Court Opinion

ID: 4674480
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-05 07:17:57.598211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:20.633988
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                             NOS. WR-92,441-01 & WR-92,441-02

                            EX PARTE KEVIN HOGUE, Applicant

               ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
            CAUSE NOS. 10969-A & 11387-A IN THE 90TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM YOUNG COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                            ORDER

       Applicant pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and evading arrest and, after a period

of deferred adjudication, was sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment in each cause. Applicant filed

these applications for writs of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk

forwarded them to this Court. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       Applicant contends that trial counsel was ineffective for allowing him to be sentenced to a

term outside the applicable punishment range. He alleges that he was sentenced to deferred

adjudication for these offenses with the understanding that they were third degree felonies and if he

violated his release, he would be sentenced within the third degree punishment range. No

enhancements were alleged in the indictments, and there is nothing in the habeas record to show that
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when or if the State proper alleged prior convictions for enhancement. Applicant has alleged facts

that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52 (1985); Ex parte Argent, 393

S.W.3d 781 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). 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 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 would have insisted on a trial but for counsel’s alleged

deficient performance. 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: March 31, 2021
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