Full Opinion

In the Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana No. 06-26-00059-CR SALEFU AMADOU SANGARAY, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 71st District Court Harrison County, Texas Trial Court No. 24-0365X Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ. Memorandum Opinion by Justice Rambin MEMORANDUM OPINION Salefu Amadou Sangaray pled guilty to evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony, and possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone) in an amount of one gram or more but less than four grams, a third-degree felony. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 38.04(b)(2)(A) (Supp.); TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.115(c) (Supp.). After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Sangaray to six years’ imprisonment on each count to be served concurrently. Sangaray appeals. Sangaray’s appellate counsel filed a motion to withdraw as Sangaray’s counsel on appeal, stating that she fully examined the record and reviewed the relevant law, but she found no meritorious issues for appeal. Sangaray’s appellate counsel also filed a brief in support of her motion to withdraw. In the Anders1 brief, appellate counsel set out the procedural history of the case and provided a review of Sangaray’s pleas, the effectiveness of trial counsel, and the legality of the sentence imposed, with citations to the record and applicable authority. Appellate counsel concluded there was no non-frivolous argument to be raised with respect to any of these issues. Appellate counsel sent a letter to Sangaray providing him with a copy of the brief, informing him of his rights to review the record and file a brief or response on his own behalf, informing him of his right to appeal, and explaining the meaning and effect of an Anders brief. In the letter, appellate counsel stated that she had delivered a copy of the motion to Sangaray and informed him of his right to respond or object to the motion. Appellate counsel’s letter indicated 1 See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). 2 that she sent him a copy of the brief and the motion to withdraw and that she was unable to find substantive appealable error. Appellate counsel’s letter also informed Sangaray of his right to review the record and provided him with a request and the mailing address of this Court for the purpose of obtaining a copy of the record. On July 14, 2026, we informed Sangaray that his pro se motion for access to the record was due on or before July 29. On August 10, we informed Sangaray that the case would be submitted on August 31. We did not receive a pro se brief from Sangaray nor did we receive a motion requesting an extension of time in which to file such a brief. Appellate counsel’s actions comply with an appointed counsel’s responsibilities when filing an Anders brief and a motion to withdraw in accordance with Kelly v. State.2 See Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313, 318–20 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Appellate counsel’s professional evaluation of the record demonstrates why there are no arguable grounds to be raised on appeal and meets the requirements of Anders. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 743–44; Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 318–20. 2 In Kelly, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals listed additional tasks an appointed lawyer who files an Anders brief must perform: He must write a letter to (1) notify his client of the motion to withdraw and the accompanying Anders brief, providing him a copy of each, (2) inform him of his right to file a pro se response and of his right to review the record preparatory to filing that response, and (3) inform him of his pro se right to seek discretionary review should the court of appeals declare his appeal frivolous. To this list we now add that appointed counsel who files a motion to withdraw and Anders brief must also (4) take concrete measures to initiate and facilitate the process of actuating his client’s right to review the appellate record, if that is what his client wishes. Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 319 (footnote omitted) (citations omitted). The court also required appellate counsel to supply the appellant with the mailing address for the court of appeals. Id. at 320. 3 After our independent review of the entire appellate record, we have independently determined that “there are no non-frivolous grounds for appeal.” See Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 318 n.16. In the Anders context, once we determine that the appeal is without merit, we must affirm the trial court’s judgment. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Thus, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.3 Jeff Rambin Justice Date Submitted: August 31, 2026 Date Decided: August 31, 2026 Do Not Publish 3 Since we agree that this case presents no non-frivolous grounds for appeal, we also, in accordance with Anders, grant counsel’s request to withdraw from further representation of Appellant in this case. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. No substitute counsel will be appointed. Should Appellant desire to seek further review of this case by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Appellant must either retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary review or file a pro se petition for discretionary review. Any petition for discretionary review (1) must be filed within thirty days from either the date of this opinion or the date on which the last timely motion for rehearing was overruled by this Court, see TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2, (2) must be filed with the clerk of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, see TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3, and (3) should comply with the requirements of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, see TEX. R. APP. P. 68.4. 4