William M. Smith, Appellant v. The State of Texas, Appellee (2015)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

William M. Smith appeals his conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child.   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 with aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than six years of age.   Appellant pleaded “not guilty” to the offense, and the matter proceeded to a jury trial.   The jury found Appellant “guilty” of the offense and assessed Appellant's punishment at imprisonment for life.   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 appellate record and found no reversible error or jurisdictional defects.   In compliance with High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1978), counsel's brief contains a thorough 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 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 certified in his brief that he provided Appellant with a copy of the brief.   Appellant was given time to file his own brief in this cause.   The time for filing such a brief has expired and no pro se brief has been filed.

PER CURIAM