Court Opinion

ID: 2949255
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 05:58:38.567799+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:16.863993
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-80,940-01

                        EX PARTE ERNESTO TIRADO FLORES, JR.,
                        AKA ERNESTO FLORES TIRADO, Applicant

               ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
             CAUSE NO. CR-3072-04-C(1) IN THE 139TH DISTRICT COURT
                           FROM HIDALGO COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                              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 burglary of a

habitation and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.

        Applicant contends that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because she failed to

investigate his case and advise him of the deportation consequences of a guilty plea. The trial court

made findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommended that we grant relief. On March 12,

2014, we remanded this application and directed the trial court to state whether its recommendation
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was based on counsel’s failure to investigate, her advice regarding deportation, or both. We also

directed the trial court to determine the credibility of counsel’s testimony and Applicant’s father’s

affidavit. Finally, we directed the trial court to determine whether counsel was deficient for not

investigating Applicant’s case and whether Applicant had established that he would have insisted

on a trial but for counsel’s conduct.

        On remand, the trial court made further findings of fact and conclusions of law. It concluded,

among other things, that Applicant would have gone to trial if he had been advised of the

consequences of his plea. This finding is consistent with Applicant’s sworn affidavit. As he wrote,

“If I had known that pleading guilty to this charge would have made me an aggravated felon for

immigration purposes, I never would have had pled guilty. I would have taken my case to a jury.”

Applicant, however, has no right to relief under Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010). The rule

announced in that decision is not retroactive on collateral review. Ex parte De Los Reyes, 392
S.W.3d 675 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

        We believe that the record is not sufficient to resolve Applicant’s claim. 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

may also use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).

        Applicant appears to be represented by counsel. If he is not and the trial court holds 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.
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       The trial court shall determine whether Applicant would have insisted on a trial and pleaded

not guilty but for counsel’s failure to investigate 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 shall

be obtained from this Court.

Filed: September 17, 2014
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