Lazaro Santiago Velez v. State ( 2016 )

Order entered December 13, 2016
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-16-00571-CR
LAZARO SANTIAGO VELEZ, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 204th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F12-52451-Q
ORDER
After the Court granted two extensions of time, appellant’s brief was due November 28,
2016. To date, the brief has not been filed and the Court has had no communication with
appellant counsel.
Therefore, the Court ORDERS the trial court to conduct a hearing to determine why
appellant’s brief has not been filed. In this regard, the trial court shall make appropriate findings
and recommendations and determine whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeal, whether
appellant is indigent, or if not indigent, whether retained counsel has abandoned the appeal. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b). If the trial court cannot obtain appellant’s presence at the hearing, the
trial court shall conduct the hearing in appellant’s absence. See Meza v. State, 742 S.W.2d 708
(Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1987, no pet.) (per curiam). If appellant is indigent, the trial court is
ORDERED to take such measures as may be necessary to assure effective representation, which
may include appointment of new counsel.
We ORDER the trial court to transmit a record of the proceedings, which shall include
written findings and recommendations, to this Court within THIRTY DAYS of the date of this
order.
This appeal is ABATED to allow the trial court to comply with the above order. The
appeal shall be reinstated thirty days from the date of this order or when the findings are
received, whichever is earlier.
/s/ ADA BROWN
JUSTICE