Court Opinion

ID: 2948430
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 05:06:36.034228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:06:11.422284
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                           OF TEXAS
                                NOS. AP-77,004 and AP-77,005

                   EX PARTE SHERWOOD LYNN GEORGE, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NOS. W09-54599-T(A) AND W09-54600-T(A)
               IN THE 283RD DISTRICT COURT FROM DALLAS 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 these applications for writs of habeas corpus. Ex

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

robberies and sentenced to concurrent terms of eight years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his

convictions.

       Applicant contends that his pleas were involuntary because his trial counsel failed to

communicate or adequately advise him where counsel did not meet with Applicant until 8.5 months

after appointment and only one more time the day before trial was to commence, failed to prepare

for trial by interviewing a witness he was informed of and who has provided an affidavit stating he
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committed the offense and not Applicant, failed to investigate whether Applicant was incompetent

to enter guilty pleas due to Applicant’s history of mental illness, and failed to discover that Applicant

was actually innocent. The trial court held an evidentiary hearing at which trial counsel testified, and

it recommends granting relief on the involuntary plea claims. There is no finding of actual innocence.

        After an independent review of the record, this Court agrees that Applicant’s guilty pleas

were not voluntary. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Morrow, 952
S.W.2d 530 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Relief is therefore granted. The judgments in Cause Nos. F-

0954599-T and F-0954600-T in the 283rd District Court of Dallas County are set aside, and

Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Dallas County to answer the charges as set

out in the indictments. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within 10 days after

the mandate of this Court issues.

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: March 27, 2013
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