DEMARIUS LA RYONE JEFFERSON v. THE STATE OF TEXAS (2017)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

A jury found appellant Demarius La Ryone Jefferson guilty of aggravated kidnapping as an habitual felony offender and assessed punishment at thirty years of imprisonment. Jefferson's appellate counsel filed a brief that presents counsel's professional evaluation of the record and concludes the appeal is frivolous. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967); High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978).

On June 16, 2016, we granted an extension of time for Jefferson to file a pro se brief. Jefferson filed a pro se brief in response. The Court of Criminal Appeals has held that we need not address the merits of issues raised in an Anders brief or a pro se response. Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826-27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Rather, an appellate court may determine: (1) “that the appeal is wholly frivolous and issue an opinion explaining that it has reviewed the record and finds no reversible error[;]” or (2) “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.” Id.

We have reviewed the appellate record, and we agree with counsel's conclusion that no arguable issues support an appeal. See id. Therefore, we find it unnecessary to order appointment of new counsel to re-brief the appeal. Cf. Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). We affirm the trial court's judgment.¹

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Jefferson may challenge our decision in this case by filing a petition for discretionary review. See Tex. R. App. P. 68.

STEVE McKEITHEN Chief Justice