Lakesha Lashawn Barnes v. State ( 2019 )

Opinion filed August 30, 2019
In The
Eleventh Court of Appeals
__________
No. 11-19-00246-CR
__________
LAKESHA LASHAWN BARNES, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 42nd District Court
Taylor County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 26730A
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Lakesha Lashawn Barnes has filed an untimely notice of appeal in this cause.
She attempts to appeal from her convictions for the offenses of possession of
methamphetamine and tampering with evidence. We dismiss the appeal.
The documents on file in this appeal indicate that Appellant’s sentences were
imposed on May 16, 2017. Pursuant to Rule 26.2(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure, a notice of appeal is due to be filed either (1) within thirty days after the
date that sentence is imposed or suspended in open court or (2) if the defendant
timely files a motion for new trial, within ninety days after the date that sentence is
imposed or suspended in open court. A notice of appeal must be in writing and filed
with the clerk of the trial court. TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(c)(1). The documents on file
in this court reflect that Appellant’s pro se notice of appeal was filed in the district
clerk’s office on July 29, 2019—804 days after one sentence was imposed and the
other one was suspended. Absent a timely filed notice of appeal or the granting of
a timely motion for extension of time, we do not have jurisdiction to entertain this
appeal. Slaton v. State, 981 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); Olivo v. State,
918 S.W.2d 519, 522–23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Rodarte v. State, 860 S.W.2d 108,
110 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
On July 29, 2019, when the appeal was filed in this court, we notified
Appellant by letter that the notice of appeal appeared to be untimely and that the
appeal may be dismissed for want of jurisdiction. We requested that Appellant
respond to our letter and show grounds to continue. Appellant has filed a response,
but she has not shown grounds upon which this appeal may proceed.1
We dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.
August 30, 2019 PER CURIAM
Do not publish. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Panel consists of: Bailey, C.J.,
Stretcher, J., and Wright, S.C.J.2
Willson, J., not participating.
1
We note that, in her response, Appellant indicates that her court-appointed attorney failed to pursue
an appeal on her behalf. Appellant is mistaken; the convictions that Appellant attempts to appeal in this
cause were timely appealed and pursued by Appellant’s court-appointed attorney. See Barnes v. State,
No. 11-17-00133-CR, 2019 WL 1966852, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—Eastland May 2, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.,
not designated for publication).
2
Jim R. Wright, Senior Chief Justice (Retired), Court of Appeals, 11th District of Texas at Eastland,
sitting by assignment.
2