Motion Denied as Moot and Abatement Order filed March 15, 2012.




                                           In The

                       Fourteenth Court of Appeals
                                       ____________

                                   NO. 14-11-00594-CR
                                     ____________

                         JACK MANISCALCO, JR., Appellant

                                             V.

                           THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee


                         On Appeal from the 434th District Court
                                 Fort Bend County, Texas
                          Trial Court Cause No. 11-DCR-056387


                         ABATEMENT                    ORDER

       Appellant is represented by retained counsel, Phillip N. Slaughter. The reporter's
record in this case was originally due August 8, 2011. See Tex. R. App. P. 35.2. On
August 11, 2011, Karen Woolsey, informed this court that no payment arrangements had
been made and there was another court reporter involved in this appeal, Rhonda
Armbruster.    On August 25, 2011, this court notified appellant that no payment
arrangements had been made. No response was received. On January 23, 2012, after the
third order to Phillip N. Slaughter to file a brief issued, a motion for extension of time was
filed. An extension of time to file appellant's brief was granted until March 1, 2012. On
February 28, 2012, counsel for appellant filed a second motion for extension of time to file
appellant's brief.

       Appellant's motion stated that payment arrangements were made with Karen
Woolsey for preparation of the reporter's record. The motion did not state that any portion
of the record was to be prepared by Rhonda Armbruster. On March 6, 2012, we ordered
Karen Woolsey to inform this court whether payment arrangements were made and
whether Rhonda Armbruster was responsible for a portion of the record. On March 8,
2012, Karen Woolsey informed this court that Rhonda Armbruster was responsible for a
portion of the record and that she, Karen Woolsey, has not received any payment for the
record.   Accordingly, the motion for extension of time to file appellant's brief is DENIED
AS MOOT and we enter the following order.

       Pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 38.8(b) (a copy of which is attached) the judge of the
434th District Court shall (1) immediately conduct a hearing, at which appellant,
appellant's counsel, and state's counsel shall participate, either in person or by video
teleconference, to determine (a) whether appellant desires to prosecute his appeal; (b)
whether appellant is indigent; (c) if not indigent, whether appellant has abandoned the
appeal or whether appellant has failed to make necessary arrangements for filing a brief;
(d) the reason for the failure to file a brief; (e) if appellant desires to continue the appeal, a
date certain when appellant's brief will be filed; and (2) prepare a record, in the form of a
reporter's record, of the hearing. If appellant is indigent, the judge shall take such
measures as may be necessary to assure effective representation of counsel, which may
include the appointment of new counsel. The judge shall see that a record of the hearing is
made, shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall order the trial clerk to
forward a transcribed record of the hearing, a videotape or compact disc, if any, containing
a recording of the video teleconference, and a supplemental clerk's record containing the
findings and conclusions. Those records shall be filed with the clerk of this court on or
before April 16, 2012.



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       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 trial court's
findings and recommendations are filed in this Court. The Court will also consider an
appropriate motion to reinstate the appeal filed by either party, or the Court may reinstate
the appeal on its own motion. It is the responsibility of any party seeking reinstatement to
request a hearing date from the trial court and to schedule a hearing in compliance with this
Court's order. If the parties do not request a hearing, the court coordinator of the trial
court shall set a hearing date and notify the parties of such date.


                                       PER CURIAM




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                          RULE 38. REQUISITES OF BRIEFS


Tex. R. App. P. 38.8. Failure of Appellant to File Brief.
       (b) Criminal Cases.


              (1) Effect. An appellant's failure to timely file a brief does not authorize
either dismissal of the appeal or, except as provided in (4), consideration of the appeal
without briefs.


              (2) Notice. If the appellant's brief is not timely filed, the appellate clerk
must notify counsel for the parties and the trial court of that fact. If the appellate court
does not receive a satisfactory response within ten days, the court must order the trial court
to immediately conduct a hearing to determine whether the appellant desires to prosecute
his appeal, whether the appellant is indigent, or, if not indigent, whether retained counsel
has abandoned the appeal, and to make appropriate findings and recommendations.


              (3) Hearing. In accordance with (2), the trial court must conduct any
necessary hearings, make appropriate findings and recommendations, and have a record of
the proceedings prepared, which record - including any order and findings - must be sent to
the appellate court.


              (4) Appellate Court Action. Based on the trial court's record, the appellate
court may act appropriately to ensure that the appellant's rights are protected, including
initiating contempt proceedings against appellant's counsel. If the trial court has found
that the appellant no longer desires to prosecute the appeal, or that the appellant is not
indigent but has not made the necessary arrangements for filing a brief, the appellate court
may consider the appeal without briefs, as justice may require.



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