                                    NO. 07-05-0041-CR

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                      AT AMARILLO

                                         PANEL B

                                FEBRUARY 16, 2006
                          ______________________________

                            NICOLAS RIOS, JR., APPELLANT

                                             V.

                          THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
                        _________________________________

            FROM THE 137TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

            NO. 2004-407525; HONORABLE CECIL G. PURYEAR, JUDGE
                       _______________________________


Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.


                            ON ABATEMENT AND REMAND


       On January 10, 2005, appellant entered a plea of guilty, without a recommendation

for punishment, to the offense of Driving While Intoxicated, Felony-3rd or more. After the

trial court heard the evidence on punishment, appellant was sentenced to prison for a term

of 20 years. Appellant originally gave notice of appeal on January 24, 2005. On February

7, 2005, the trial court certified that the appellant had no right to appeal. Subsequently, on

February 9, 2005, appellant filed a motion for new trial and a hearing was held on March

25, 2005. Appellant’s motion for new trial was overruled by the trial court on the day of the
hearing and the trial court issued an amended certification of appellant’s right to appeal

limited to the denial of the motion for new trial. Appellant has perfected his appeal and

both appellant and the State have filed their respective briefs.


        Effective January 2003, the trial court is required to enter a certification of a

defendant’s right of appeal. TEX . R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2).1 Upon reviewing the record in this

matter, it is apparent that the original certification denying the right of appellant to appeal

was defective, as that term has been applied by the Court of Criminal Appeals. See Dears

v. State, 154 S.W.3d 610, 614 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). The appellate court has the ability

to examine a certification for defectiveness and apply Rules 37.1 and 34.5(c) to obtain

another certification. Id.


        Accordingly, we now abate this appeal and remand the cause to the trial court with

directions to re-certify whether appellant has a right of appeal from the original plea. Notice

shall be given to all parties and thereafter a determination of the right of appellant to appeal

from the initial plea shall be made and an amended certificate shall issue according to

form. The amended certificate shall be included in a supplemental clerk’s record to be filed

with the Clerk of this Court on or before March 14, 2006. Further, the court reporter shall

prepare the record of the original plea and the same shall be due on or before March 14,

2006.




        1
       All references to “Rule __” hereinafter made are to the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure.

                                               2
       Additionally, when the trial court amends the certificate of appellate rights, it shall

also execute an order granting appellant permission to review the record in preparation of

a motion requesting additional time to amend or supplement his brief. TEX . R. APP. P. 38.7.

The deadline for filing an amendment or supplement, without an additional motion

requesting permission, shall be April 1, 2006.


       It is so ordered.


                                                         Per Curiam




Do not publish.




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