Opinion issued March 23, 2012.

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

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NO. 01-10-00215-CR

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Anthony Mendez, Appellant

V.

The State of Texas, Appellee

On Appeal from the 351st District Court

Harris County, Texas

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant, Anthony Mendez, pled guilty to the felony offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child without an agreed recommendation for punishment from the State, and, following a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) hearing, the trial court assessed punishment at ten years’ confinement. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021 (West 2011).  Mendez’s court-appointed counsel has filed a motion to withdraw from Mendez’s representation on appeal, stating that a complete review of the record has revealed no arguable grounds of error.  See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 1400 (1967).  Mendez has not submitted a pro se reply brief.  We have reviewed the record in its entirety and, having found no reversible error, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Background

Mendez entered an open plea of guilty to the felony offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child.  See Tex. Penal Code § 22.021 (West 2011).  The trial court admonished Mendez of the consequences of his plea—including a written admonishment that Mendez shall register as a sex offender—and withheld a finding of guilt until completion of a pre-sentence investigation report.  At the PSI hearing, Mendez testified that he had a sexual relationship with the complainant, but did not know that the complainant was a minor.  After testimony from Mendez, his wife, and his mother-in-law and arguments by counsel, the trial court found Mendez guilty and assessed punishment at ten years’ confinement.  Mendez timely filed his notice of appeal.

Discussion

Counsel’s brief meets the minimum requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 1400 (1967), by presenting a professional evaluation of the record and stating why there are no arguable grounds of error on appeal. See Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137, 138 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969).  Counsel sent a copy of the brief to Mendez, requested permission to withdraw, and informed Mendez of his right to file a pro se response.  Mendez did not file a pro se response.  

When we receive an Anders brief from a defendant’s court-appointed attorney who asserts that no arguable grounds for appeal exist, we must determine that issue independently by conducting our own review of the entire record. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S. Ct. at 1400 (emphasizing that reviewing court—and not counsel—determines, after full examination of proceedings, whether case is “wholly frivolous”); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 510 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Any pro se response is also considered. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).

Thus, our role in this Anders appeal, which consists of reviewing the entire record, is limited to determining whether arguable grounds for appeal exist.  See id. at 827.   If we determine that arguable grounds for appeal exist, we abate the appeal and remand the case to the trial court to allow the court-appointed attorney to withdraw.  See id.  Then, the trial court appoints another attorney to present all arguable grounds for appeal.  See id.  If we determine that arguable grounds for appeal do exist, Mendez is entitled to have new counsel address the merits of the issues raised.  See id.  “Only after the issues have been briefed by new counsel may [we] address the merits of the issues raised.” Id.

On the other hand, if our independent review of the record leads us to conclude that the appeal is wholly frivolous, we may affirm the trial court’s judgment by issuing an opinion in which we explain that we have reviewed the record and find no reversible error.  Bledsoe, 178 S.W.3d at 826–28.  Mendez may challenge the holding that there are no arguable grounds for appeal by petitioning for discretionary review in the Court of Criminal Appeals.  Id. at 827 & n.6.

Following Anders and Bledsoe, we have reviewed the record and counsel’s Anders brief.  We conclude that no reversible error exists.  Consequently, we affirm the judgment of the trial court and grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.[1]

Conclusion

We affirm the judgment of the trial court and grant appointed counsel’s motion to withdraw.

                                                                      Jane Bland

                                                                      Justice

Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Bland, and Sharp.  Justice Sharp, concurring with the judgment, in an opinion to follow.

Do not publish.   Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).