1:40:19 PM
__________________________ CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
JUAN SERGIO CARREON TOLEDO,
Appellant,
Vs.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee.
__________________________
On Appeal from the Judgment and Sentence of
The 351st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas,
Trial Court Cause No. 1454602
___________________________
APPELLANT’S FIRST MOTION FOR
EXTENSION IN TIME TO FILE BRIEF
TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE 14TH COURT OF APPEALS:
Appellant, Juan Sergio Carreon Toledo, by and through counsel of record,
Patrick F. McCann, respectfully moves this Honorable Court to GRANT
Appellant’s First Motion for Extension in time to file Brief, and allow Appellant
ninety (90) additional days, up to and including Monday, February 22, 2016, in
which to file his opening brief in this appeal. In support of such motion, Appellant
would show the Court the following:
(1) The current deadline for filing Appellant’s opening brief is Monday,
November 23, 2015.
(2) Appellant’s counsel seeks an additional ninety (90) days, up to and
including Monday, February 22, 2016, in which to prepare Appellant’s brief in
this matter.
(3) The record on appeal and exhibits in this matter are voluminous.
Further, the undersigned’s tentative review of the record indicates the presence
numerous and complex meritorious issues necessitating a considerable amount of
original research. Given the size the size of the record, as well as the number and
complexity of the issues that may requiring briefing, additional time is necessary
for a full and fair presentation on Mr. Toledo’s behalf.
(4) Immediately prior to and following October 21, 2015, the date on
which the supplemental reporter’s record was filed in this Court, the undersigned
attorney, who is a solo practioner, has been engaged in the following:
(A) Counsel sponsors to this Honorable Court that he is the lead
attorney in eight (8) capital cases in which the death penalty has been
imposed that are in various stages of the state and federal direct appeal
and habeas and appellate habeas process that have required a
considerable amount of counsel’s attention;
(B) Counsel was out of the office for the day on October 21, 2015,
consulting an incarcerated client at the TDCJ-CID’s Telford
Unit in New Boston, Texas, approximately 280 miles from
counsel’s office in Houston;
(C) Counsel was out of the office on October 22, 2015, consulting
with four clients on the TDCJ-CID’s Polunsky Unit Death Row
on October 22, 2015;
(D) Counsel prepared and submitted the opening brief in Sam v.
State, No. 14-13-00840-CR;
(E) Counsel prepared and submitted a direct appeal brief in a
complex Identity Theft case to be submitted to the Court of
Appeals in Tan v. State, No. 01-15-00511-CR;
(F) Counsel prepared and submitted a direct appeal brief in an
Aggravated Robbery case submitted to the Court of Appeals in
Villasenor v. State, No. 14-15-00255-CR;
(G) Counsel was prepared for and engaged in a hearing on a motion
for new trial hearing in Susan Sciacca v. State, No. 1414753
(179th Dist. Ct., Harris Co, Tex., Oct. 27, 2015);
(H) Counsel was out of the office for a half day on October 27,
2015 consulting with incarcerated clients at the TDCJ-CID’s
Darrington and Ramsey Units in Rosharon, Texas;
(I) In USA v. Kibert, et al, No. H-14-CR-00204 (S.D. Tex.),
counsel has been preparing for a massive multi-count, multi-
defendant federal Medicare fraud trial involving a Albanian
organized crime group which has required a considerable
amount of investigation, conferences with counsel for the co-
defendant’s, and trial preparation. This trial is set for December
1, 2015, and it is anticipated to continue for approximately one
to two weeks;
(J) In USA v. Hernandez-Martinez, et al, No. 4:15-CR-00203-3
(S.D. Tex.), counsel was preparing for pretrial conference and
trial, in which counsel is representing one of several defendants
accused in a large scale drug smuggling operation involving the
“Los Zetas” Mexican drug cartel, in which several co-
defendants have plead guilty and agreed to act as government
witnesses, which, in turn, has drastically altered counsel’s
defense strategy, requiring additional unanticipated
investigation and preparation, and which was continued at the
last minute;
(K) In State v. Hieden, No. 15-05-5118-CR (359th Dist. Ct.,
Montgomery Co, Tex.) counsel has been engaged in
investigation and pretrial preparation in a capital case in which
the State is expected to seek the death penalty;
(L) In Melvin Straight v. State, No. 1450199 (174th Dist. Ct., Harris
Ct, Tex.), the Trial Court in the case has scheduled and
rescheduled on an ad hoc basis a hearing on the defendant’s
motion for new trial.
(M) Counsel was out of the office on November 19 and 20, 2015,
for mandatory CLE for the TCDLA’s Capital Trial seminar.
(5) Appellant’s counsel HAS NOT sought nor received any prior
extensions in this appeal.
(6) This extension is not being sought for purposes of undue delay or to
harass and vex, but to protect Appellant’s rights in this matter and to ensure
Appellant has his day in court. See, e.g., Coleman v. Alabama, 377 U.S. 129, 133
(1964) (defendant “entitled to have his day in court”).
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays that this Honorable
Court will, in all things, GRANT this First Motion for Extension in Time to File
Brief, allowing Appellant ninety (90) additional days, up to and including Monday,
February 22, 2015, in which to file his brief in this appeal, and that the Court
further GRANT any additional relief to which the Appellant may be justly entitled.
DATED this 23rd day of November, 2015.
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Patrick F. McCann
State Bar No. 00792680
Law Office of Patrick F. McCann
Suite 205, Rice Hotel
909 Texas Avenue
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 223-3805
eFax:
Counsel for the Appellant
Juan Sergio Carreon Toledo
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that a true and correct copy of the
foregoing APPELLANT’S FIRST MOTION FOR EXTENTION IN TIME TO
FILE BRIEF has been duly served upon counsel representing the State of Texas
in this matter by either Hand Delivery, Prepaid United States Mail, E-mail, or
through this Court’s Electronic Filing System on this 23rd day of November,
2015, addressed as follows:
Alan Curry, Esq.
Assistant District Attorney
Appellate Division
Harris County, Texas
1201 Franklin, Sixth Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
/s/ Patrick F. McCann
Patrick F. McCann
Counsel for the Appellant
Juan Sergio Carreon Toledo