Court Opinion

ID: 2943206
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 01:44:53.653053+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:07.063223
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS

NO. AP-76,401

EX PARTE THELMA MALDONADO, AKA TAMMY MALDONADO, AKA
THELMA MALDONADO LOMAS, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. 17196-B IN THE 104TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
FROM TAYLOR COUNTY

           Per curiam.

O P I N I O N

            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 entered an open plea of guilty to
murder, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. 
            Applicant contends that she was denied her right to appeal through no fault of her own, and
requests the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal. 
            The trial court has determined that Applicant indicated a desire to appeal at the time of her
sentencing, and that trial counsel asked the trial court to appoint new counsel for appeal.  The trial
court also finds that due to a mis-communication between trial counsel and the trial court, appellate
counsel was not appointed until after the deadline for filing a notice of appeal had passed. trial
counsel failed to timely file a notice of appeal.  
            We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal
of the judgment of conviction in Cause No. 17196-B from the 104th Judicial District Court of Taylor
County.  Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which she may give a written notice of appeal
so that she may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain a meaningful appeal.  All time limits shall be
calculated as if the sentence had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of this Court issues. 
We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute an appeal, she must take affirmative steps to file
a written notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate of this Court issues.
 
Delivered: August 25, 2010
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