Court Opinion

ID: 2941673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 23:19:07.966527+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:01:00.733199
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                           NO. AP-76,206

                   EX PARTE GEORGE WALLACE HARPER, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                  CAUSE NO. 06-9-7505 IN THE 24TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM JACKSON COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                           OPINION

       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 writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

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

controlled substance and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.

       Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to properly

investigate the punishment range and incorrectly advising Applicant that he may be facing a habitual

range of punishment. We remanded this application to the trial court for findings of fact and

conclusions of law.
                                                                                                    2

       Both trial counsel and the prosecuting attorney filed affidavits with the trial court. Both

attorneys indicated that they believed Applicant could be facing habitual punishment for this state

jail offense. However this offense could only be enhanced to second degree felony punishment

range. State v. Webb, 12 S.W.3d 808 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).

       After reviewing the entire record, this Court has determined that trial counsel was ineffective

in that counsel failed to properly investigate the punishment range and the law regarding the

enhancement of state jail offenses and that such ineffective representation prejudiced Applicant.

Applicant is entitled to relief. Id.; Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 608 (1984).

       Relief is granted. The judgment in Cause No. 06-09-7505 in the 24th Judicial District Court

of Jackson County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the sheriff of Jackson

County to answer the charges as set out in the indictment.

       Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: September 2, 2009
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