Karmelo Anthony Seeks Court-Appointed Attorney for Appeal, Says He Cannot Afford Lawyer Despite $625K Fundraising
Karmelo Anthony is seeking a court-appointed attorney for his appeal after filing a notice challenging his murder conviction in the 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf, stating in court documents that he cannot afford legal representation.
Anthony made the request one day after a Collin County jury found him guilty and sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
In his handwritten notice of appeal, Anthony described himself as unable to pay for legal counsel and asked the court to appoint an attorney to represent him during the appellate process.
The filing, reviewed by WFAA, states that he lacks financial resources and is indigent, using standard legal language commonly included in requests for appointed representation.
Court records show the document was submitted using a form that Anthony modified by hand before filing.
Under Texas law, defendants have 30 days following sentencing to file a notice of appeal, which formally initiates appellate review.
Once an appeal is filed, courts may evaluate whether a defendant qualifies as indigent for the purpose of appointing counsel at public expense.
That determination typically involves a review of financial information and circumstances presented to the court.
Anthony was taken into custody at the Collin County courthouse immediately after sentencing and later transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
He completed intake processing and was assigned to a correctional facility near Navasota, where he remains in custody as the appeal proceeds through initial procedural steps.
Anthony’s trial attorney, Mike Howard, confirmed that the defense has already begun the appellate process.
Howard said filing a notice of appeal is a routine part of post-conviction proceedings and noted that defendants have a constitutional right to challenge their convictions through appellate review.
He added that multiple potential issues from the trial are under consideration, though he did not specify which arguments will ultimately be raised.
The conviction stems from an April 2025 incident at a high school track and field meet in Frisco, Texas, where prosecutors said Anthony fatally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a confrontation between students from rival schools.
Testimony at trial indicated the incident began after Metcalf told Anthony to leave a team tent area, escalating into a physical altercation.
Jurors heard evidence that Metcalf pushed Anthony during the confrontation, after which Anthony allegedly pulled a folding knife from his backpack and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest.
The defense argued the act constituted self-defense, while prosecutors maintained that the use of deadly force was not justified under the circumstances presented at trial.
Following the conviction, Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
His legal team has indicated that appellate review will focus on alleged errors during trial proceedings, though no formal appellate arguments have yet been filed beyond the notice of appeal.
Anthony’s claim that he cannot afford counsel comes after earlier reporting on crowdfunding efforts connected to his defense.
According to the New York Post, a family-associated online fundraising campaign raised more than $600,000 for legal expenses before being closed after the verdict.
The fundraising platform GiveSendGo stated that the campaign was intended for pre-trial costs and had concluded once that phase ended.
The platform also indicated that new fundraising efforts could potentially be launched for appellate representation, depending on its policies.
However, court officials have not yet ruled on Anthony’s request for appointed counsel or determined whether he qualifies as indigent for purposes of the appeal.
The case now moves into the appellate phase, where the court will decide whether Anthony is eligible for a state-funded attorney and how the appeal will proceed procedurally through Texas courts.
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