Court Opinion

ID: 4708303
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-02 07:21:40.481247+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:49.588140
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                        NO. WR-92,864-01

                     EX PARTE IGNACIO ZARATEGARCIA, Applicant

               ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
             CAUSE NO. W19-75223-T(A) IN THE 283RD DISTRICT COURT
                            FROM DALLAS COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                            ORDER

       Applicant pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to aggravated sexual assault of a child

and was sentenced to twenty-five years’ imprisonment. He filed this application for a writ of habeas

corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded it to this Court. See TEX . CODE

CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       Applicant contends that he was denied his right to an appeal because counsel failed to timely

file a notice of appeal, despite having been told by Applicant that he wanted to pursue a direct

appeal. Although Applicant apparently waived his right to appeal as part of the plea agreement, the

plea proceedings in this case took place after the US Supreme Court had handed down its opinion

in Garza v. Idaho. In that case, the Court held that when an attorney performed deficiently in failing
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to file a notice of appeal despite the defendant’s express instructions, prejudice is presumed

regardless of whether a defendant has signed an appeal waiver. Garza v. Idaho, 139 S. Ct. 738,

749-50 (2019).

        Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Ex parte Axel, 757

S.W.2d 369 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988); Jones v. State, 98 S.W.3d 700 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

Accordingly, the record should be developed. The trial court is the appropriate forum for findings

of fact. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). The trial court shall order trial counsel1 to

respond to Applicant’s claim. Specifically, trial counsel shall state whether Applicant expressed to

him a desire to appeal, and if so, why trial counsel did not timelyA file notice of appeal on his behalf.

In developing the record, the trial court may use any means set out in Article 11.07, § 3(d). If the

trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is

indigent and wants to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel to represent him

at the hearing. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or retained, the trial

court shall immediately notify this Court of counsel’s name.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether Applicant

was denied his right to an appeal because trial counsel failed to timely file a notice of appeal. The

trial court may make any other findings and conclusions that it deems appropriate in response to

Applicant’s claim.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

        1
         If a defendant decides to appeal his conviction, trial counsel rather than appellate
counsel has the duty to ensure that written notice of appeal is filed with the trial court. Jones, 98
S.W.3d at 703.
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findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

hearings and depositions. See TEX . R. APP. P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

Filed: July 28, 2021
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