Parks Walter Hunter, III v. State ( 2009 )


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  •                           COURT OF APPEALS
    SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    FORT WORTH
    NO. 2-08-426-CR
    PARKS WALTER HUNTER, III                                           APPELLANT
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS                                                       STATE
    ------------
    FROM CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 3 OF TARRANT COUNTY
    ------------
    MEMORANDUM OPINION 1
    ------------
    After waiving a jury and entering an open plea of guilty, appellant Parks
    Walter Hunter, III appeals his conviction and twelve-year sentence for
    possession with intent to deliver cocaine. We affirm.
    Appellant’s court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to
    withdraw as counsel and a brief in support of that motion. In the brief, counsel
    1
    … See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
    avers that, in his professional opinion, the appeal is frivolous. Counsel’s brief
    and motion meet the requirements of Anders v. California 2 by presenting a
    professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there are no arguable
    grounds for relief. We gave appellant the opportunity to file a pro se brief, and
    he has not filed one. The State has not filed a brief.
    Once an appellant’s court-appointed attorney files a motion to withdraw
    on the ground that the appeal is frivolous and fulfills the requirements of
    Anders, this court is obligated to undertake an independent examination of the
    record. 3 Only then may we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw. 4
    We have carefully reviewed the record and counsel’s brief. We agree
    with counsel that this appeal is wholly frivolous and without merit; we find
    2
    … 
    386 U.S. 738
    , 
    87 S. Ct. 1396
    (1967).
    3
    … See Stafford v. State, 
    813 S.W.2d 503
    , 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991);
    Mays v. State, 
    904 S.W.2d 920
    , 922–23 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1995, no
    pet.).
    4
    … See Penson v. Ohio, 
    488 U.S. 75
    , 82–83, 
    109 S. Ct. 346
    , 351
    (1988).
    2
    nothing in the record that might arguably support the appeal. 5 Accordingly, we
    grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    PER CURIAM
    PANEL: CAYCE, C.J.; DAUPHINOT and GARDNER, JJ.
    DO NOT PUBLISH
    Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
    DELIVERED: November 25, 2009
    5
    … See Bledsoe v. State, 
    178 S.W.3d 824
    , 827–28 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2005); see also Meza v. State, 
    206 S.W.3d 684
    , 685 n.6 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2006).
    3