Melvin Lewis Haynes v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 240th District Court of Fort Bend County

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Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed April 1, 2010. In The Fourteenth Court of Appeals ____________ NO. 14-09-00425-CR ____________ MELVIN LEWIS HAYNES, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 240th District Court Fort Bend County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 46537B MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant entered a plea of guilty to murder. Appellant and the State agreed that appellant s punishment would not exceed confinement in prison for more than 45 years. In accordance with the terms of this agreement with the State, the trial court sentenced appellant on April 7, 2009, to confinement for 45 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Appellant filed a timely, written notice of appeal. We dismiss the appeal. Although the trial court mistakenly entered a certification of the defendant s right to appeal in which the court certified that this is not a plea bargain case and the defendant has the right of appeal, we have no jurisdiction over the appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(a)(2). An agreement that places a cap on punishment is a plea bargain for purposes of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 25.2(a)(2). Waters v. State, 124 S.W.3d 825, 826 27 (Tex. App. Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. ref=d) (holding reviewing court lacked jurisdiction where defendant pled guilty with a sentencing cap of ten years, even though trial judge mistakenly certified defendant had right of appeal); Threadgill v. State, 120 S.W.3d 871, 872 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no. pet.) (holding statement in record indicating that there was no agreed recommendation did not convert proceeding into an open plea where plea was entered pursuant to agreed sentencing cap); see also Shankle v. State, 119 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (stating sentence-bargaining may be for recommendations to the court on sentences, including a recommended cap on sentencing). Because appellant s plea was made pursuant to a plea bargain, he may appeal only matters raised by a written pre-trial motion or with the trial court s permission. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(a)(2). Appellant does not challenge any pre-trial rulings. The trial court s erroneous certification that the case is not a plea bargain case does not constitute permission to appeal. See Waters, 124 S.W.3d at 826 27. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. PER CURIAM Panel consists of Justices Yates, Seymore, and Brown. Do Not Publish Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b). 2

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