Heath James Grimes v. State ( 2007 )

NO. 07-07-0376-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL C
NOVEMBER 28, 2007
______________________________
HEATH JAMES GRIMES,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
_________________________________
FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2 OF RANDALL COUNTY;
NO. 2006-1659-L; HON. RONALD WALKER, JR., PRESIDING
_______________________________
ABATEMENT AND REMAND
__________________________________
Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
Heath James Grimes (appellant) appeals from his conviction for theft of property of
the value of $50 or more, but less than $500. He filed his notice of appeal on September
4, 2007. The reporter’s record was filed on September 20, 2007, and the clerk’s record on
October 10, 2007. Therefore, appellant’s brief was due on November 9, 2007. On
November 16, 2007, a letter was sent to appellant’s attorney notifying him the brief was
overdue and that the brief or response was due November 26, 2007. To date, no brief or
extension motion has been filed in this Court.
Consequently, we abate the appeal and remand the cause to the County Court at
Law No. 2 of Randall County (trial court) for further proceedings. Upon remand, the trial
court shall immediately cause notice of a hearing to be given and, thereafter, conduct a
hearing to determine the following:
1. whether appellant is indigent;
2. whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeal; and
3. whether appellant has been denied the effective assistance of
counsel due to appellate counsel’s failure to timely file an appellate
brief. See Evitts v. Lucey, 469 U.S. 387, 394, 105 S. Ct. 830, 834-35,
83 L. Ed. 2d 821, 828 (1985) (holding that an indigent defendant is
entitled to the effective assistance of counsel on the first appeal as of
right and that counsel must be available to assist in preparing and
submitting an appellate brief).
We further direct the trial court to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law
addressing the foregoing subjects. Should the trial court find that appellant desires to
pursue the appeal, is indigent, and has been denied effective assistance of counsel, we
further direct it to appoint new counsel to assist in the prosecution of the appeal. The
name, address, phone number, telefax number, and state bar number of the new counsel,
if any, who will represent appellant on appeal must also be included in the court’s findings
of fact and conclusions of law. Furthermore, the trial court shall also cause to be
developed 1) a supplemental clerk’s record containing the findings of fact and conclusions
of law and 2) a reporter’s record transcribing the evidence and argument presented at the
aforementioned hearing. Additionally, the trial court shall cause the supplemental clerk’s
record to be filed with the clerk of this court on or before December 28, 2007. Should
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additional time be needed to perform these tasks, the trial court may request same on or
before December 28, 2007.
It is so ordered.
Per Curiam
Do not publish.
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