Karmelo Anthony’s appeal fight has officially begun, and the latest development is already drawing new attention. After claiming in court paperwork that he cannot afford an attorney, Anthony has now been assigned court-appointed appellate counsel.
Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after a Collin County jury convicted him of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a 2025 high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. The jury rejected the defense’s self-defense argument and also rejected the “sudden passion” claim during sentencing.
One day after the sentence, Anthony’s legal team filed a notice of appeal. That filing is the first formal step in asking a higher court to review whether legal errors occurred during the trial.
Along with the notice of appeal, Anthony also filed a pauper oath appointment of attorney on appeal. That document declares financial indigency, requests a waiver of certain costs, and asks the court to appoint a lawyer.
In the filing, Anthony described himself as a “penniless, destitute, and indigent person” who is too poor to hire counsel for the appeal. That statement quickly became controversial because of the large fundraiser previously tied to his family.
A GiveSendGo campaign launched on Anthony’s behalf raised more than $600,000 before it was taken down after his conviction. People reported the fundraiser had raised over $615,000, while Fox News and other reports listed the total at more than $633,000.
GiveSendGo later said the funds were used for pre-trial expenses, including legal defense and family relocation needs. Still, critics have questioned how Anthony can now qualify for taxpayer-funded legal help after that amount of money was raised.
The new development is that Collin County online court records show Anthony has been assigned attorney Donny Perales for the appeal. Texas Metro News, citing The Dallas Morning News reporting, identified Perales as a McKinney-based attorney with Chesley & Perales.
That assignment has drawn attention because Perales is not part of the same trial team that represented Anthony in court. Anthony’s trial attorneys included Mike Howard and Toby Shook, but reports say they have not publicly detailed the specific grounds for the appeal.
The appeal itself will not be a second trial. Legal analysts told CBS Texas that the process will focus on whether the trial was handled correctly, whether evidence was properly admitted or excluded, and whether legal errors affected the outcome.
CBS Texas reported that the case is expected to go to the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas. That court handles appeals from Collin County and several other North Texas counties.
Appellate attorney Chad Ruback told CBS Texas that overturning a jury verdict is difficult once jurors have heard the evidence and reached a decision. He said possible arguments could involve whether evidence should have been allowed that might have affected the verdict.
Meanwhile, Anthony has already been transferred into the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. Reports say he was moved to the Wallace Pack Unit near Navasota after intake processing.
The fundraiser issue remains one of the biggest public controversies surrounding the appeal. Public records reviewed by Fox News Digital also showed business entities connected to Anthony’s parents, though those records do not prove fundraiser money went into any company or that his parents committed wrongdoing.
For supporters, the court-appointed attorney is part of Anthony’s legal right to challenge his conviction. For critics, it has renewed anger over the money raised before trial and the unanswered question of how much, if any, remains available for his legal fight.
Now, with Donny Perales assigned and the appeal process moving forward, the case enters a new stage. The courtroom verdict has already been delivered, but the legal battle over Karmelo Anthony’s conviction is far from finished.
