Jarrett Deondre Stearns v. the State of Texas

Opinion issued November 25, 2025

In The

Court of Appeals
For The

First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-24-01000-CR
NO. 01-24-01001-CR
———————————
JARRETT DEONDRE STEARNS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 488th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Case Nos. 1874075 & 1874076

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant Jarrett Deondre Stearns was charged with the felony offenses of

possession of a controlled substance, namely, fentanyl, with the intent to deliver,
weighing more than four grams but less than 200 grams1 and unlawful possession

of a firearm by a felon.2 A jury found appellant guilty of both offenses as charged

in the indictments and assessed his punishment at thirty years’ confinement and a

$10,000 fine for the offense of possession of a controlled substance, namely,

fentanyl, with the intent to deliver, weighing more than four grams but less than

200 grams, and five years’ confinement and a $5,000 fine for the offense of

unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Appellant timely filed notices of appeal.

Appellant’s appointed counsel on appeal has filed a motion to withdraw in

each appeal, along with briefs stating that the records present no reversible error

and the appeals are without merit and are frivolous. See Anders v. California, 386

U.S. 738 (1967).

Counsel’s briefs meet the Anders requirements by presenting a professional

evaluation of the records and supplying the Court with references to the records

and legal authority. See id. at 744; see also High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 811

(Tex. Crim. App. 1978). Counsel indicates that he has thoroughly reviewed the

record in each appeal and is unable to advance any grounds of error that warrant

1
See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(a), (d).
2
See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04(a)(2).

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reversal. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Mitchell v. State, 193 S.W.3d 153, 155

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).

Appellant’s counsel has also certified that he mailed a copy of the motions to

withdraw and Anders briefs to appellant and informed him of his right to file a pro

se response in each appeal. See Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313, 319–20 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2014); In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 408–09 (Tex. Crim. App.

2008). Counsel also informed appellant of his right to access the appellate records

and provided him with a form motion for pro se access.3 See Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at

319–20. Appellant has not filed responses to his counsel’s Anders briefs.

We have independently reviewed the entire record in each appeal, and we

conclude that no reversible error exists in the records, there are no arguable

grounds for review, and the appeals are frivolous. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744

(emphasizing reviewing court—and not counsel—determines, after full

examination of proceedings, whether appeal is wholly frivolous); Garner v. State,

300 S.W.3d 763, 767 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (reviewing court must determine

whether arguable grounds for review exist); Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824,

826–27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (same); Mitchell, 193 S.W.3d at 155 (reviewing

3
This Court also notified appellant that counsel had filed Anders briefs and motions
to withdraw and informed appellant that he had a right to examine the appellate
records and file responses to his counsel’s Anders briefs. And this Court provided
appellant with form motions to access the appellate records. See Kelly v. State,
436 S.W.3d 313, 319–22 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d
403, 408 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).

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court determines whether arguable grounds exist by reviewing entire record). We

note that appellant may challenge a holding that there are no arguable grounds for

an appeal by filing a petition for discretionary review in the Texas Court of

Criminal Appeals. See Bledsoe, 178 S.W.3d at 827 & n.6.

Conclusion

We affirm the judgments of the trial court and grant appellant’s appointed

counsel’s motion to withdraw in each appeal.4 Counsel must immediately send

appellant the required notice and file a copy of that notice with the Clerk of this

Court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 6.5(c).

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Guerra, Guiney, and Johnson.

Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

4
Appointed counsel still has a duty to inform appellant of the result of these appeals
and that he may, on his own, pursue discretionary review in the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–27 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2005).

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