Ex Parte: Billy Ray Pegues v. the State of Texas

NO. 12-23-00183-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

§ APPEAL FROM THE 217TH
EX PARTE:
§ JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
BILLY RAY PEGUES
§ ANGELINA COUNTY, TEXAS

MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM
Billy Ray Pegues, acting pro se, filed a notice of appeal to complain of his $200,000 bond
amount. 1 On July 14, 2023, the Clerk of this Court notified Appellant that the information
received in this appeal failed to show the jurisdiction of this Court, i.e., there was no notice of
appeal filed within the time allowed by the rules of appellate procedure and no timely motion for
an extension of time to file the notice of appeal. The notice warned that the appeal would be
dismissed unless Appellant amended the information on or before July 24 to show this Court’s
jurisdiction. This deadline passed without a response from Appellant or an amended notice of
appeal.
In a criminal case, the appellant perfects an appeal by timely filing a sufficient notice of
appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(b). The notice of appeal must be filed (1) within thirty days after
the day sentence is imposed or suspended in open court or after the day the trial court enters an
appealable order, or (2) within ninety days after the day sentence is imposed or suspended in
open court if the defendant timely files a motion for new trial. TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2(a). The
appellate court may extend the time for filing a notice of appeal if, within fifteen days after the
deadline for filing the notice, the party files in the trial court the notice of appeal and files in the
1
On December 7, 2022, this Court reversed Appellant’s conviction for aggravated robbery and remanded
for a new trial on grounds that a retrospective competency trial was not feasible under the circumstances of the case.
See Pegues v. State, No. 12-21-00124-CR, 2022 WL 17491731 (Tex. App.—Tyler Dec. 7, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.,
not designated for publication).
appellate court a motion complying with Rule 10.5(b). TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3. The Angelina
County online records reflect that Appellant filed an application for writ of habeas corpus on
February 23, 2023. On April 10, the trial court granted the application and set bond at $200,000.
Appellant filed his notice of appeal on July 13, after expiration of the time for filing a timely
notice of appeal or seeking an extension of time to file the notice of appeal from the April 10
order.
“[A]ppeals by either the State or the defendant in a criminal case are permitted only when
they are specifically authorized by statute.” State ex rel. Lykos v. Fine, 330 S.W.3d 904, 915
(Tex. Crim. App. 2011). This Court is not authorized to extend the time for perfecting an appeal
except as provided by the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. 2 See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2, 26.3;
see also Slaton v. State, 981 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); Olivo v. State, 918
S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Because Appellant’s notice of appeal was not timely
filed and he did not file a motion for extension with this Court within the time prescribed by Rule
26.3, we dismiss Appellant’s appeal for want of jurisdiction. See Olivo, 918 S.W.2d at 522; see
also TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(f).
Opinion delivered August 9, 2023.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

(DO NOT PUBLISH)

2
Only the court of criminal appeals has jurisdiction to grant an out-of-time appeal. See Ater v. Eighth
Court of Appeals, 802 S.W.2d 241, 243 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); see also Kossie v. State, No. 01-16-00738-CR,
2017 WL 631842, at *1-2 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 16, 2017, no pet. h.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (dismissing for lack of jurisdiction because appellant could not pursue out of time appeal without
permission from court of criminal appeals); see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art 11.07 § 3(a) (West 2005).

2
COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

JUDGMENT

AUGUST 9, 2023

NO. 12-23-00183-CR

EX PARTE: BILLY RAY PEGUES

Appeal from the 217th District Court
of Angelina County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 2019-0706)

THIS CAUSE came on to be heard on the appellate record, and the same
being considered, it is the opinion of this Court that it is without jurisdiction of the appeal, and
that the appeal should be dismissed.
It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED by this Court that
this appeal be, and the same is, hereby dismissed for want of jurisdiction; and that this decision
be certified to the court below for observance.
By per curiam opinion.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J