Court Opinion

ID: 9366908
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-30 02:12:46.989566+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:56.006573
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-94,427-01

                     EX PARTE RENO PRESTON ROBERTS, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. CR15-135A IN THE 235TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM COOKE COUNTY

        Per curiam. YEARY , J., filed a concurring opinion in which SLAUGHTER, J., joined.

                                              ORDER

        Applicant pleaded guilty to indecency with a child by contact and was sentenced to fifteen

years’ imprisonment. Applicant did not appeal his conviction. Applicant 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, among other things, that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

investigate his competency and raise it as an issue in the trial court before Applicant pleaded guilty.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466

U.S. 668 (1984). 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
                                                                                                       2

counsel to respond to Applicant’s claim. 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 trial counsel’s

performance was deficient and Applicant was prejudiced. 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

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: January 25, 2023
Do not publish