Kenneth Paul Waterhouse v. State ( 2019 )


Menu:
  •                                   NO. 12-18-00058-CR
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
    TYLER, TEXAS
    KENNETH PAUL WATERHOUSE,                         §       APPEAL FROM THE 114TH
    APPELLANT
    V.                                               §       JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    APPELLEE                                         §       SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    PER CURIAM
    Kenneth Paul Waterhouse appeals following the revocation of his deferred adjudication
    community supervision.       Appellant’s counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v.
    California, 
    386 U.S. 738
    , 
    87 S. Ct. 1396
    , 
    18 L. Ed. 2d 493
    (1967) and Gainous v. State, 
    436 S.W.2d 137
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1969). Appellant filed a pro se response. We affirm.
    BACKGROUND
    Appellant was charged by indictment with tampering with a government record and
    pleaded “guilty.” Pursuant to a plea agreement, Appellant was placed on two years deferred
    adjudication community supervision.
    Subsequently, the State filed a motion to revoke Appellant’s community supervision
    alleging that Appellant violated certain terms and conditions thereof. A hearing was conducted on
    the State’s motion, at which Appellant pleaded “true” to two of the State’s allegations. At the
    conclusion of the hearing, the trial court found that Appellant violated the terms and conditions of
    his community supervision as alleged in the State’s motion. The trial court revoked Appellant’s
    community supervision, adjudicated him “guilty” of tampering with a government record, and
    sentenced him to two years confinement. This appeal followed.
    ANALYSIS PURSUANT TO ANDERS V. CALIFORNIA
    Appellant’s counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v. California and Gainous v.
    State. Appellant’s counsel relates that he has reviewed the record and found no arguable grounds
    for appeal. In compliance with High v. State, 
    573 S.W.2d 807
    , 812 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.]
    1978), Appellant’s brief contains a professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there
    are no arguable grounds to be advanced.
    Appellant contends in his pro se response that (1) the sentence imposed at the revocation
    proceeding is disproportionate to the sentences of similarly situated defendants and (2) his sentence
    is the product of judicial bias.
    When faced with an Anders brief and a pro se response by an appellant, an appellate court
    can either (1) determine that the appeal is wholly frivolous and issue an opinion explaining that it
    has reviewed the record and finds no reversible error or (2) determine that arguable grounds for
    appeal exist and remand the cause to the trial court so that new counsel may be appointed to brief
    the issues. Bledsoe v. State, 
    178 S.W.3d 824
    , 826–27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
    CONCLUSION
    After conducting an independent examination of the record, we find no reversible error and
    conclude that the appeal is wholly frivolous. See 
    id. Accordingly, we
    affirm the judgment of the
    trial court.
    As required by Anders and Stafford v. State, 
    813 S.W.2d 503
    , 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991),
    Appellant’s counsel has moved for leave to withdraw. See also In re Schulman, 
    252 S.W.3d 403
    ,
    407 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (orig. proceeding). We carried the motion for consideration with the
    merits and now grant counsel’s motion for leave to withdraw.
    Appellant’s counsel has a duty to, within five days of the date of this opinion, send a copy
    of the opinion and judgment to Appellant and advise him of his right to file a petition for
    discretionary review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4; In re 
    Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 411
    n.35. Should
    Appellant wish to seek review of these cases by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he must
    either retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary review on his behalf or he must file a
    pro se petition for discretionary review. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed within
    thirty days from the date of this court’s judgment or the date the last timely motion for rehearing
    was overruled by this court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2(a). Any petition for discretionary review
    2
    must be filed with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3(a). Any petition
    for discretionary review should comply with the requirements of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of
    Appellate Procedure. See In re 
    Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408
    n.22.
    Opinion delivered January 31, 2019.
    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
    (DO NOT PUBLISH)
    3
    COURT OF APPEALS
    TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    JUDGMENT
    JANUARY 31, 2019
    NO. 12-18-00058-CR
    KENNETH PAUL WATERHOUSE,
    Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    Appellee
    Appeal from the 114th District Court
    of Smith County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 114-1349-15)
    THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
    herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
    judgment.
    It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
    of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court below
    for observance.
    By per curiam opinion.
    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.