Michael Watts v. State

Dismissed and Opinion Filed December 22, 2015.
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-15-01334-CR
No. 05-15-01335-CR
No. 05-15-01336-CR
MICHAEL WATTS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial District Court
Kaufman County, Texas
Trial Court Cause Nos. 32386-422, 32387-422, 32388-422
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Francis, Evans, and Stoddart
Opinion by Justice Evans
Michael Watts was convicted, on his guilty pleas, of three offenses of continuous sexual
abuse of a child under fourteen years of age. In each case, the trial court followed plea bargain
agreements and assessed punishment at thirty years’ imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Appellant
waived his right to appeal as part of the plea agreements. The trial court certified both that
appellant waived his right to appeal and he has no right to appeal the plea bargains. Sentence
was imposed in open court on July 14, 2015. Appellant filed a pro se motion for new trial that
same date and a pro se notice of appeal on November 2, 2015. We conclude we lack jurisdiction
over the appeals.
“Jurisdiction concerns the power of a court to hear and determine a case.” Olivo v. State,
918 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). The jurisdiction of an appellate court must be
legally invoked, and, if not, the power of the court to act is as absent as if it did not exist. See id.
at 523. “The standard to determine whether an appellate court has jurisdiction to hear and
determine a case ‘is not whether the appeal is precluded by law, but whether the appeal is
authorized by law.’” Blanton v. State, 369 S.W.3d 894, 902 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (quoting
Abbott v. State, 271 S.W.3d 694, 696–97 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)). The right to appeal in a
criminal case is a statutorily created right. See McKinney v. State, 207 S.W.3d 366, 374 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2006); Griffin v. State, 145 S.W.3d 645, 646 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). See also TEX.
CODE CRIM. P. ANN. art. 44.02 (West 2006) (providing right of appeal for defendant); TEX. R.
APP. P. 25.2(a)(2) (rules for appeal by defendant).
In response to our letter inquiring about our jurisdiction over the appeals, appellant
responded essentially challenging the voluntariness of his pleas and the effectiveness of trial
counsel. The State responded that appellant waived his right to appeal as part of the plea
bargains that were entered after the trial court granted his motion for new trial following his 2014
convictions on the lesser-included offenses of indecency with a child. The State also responded
that appellant’s notice of appeal is untimely as to the July 14, 2015 sentencing date.
The record reflects appellant was indicted in each case for continuous sexual abuse of a
child. On June 25, 2014, appellant pleaded guilty to the lesser-included offense of indecency
with a child and was sentenced twenty years’ imprisonment in each case. The trial court granted
appellant’s motion for new trial on July 22, 2014. On July 14, 2015, appellant pleaded guilty to
the continuous sexual abuse of a child offenses alleged in the indictments and was sentenced to
thirty years’ imprisonment and a $1,000 fine in each case. Appellant filed a pro se motion for
new trial on July 14, 2015. He filed a pro se notice of appeal on November 2, 2015. The
–2–
envelope in which his notice of appeal was mailed is post-marked October 30, 2015. The body
of the notice of the appeal states that it was prepared on October 29, 2015.
To be timely, appellant’s notice of appeal was due by October 13, 2015. See TEX. R.
APP. P. 26.2(a)(2). To obtain the benefit of the extension period provided by rule 26.3, appellant
had to file both his notice of appeal in the trial court and an extension motion in this Court within
fifteen days of October 13, 2015, that is by October 28, 2015. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3; Slaton v.
State, 981 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (per curiam); Olivo, 918 S.W.2d at 522.
Appellant’s notice of appeal, on its face, shows it was not prepared until after the fifteen-day
extension period had expired. Therefore, the notice of appeal is untimely, leaving us without
jurisdiction over the appeals. See Slaton, 981 S.W.2d at 210; Olivo, 918 S.W.2d at 523.
Additionally, appellant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in accordance with plea bargain
agreements. Appellant waived his right to appeal as part of the agreements, see Blanco v. State,
18 S.W.3d 218, 219–20 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000), and the trial court certified appellant has no
right to appeal the convictions. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a), (d); Dears v. State, 154 S.W.3d 610
(Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Therefore, we have no jurisdiction over the appeals.
We dismiss the appeals for want of jurisdiction.
/David W. Evans/
DAVID EVANS
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
151334F.U05
–3–
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
MICHAEL WATTS, Appellant On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial District
Court, Kaufman County, Texas
No. 05-15-01334-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 32386-422.
Opinion delivered by Justice Evans, Justices
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Francis and Stoddart participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, we DISMISS the appeal for want of
jurisdiction.
Judgment entered this 22nd day of December, 2015.
–4–
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
MICHAEL WATTS, Appellant On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial District
Court, Kaufman County, Texas
No. 05-15-01335-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 32387-422.
Opinion delivered by Justice Evans, Justices
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Francis and Stoddart participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, we DISMISS the appeal for want of
jurisdiction.
Judgment entered this 22nd day of December, 2015.
–5–
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
MICHAEL WATTS, Appellant On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial District
Court, Kaufman County, Texas
No. 05-15-01336-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 32388-422.
Opinion delivered by Justice Evans, Justices
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Francis and Stoddart participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, we DISMISS the appeal for want of
jurisdiction.
Judgment entered this 22nd day of December, 2015.
–6–