Christopher Tyler Bray v. the State of Texas
Court
Court of Appeals of Texas
Decided
June 20, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
44%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN NO. 03-25-00336-CR Christopher Tyler Bray, Appellant v. The State of Texas, Appellee FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 5 OF TRAVIS COUNTY NO. C-1-CR-22-501587, THE HONORABLE MARY ANN ESPIRITU, JUDGE PRESIDING MEMORANDUM OPINION A jury found appellant Christopher Tyler Bray guilty of the misdemeanor offense of indecent assault, and the trial court assessed his punishment at twenty-four days’ confinement. See Tex. Penal Code § 22.012(a). Because Bray’s sentence was imposed on January 29, 2025, his deadline for filing a notice of appeal or motion for new trial was Friday, February 28, 2025. See Tex. R. App. P. 21.4(a) (providing that defendant “may file a motion for new trial before, but no later than 30 days after, the date when the trial court imposes or suspends sentence in open court”), 26.2(a)(1) (providing that “notice of appeal must be filed . . . within 30 days after the day sentence is imposed or suspended in open court” or “within 90 days after the day sentence is imposed or suspended in open court if the defendant timely files a motion for new trial”). Bray filed a pro se motion for new trial on March 3, 2025, and a pro se notice of appeal on May 12, 2025. 1 Bray’s notice of appeal was therefore untimely, and we have no discretion to do anything other than dismiss the appeal.2 See Slaton v. State, 981 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (explaining that “[a] notice of appeal which complies with the requirements of Tex. R. App. P. 26 is essential to vest the court of appeals with jurisdiction” and that if appeal is not timely perfected, “a court of appeals does not obtain jurisdiction to address the merits of the appeal” and “can take no action other than to dismiss the appeal”); see also Castillo v. State, 369 S.W.3d 196, 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (noting that “one day is enough to deprive the appellate court of jurisdiction to consider appellant's appeal under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure”). Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.3 1 The trial court appointed counsel to represent to Bray at trial. No motion to withdraw filed by trial counsel is included in the record. 2 The remedy for an untimely notice of appeal from a misdemeanor conviction is an application for writ of habeas corpus to the judge of the court in which the appellant was convicted. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 11.05, .09; see Walker v. State, No. 07-19-00313-CR, 2019 WL 4741728, at *1 n.1 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 27, 2019, orig. proceeding) (mem. op., not designated for publication). 3 We also note the trial court certified that Bray “has waived the right of appeal.” See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(d) (“The appeal must be dismissed if a certification that shows the defendant has a right of appeal has not been made part of the record under these rules.”). 2 __________________________________________ Rosa Lopez Theofanis, Justice Before Justices Triana, Theofanis, and Crump Dismissed for Want of Jurisdiction Filed: June 20, 2025 Do Not Publish 3
Case Details
Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 20, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
AI-generated comprehensive summary with legal analysis
Case Overview
Case Name: Christopher Tyler Bray v. The State of Texas
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
Date: June 20, 2025
Citation: Unknown
Jurisdiction: SA
In the case of Christopher Tyler Bray v. The State of Texas, the appellant, Christopher Tyler Bray, was found guilty of indecent assault, a misdemeanor offense. The trial court, presided over by Judge Mary Ann Espiritu, sentenced Bray to twenty-four days of confinement.
Key Legal Issues
- Timeliness of Appeal: The primary legal issue in this case revolves around the timeliness of Bray's notice of appeal and motion for new trial.
- Jurisdiction of the Court: The court's jurisdiction to hear the appeal was contingent upon the timely filing of the notice of appeal as per Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Court's Decision
The Texas Court of Appeals dismissed Bray's appeal for want of jurisdiction due to the untimely filing of his notice of appeal. The court emphasized that it had no discretion to act otherwise.
Legal Reasoning
The court's reasoning was grounded in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, specifically:
- Rule 21.4(a): A motion for new trial must be filed no later than 30 days after the sentence is imposed.
- Rule 26.2(a)(1): A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the sentence is imposed or within 90 days if a motion for new trial is timely filed.
Bray filed his motion for new trial on March 3, 2025, which was beyond the deadline, and his notice of appeal on May 12, 2025, which was also untimely. As a result, the court lacked jurisdiction to consider the appeal.
Key Holdings
- The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the notice of appeal.
- The court reiterated that a timely notice of appeal is essential for jurisdiction, citing Slaton v. State and Castillo v. State as precedents.
Precedents and Citations
- Slaton v. State, 981 S.W.2d 208 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998)
- Castillo v. State, 369 S.W.3d 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012)
- Walker v. State, No. 07-19-00313-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 27, 2019)
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of adhering to procedural deadlines in criminal appeals. Legal practitioners should be vigilant about:
- Filing Deadlines: Ensure that all motions and notices are filed within the stipulated timeframes to avoid dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.
- Understanding Jurisdiction: Recognize that appellate courts have limited jurisdiction based on compliance with procedural rules.
- Alternative Remedies: In cases of untimely appeals, consider filing an application for writ of habeas corpus as a potential remedy.
In conclusion, the dismissal of Bray's appeal serves as a cautionary tale about the critical nature of procedural compliance in the Texas legal system. Legal professionals must prioritize timely filings to preserve their clients' rights to appeal.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 20, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools