Court Opinion

ID: 4290578
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-02 07:54:45.895958+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:11.635493
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                     OF TEXAS
                                       NO. WR-80,062-02

                  EX PARTE CHRIS JOSHUA MEADOUX, Applicant

            ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
          CAUSE NO. 2007-CR-8922-W2 IN THE 289 TH DISTRICT COURT
                          FROM BEXAR COUNTY

       Per curiam. Yeary, J. not participating.

                                           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 this application for writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

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

and automatically sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in August 2008.

The Fourth Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction. Meadoux v. State, No. 04-08-00702-CR (Tex.

App.–San Antonio Dec. 9, 2009).

       Applicant raises ten grounds in his application. While not specifically alleged, it is clear

from the record that Applicant’s sentence of automatic life without parole violates the Eighth
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution because he was a juvenile at the time of the offense. Miller v.

Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 2455 (2012). This Court has held that Miller applies retroactively in Texas.

Ex parte Maxwell, 424 S.W.3d 66 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

       Applicant was sixteen years old at the time of the offense. After being found guilty by a jury,

he was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole under the law at the

time. Tex. Penal Code §12.31(a)(2007).

       The trial court recommends granting relief due to this unconstitutional mandatory sentence.

That recommendation is supported by the record. Applicant is entitled to relief.

       Relief is granted. The sentence in Cause No. 2007CR8922 in the 289th District Court of

Bexar County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Bexar County

for a new punishment hearing to decide between a sentence of life with parole and life without

parole. The remaining grounds raised in the application are denied. 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: June 27, 2018

Do Not Publish.