Court Opinion

ID: 4036039
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-22 14:22:02.783285+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:42:06.299278
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                               NOS. WR-85,375-01; -02; -03; -04

                         EX PARTE RAY LYNN WELLS, Applicant

            ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
    CAUSE NOS. 23707A; 24043A; 24044A; 23706A IN THE 91st DISTRICT COURT
                         FROM EASTLAND COUNTY

       Per curiam. Alcala, J., filed a concurring opinion.

                                            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 these applications for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex

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

tampering with evidence, delivery of a controlled substance, and violation of the motor fuel tax

requirement. He was sentenced to, respectively, two years’, twenty years’, twenty-five years’ and ten

years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his convictions.

       Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he:

       A. Failed to adequately consult with Applicant prior to trial;

       B. Failed to provide Applicant with a defense strategy that “could have given
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       Applicant a greater chance to view evidence, and prepare for the trial process”;

       C. “[A]ssailed Applicant to simply plea out to (25) twenty five years confinement”;

       D. Forced Applicant to “plea immediately on the day of sentencing”;

       E. Failed to conduct an independent investigation and only relied on the State’s file;

       F. Instructed Applicant to remain silent “in fear of losing plea agreement during the
       sentencing phase”; and

       G. Rendered Applicant’s plea involuntary.

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

466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). 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

shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The

trial court may use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 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 wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

       The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the

performance of Applicant’s trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced Applicant. 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.

       These applications will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues.
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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 21, 2016
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