The opinion
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON
ORDER OF ABATEMENT
Cause No. 01-13-00496-CR; Jesus Escobar v. The State of Texas
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 7 of Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 1853071
On January 15, 2014, Counsel for Jesus Escobar filed a Motion to Withdraw as Counsel
and a Motion for Extension of Time to File Reporter’s Record. Counsel indicates that Escobar’s
financial situation has changed and he is unable to pay fees for her services, or for the reporter’s
record.
We do not have jurisdiction to appoint appellate counsel. As such, we abate this appeal
and remand the case to the trial court for a hearing within 30 days from the date of this order at
which appellant and counsel shall be present in person. The court coordinator of the trial court
shall set a date for said hearing and notify the parties, including appellant. If appellant is now
incarcerated, he may appear by closed video teleconference.1 We direct the trial court to make
appropriate written findings of fact and conclusions of law and to execute any necessary orders
on these issues:
1) Whether appellant still wishes to pursue this appeal;
2) If so, whether to allow Heather Lytle to withdraw;
3) Whether appellant is now indigent and entitled to appointed counsel; and, if
indigent,
a. appoint counsel on appeal, and
b. order the court reporter to file the reporter’s record with this Court at no
cost to appellant;
4) If appellant is not indigent:
a. whether he has retained an attorney to file a brief, and, if so, obtain the
name, address, and telephone number of retained counsel;
b. if appellant has not retained counsel, the trial court shall admonish
appellant of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, and
i. determine whether appellant is knowingly and intelligently
waiving his right to counsel; or,
1 Any such teleconference must use a closed-circuit video teleconferencing system that provides for a
simultaneous compressed full motion video and interactive communication of image and sound between
the trial court, appellant, and any attorneys representing the State or appellant. On request, appellant and
his counsel shall be able to communicate privately without being recorded or heard by the trial court or the
attorney representing the State.
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ii. if appellant does not wish to proceed pro se, provide a deadline by
which appellant must hire an attorney.
See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(a), (f); Oliver, 872 S.W.2d at 716; Minjares, 577
S.W.2d at 224; cf. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(g).
The trial court shall have a court reporter, or court recorder, record the hearing and file
the reporter’s record with the Court no later than 30 days from the date of this order.
Additionally, the trial court’s findings and recommendations and any orders issued pursuant to
this hearing shall be included in a supplemental clerk’s record and filed in this Court no later
than 30 days from the date of this order. If the hearing is conducted by video teleconference, a
certified electronic copy of the hearing shall be filed in this Court no later than 30 days from the
date of this order.
The appeal is abated, treated as a closed case, and removed from this Court’s active
docket. The appeal will be reinstated on this Court’s active docket when the supplemental
clerk’s record and reporter’s record of the hearing are filed in this Court.
It is so ORDERED.
Judge=s signature: /s/ Justice Harvey Brown
X Acting individually Acting for the Court
Date: January 17, 2014
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