Dalton Thomas Burnam v. the State of Texas
CourtTexas Court of Appeals, 2nd District (Fort Worth)
Date FiledJuly 23, 2026
Docket02-26-00241-CR
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
In the
Court of Appeals
Second Appellate District of Texas
at Fort Worth
___________________________
No. 02-26-00241-CR
___________________________
DALTON THOMAS BURNAM, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
On Appeal from the 355th District Court
Hood County, Texas
Trial Court No. CR16815
Before Womack, Wallach, and Walker, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Womack
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Dalton Thomas Burnam attempts to appeal the trial court’s May 26,
2026 judgment adjudicating him guilty of sexual assault. See Tex. Penal Code
§ 22.011. Because Burnam did not file a motion for new trial, his notice of appeal was
due June 25, 2026. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.2(a)(1). Burnam’s notice of appeal,
however, was not filed until June 26, 2026, making it untimely. See id.
On June 29, 2026, we notified Burnam by letter of our concern that we lack
jurisdiction over this appeal because his notice of appeal was untimely. We requested
that, on or before July 9, 2026, Burnam (1) advise whether he properly addressed,
stamped, and mailed the notice of appeal by United States Postal Service to the
proper trial court clerk on or before June 25, 2026, and (2) provide evidence of proof
of mailing. See Tex. R. App. P. 1.1, 9.2(b). We warned Burnam that if we determined
that the appeal was not timely perfected, we would dismiss it for want of jurisdiction.
See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(f). Burnam has not complied with our request or otherwise
filed a response to our jurisdiction letter.
A timely notice of appeal is essential to vest this court with jurisdiction. See
Olivo v. State, 918 S.W.2d 519, 522–23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Because Burnam’s
notice of appeal was untimely, we dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.1 See
1
We may extend the jurisdictional deadline if a notice of appeal is filed in the
trial court within fifteen days of its due date, and within that same period, the
appellant also files a motion for extension of time complying with Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 10.5(b). See Tex. R. App. P. 26.3; Olivo, 918 S.W.2d at 522; see
2
Tex. R. App. P. 26.2(a)(1), 43.2(f); Olivo, 918 S.W.2d at 522–23; Carmichael v. State,
No. 02-25-00429-CR, 2026 WL 179568, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 22, 2026,
no pet.) (per curiam) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (dismissing appeal for
want of jurisdiction when appellant’s notice of appeal was untimely and he did not
comply with appellate court’s request to advise whether he had properly addressed,
stamped, or mailed his notice of appeal by United States Postal Service to the proper
trial court clerk prior to the applicable deadline).
/s/ Dana Womack
Dana Womack
Justice
Do Not Publish
Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
Delivered: July 23, 2026
also Tex. R. App. P. 10.5(b). Here, however, Burnam has not filed a motion for
extension of time to file his notice of appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.3; Olivo,
918 S.W.2d at 522.
3