Jose Venancio Rodriguez v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 179th District Court of Harris County

COURT OF APPEALS

EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

EL PASO, TEXAS

JOSE VENANCIO RODRIGUEZ, )

) No. 08-04-00203-CR

Appellant, )

) Appeal from the

v. )

) 179th District Court

THE STATE OF TEXAS, )

) of Harris County, Texas

Appellee. )

) (TC# 967799)

)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant Jose Venancio Rodriguez attempts to appeal his conviction for possession of a controlled substance, namely, cocaine with intent to deliver, weighing more than four grams and less than 200 grams by aggregate weight, including any adulterants and dilutants. Appellant plead guilty, and in accordance with the plea bargain agreement, the trial court sentenced Appellant to 15 years= imprisonment. Finding that Appellant has no right of appeal, we dismiss the appeal.

Rule 25.2(a)(2) governs the defendant=s right to appeal in a criminal case:

A defendant in a criminal case has the right of appeal under Code of Criminal Procedure article 44.02 and these rules. The trial court shall enter a certification of the defendant=s right of appeal in every case in which it enters a judgment of guilt or other appealable order.[1] In a plea bargain case--that is, a case in which defendant=s plea is guilty or nolo contendere and the punishment did not exceed the punishment recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to by the defendant--a defendant may appeal only:

(A) those matters that were raised by written motion filed and ruled on before trial, or

(B) after getting the trial court=s permission to appeal.

Tex.R.App.P. 25.2(a)(2).

On June 8, 2004, Appellant filed his pro se notice of appeal. On December 2, 2004, the clerk=s office notified Appellant that the trial court has indicated in the court=s certification that this is a plea-bargain case and Appellant has no right of appeal and requested a response. By letter filed December 8, 2004, Appellant=s counsel informs the Court that he has determined that no written motions were filed and ruled upon pretrial and that his client was not given permission to appeal any issues. Appellant=s counsel does not challenge the trial court=s certification. After reviewing the record, we find that it supports the trial court=s certification.

Article 44.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides:

A defendant in any criminal action has the right of appeal under the rules hereinafter prescribed, provided, however, before the defendant who has been convicted upon either his plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere before the court and the court, upon the election of the defendant, assesses punishment and the punishment does not exceed the punishment recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to by the defendant and his attorney may prosecute his appeal, he must have permission of the trial court, except on those matters which have been raised by written motion filed prior to trial. This article in no way affects appeals pursuant to Article 44.17 of this chapter.

Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 44.02 (Vernon 1979).

Because Appellant did not receive the trial court=s permission to appeal, Appellant has no right of appeal. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.

December 30, 2004

DAVID WELLINGTON CHEW, Justice

Before Panel No. 2

Barajas, C.J., McClure, and Chew, JJ.

(Do Not Publish)

[1] Rule 25.2(d) requires that the trial court certify whether the defendant has a right of appeal under Rule 25.2(a)(2). See Tex.R.App.P. 25.2(d).