TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-25-00049-CR

Yakob Alexander Loyd Hickman, Appellant v. The State of Texas, Appellee

FROM THE 22ND DISTRICT COURT OF COMAL COUNTY NO. CR2022-331A, THE HONORABLE R. BRUCE BOYER, JUDGE PRESIDING

MEMORANDUM OPINION

A jury found appellant Yakob Alexander Loyd Hickman guilty of murder, a first-degree felony. See Tex. Penal Code § 19.02. The trial court sentenced appellant to life imprisonment.

Appellant’s court-appointed attorney has filed a motion to withdraw supported by a brief concluding that the appeal is frivolous and without merit. The brief meets the requirements of Anders v. California by presenting a professional evaluation of the record demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds to be advanced. See 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967); Garner v. State, 300 S.W.3d 763, 766 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); see also Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 81–82 (1988). Appellant’s counsel has certified to this Court that he sent copies of the motion and brief to appellant, provided a motion to assist appellant in obtaining the appellate record, and advised appellant of his rights to examine the appellate record, file a pro se brief, and pursue discretionary review following the resolution of the appeal in this Court. See Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313, 319–20 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); see also Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. To date, no pro se response has been filed.

We have conducted an independent review of the record, including the record of the proceedings below and appellate counsel’s brief, and find no reversible error. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Garner, 300 S.W.3d at 766; Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). We agree with counsel that the record presents no arguably meritorious grounds for review, and the appeal is frivolous.

Counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted. The trial court’s judgment of conviction is affirmed.

__________________________________________ Maggie Ellis, Justice Before Chief Justice Byrne, Justices Crump and Ellis Affirmed Filed: October 17, 2025 Do Not Publish