Michael B. SCOTT, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, State, 101 S.W.3d 523

OPINION TERRIE LIVINGSTON, Justice. On November 15, 2000, appellant Michael B. Scott pled guilty pursuant to a plea bargain to sexual assault of a child. The trial court placed appellant on deferred adjudication community supervision for ten years in accordance with the plea bargain. On July 25, 2002, the trial court adjudicated appellant guilty and sentenced him to fifteen years’ confinement. Appellant filed a timely general notice of appeal. We dismiss for want of jurisdiction.

Because appellant’s notice of appeal did not appear to invoke our jurisdiction under rule 25.2(b)(3), we sent appellant’s counsel a letter directing him to submit a letter brief identifying the issues or points to be raised on appeal and explaining why those issues or points warrant continuation of the appeal, notwithstanding the jurisdictional limitations of rule 25.2(b)(3). Tex. R. App.

P. 25.2(b)(3) (providing that in an appeal from a negotiated plea, the notice of appeal must specify that the appeal is for a jurisdictional defect, that the substance of the appeal was raised by written motion and ruled on before trial, or that the trial court granted permission to appeal). Appellant’s counsel filed a response acknowledging that the notice did not invoke our jurisdiction and stating that there are no viable points that can be raised on appeal. The right to appeal from a negotiated plea is limited by the rules of appellate procedure. See Vidaurri v.

State, 49 S.W.3d 880, 883 (Tex.Crim.App.2001); Ex parte Howard, 685 S.W.2d 672, 673 (Tex.Crim.App.1985). To invoke this court’s jurisdiction over an appeal from a negotiated guilty plea, a notice of appeal must conform to the mandatory notice requirements of rule 25.2(b)(3). Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(b)(3); White v. State, 61 S.W.3d 424, 429 (Tex.Crim.App.2001).

These requirements apply equally to appeals from a judgment adjudicating guilt when the parties agreed to deferred adjudication community supervision pursuant to a plea bargain agreement at the original plea proceeding and the appellant is later adjudicated guilty and sentenced within the punishment range for the offense, unless the appellant raises an issue or issues unrelated to the conviction. Woods v. State, 68 S.W.3d 667, 669 (Tex.Crim.App.2002); Vidaurri, 49 S.W.3d at 884-85.

Here, appellant’s notice does not specify that the appeal is for a jurisdictional defect, that it concerns a ruling on a pretrial motion, or that appellant received the trial court’s permission to appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(b)(3). In addition, the response to our jurisdictional letter indicates that there is no basis to appeal matters unrelated to the conviction. Thus, we lack jurisdiction over the appeal. See Vidaurri, 49 S.W.3d at 884; Manuel v. State, 994 S.W.2d 658, 661-62 (Tex.Crim.App.1999). We dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. DAUPHINOT, J., filed a dissenting opinion.