Court Opinion

ID: 4163673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-27 07:18:29.334237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:54.623426
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-86,411-01

                      EX PARTE BILLY STEVEN NOWDEN, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                  CAUSE NO. 24435 HC-1 IN THE 6TH DISTRICT COURT
                               FROM LAMAR COUNTY

        Per curiam. ALCALA , J., filed a concurring opinion.

                                              ORDER

        Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the

clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of theft and

sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. The Sixth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Nowden

v. State, No. 06-16-00086-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Aug. 26, 2016) (not designated for

publication).

        Applicant contends, among other things, that he was incompetent at the guilt and revocation

stages of his case.

        Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Ex parte Patterson, 993
                                                                                                      2
S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these circumstances, additional facts are needed. As

we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is the

appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order guilty-plea and revocation counsel

to respond to Applicant’s claim. The trial court may use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM .

PROC. art. 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 wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent him at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

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

pleas were involuntary because he was incompetent at the guilt and revocation stages of his case.

The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems

relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant’s claim for habeas corpus relief.

       This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The

issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all

affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or

deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall

be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time must be

requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: April 26, 2017
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