Derek Anthony Comley v. State ( 2012 )

NUMBERS 13-12-00276-CR
13-12-00277-CR
13-12-00278-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
DEREK ANTHONY COMLEY, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 252nd District Court
of Jefferson County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Rodriguez, Garza, and Vela
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Rodriguez
Appellant Derek Anthony Comley appeals from three convictions for
second-degree felony aggravated assault. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02(a)(1), (b)
(West 2011). Each appellate cause number (13-12-00276-CR, 13-12-00277-CR, and
13-12-00278-CR) involves Comley's pleas of guilty to aggravated assault charges
stemming from an incident on January 8, 2009 in which Comley stabbed three different
individuals with a knife.1 The trial court deferred adjudication and placed Comley on
community supervision in each of the three cases. On February 1, 2011, the State filed a
motion to revoke Comley's deferred adjudication supervision in each case. At the
hearing on the State's motions to revoke, Comley pleaded true to six of the seven
violations alleged by the State in each motion. The trial court then sentenced Comley to
eleven years' confinement in each case and ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Concluding that the appeal in each case would be frivolous, counsel filed Anders
briefs in which he reviewed the merits, or lack thereof, of the appeals. We affirm.
I. COMPLIANCE WITH ANDERS V. CALIFORNIA
Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967), Comley's
court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief with this Court, stating that he has
diligently reviewed each record and the applicable law and concluding that, in his
professional opinion, "the record[s] reflect[] no reversible error." See In re Schulman,
252 S.W.3d 403, 407 n.9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (orig. proceeding) ("In Texas, an Anders
brief need not specifically advance 'arguable' points of error if counsel finds none, but it
must provide record references to the facts and procedural history and set out pertinent
legal authorities.") (citing Hawkins v. State, 112 S.W.3d 340, 343-44 (Tex. App.—Corpus
Christi 2003, no pet.)); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 510 n.3 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991)
(en banc).
1
Because our review of the records shows that the same facts and similar legal issues are involved
in each appeal, in the interest of judicial economy, we consolidate the three appeals and issue a single
opinion disposing of them.
2
In compliance with High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel
Op.] 1978), Comley's counsel has, thus, carefully discussed why, under controlling
authority, there are no errors in the trial court's judgments. Counsel has informed this
Court that he has: (1) examined the records and found no arguable grounds to advance
on appeal, (2) served his brief and motion to withdraw on Comley, and (3) provided
Comley with a copy of the records and informed Comley of his right to review the records
and to file a pro se response.2 See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 510
n.3; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409 n.23. More than an adequate period of
time has passed, and Comley has not filed a pro se response. See In re Schulman, 252
S.W.3d at 409.
II. INDEPENDENT REVIEW
The United States Supreme Court has advised appellate courts that upon
receiving a "frivolous appeal" brief, they must conduct "a full examination of all the
proceedings to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous." Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S.
75, 80 (1988). We have reviewed the entire record in each case and counsel's briefs,
and we have found nothing that would arguably support an appeal. See Bledsoe v.
State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826-28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) ("Due to the nature of Anders
briefs, by indicating in the opinion that it considered the issues raised in the briefs and
reviewed the record for reversible error but found none, the court of appeals met the
requirement of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 47.1."); Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 509.
2
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that "the pro se response need not comply with the
rules of appellate procedure in order to be considered. Rather, the response should identify for the court
those issues which the indigent appellant believes the court should consider in deciding whether the case
presents any meritorious issues." In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 409 n.23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (orig.
proceeding) (quoting Wilson v. State, 955 S.W.2d 693, 696-97 (Tex. App.—Waco 1997, no pet.)).
3
Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
III. MOTION TO WITHDRAW
In accordance with Anders, Comley's attorney has asked this Court for permission
to withdraw as counsel for Comley. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; see also In re
Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408 n.17 (citing Jeffery v. State, 903 S.W.2d 776, 779-80 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 1995, no pet.) (noting that "[i]f an attorney believes the appeal is frivolous,
he must withdraw from representing the appellant. To withdraw from representation, the
appointed attorney must file a motion to withdraw accompanied by a brief showing the
appellate court that the appeal is frivolous.") (citations omitted)). We grant counsel's
motions to withdraw in each of the three cases. Within five days of the date of this
Court’s opinion, counsel is ordered to send a copy of the opinion and judgment to Comley
and to advise him of his right to file a petition for discretionary review.3 See TEX. R. APP.
P. 48.4; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 412 n.35; Ex parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d
670, 673 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
NELDA V. RODRIGUEZ
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the 21st
day of November, 2012.
3
No substitute counsel will be appointed. Should Comley wish to seek further review by the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he must either retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary review
or file a pro se petition for discretionary review. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed within
thirty days from the date of either this opinion or the last timely motion for rehearing or timely motion for en
banc reconsideration that was overruled by this Court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2. Effective September 1,
2011, any petition for discretionary review must be filed with the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3. Any petition for discretionary review should comply with the requirements of
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 68.4. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.4.
4