Kurt Alan Thomas v. State

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ February 25, 2026 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A26A1304. KURT ALAN THOMAS v. THE STATE.

On November 12, 2025, Kurt Alan Thomas pleaded guilty to 11 counts of invasion of privacy. The trial court sentenced him to 15 years, with the first three years to be served in confinement and the balance on probation. Thomas filed this direct appeal from his plea and sentence. We lack jurisdiction.

Our General Assembly recently amended OCGA § 5-6-35 so that any direct appeal from a guilty plea entered on or after May 14, 2025, must “be initiated by filing an application for discretionary review.” Clark v. State, __ Ga. App. __, n.1 (924 SE2d 346) (2025); OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(5.3). “Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional.”Phaneuf v. Anthony, 375 Ga. App. 636, 638 (917 SE2d 191) (2025). Consequently, Thomas’s failure to comply with the discretionary appeals procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. Hester v. State, __ Ga. App. __ (924 SE2d 457) (2025).

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 02/25/2026 I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.