Eric Jose Bartolo, Appellant v. The State of Texas, Appellee (2015)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Eric Jose Bartolo appeals his convictions for burglary of a habitation.   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).   We affirm.

Background

Appellant was charged by indictment in each case with burglary of a habitation.   He pleaded “guilty” to both charges and was placed on ten years of deferred adjudication community supervision.   Later, the State filed a motion to proceed with adjudication, alleging that Appellant had violated the terms of his community supervision.   Appellant pleaded true to all of the allegations.   The trial court found the allegations to be true, adjudicated Appellant's guilt, and assessed his punishment at imprisonment for sixteen years in each case.   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, pursuant to the responsibilities and requirements of the governing code of professional conduct, he has thoroughly reviewed the record in these cases. Counsel further relates that his research revealed no arguable, nonfrivolous grounds for reversal in the trial, judgment, or sentence.   In compliance with High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812 (Tex.Crim.App.1978), Appellant's brief presents a chronological summation of the procedural history of the case, and contains a professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds to be advanced.¹  We have considered counsel's brief and conducted our own independent review of the record.  Id. at 811.   We have found no reversible error.

Conclusion

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.   Having done so, we agree with Appellant's counsel that the appeal is wholly frivolous.   Accordingly, we grant counsel's motion for leave to withdraw and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

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 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.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Counsel for Appellant has certified that he provided Appellant with a copy of this brief.   Appellant was given time to file his own brief in these causes.   The time for filing such a brief has expired, and we have not received a pro se brief.

PER CURIAM