Princella Valentine Steels v. The State of Texas Appeal from 263rd District Court of Harris County (memorandum opinion per curiam)

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Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed February 11, 2016. In The Fourteenth Court of Appeals NO. 14-16-00052-CR PRINCELLA VALENTINE STEELS, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 263rd District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 1416047 MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant appeals her conviction for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. Appellant entered a guilty plea, and in accordance with the terms of a plea bargain agreement with the State, the trial court sentenced appellant to confinement for twelve years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on April 28, 2014. Appellant’s notice of appeal was not filed until December 15, 2015. A defendant’s notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after sentence is imposed when the defendant has not filed a motion for new trial. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.2(a)(1). A notice of appeal that complies with the requirements of Rule 26 is essential to vest the court of appeals with jurisdiction. Slaton v. State, 981 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). If an appeal is not timely perfected, a court of appeals does not obtain jurisdiction to address the merits of the appeal. Under those circumstances it can take no action other than to dismiss the appeal. Id. Moreover, the trial court entered a certification of the defendant’s right to appeal in which the court certified that this is a plea bargain case, and the defendant has no right of appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(a)(2). The trial court’s certification is included in the record on appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(d). The record supports the trial court’s certification. See Dears v. State, 154 S.W.3d 610, 615 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Accordingly, the appeal is ordered dismissed. PER CURIAM Panel consists of Chief Justice Frost and Justice Boyce and Wise. Do Not Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b). 2

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