Background
Amanda Grace Culver, also known as Amanda Grace Meals, entered an open guilty plea to third-degree felony driving while intoxicated in the 29th District Court of Palo Pinto County, Texas.
The trial court imposed a ten-year prison sentence, suspended its imposition, and placed Culver on community supervision for ten years. After filing an appeal, Culver moved to dismiss it.
The Court’s Holding
The Texas Eleventh Court of Appeals granted Culver’s motion and dismissed the appeal.
The court noted that both Culver and her attorney had signed the motion, satisfying Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.2(a). The court therefore did not address the merits of her conviction or sentence.
Key Takeaways
- A criminal appellant may voluntarily dismiss an appeal by submitting a motion that complies with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.2(a).
- Culver and her attorney both signed the dismissal motion.
- The dismissal left the trial court’s judgment undisturbed and produced no appellate ruling on its merits.
Why It Matters
The memorandum opinion illustrates the procedural requirements for voluntarily ending a Texas criminal appeal. Because the court dismissed the case at Culver’s request, the decision resolves no substantive issue concerning her guilty plea, sentence, or community supervision.