Court Opinion

ID: 4311992
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-13 08:28:51.302277+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:14.850550
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                                   NOS. WR-88,720-01 & -02

                        EX PARTE JASON EARL WHITE, Applicant

             ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
         CAUSE NOS. W10077-1 & W8888-1 IN THE 355TH DISTRICT COURT
                            FROM HOOD 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 these applications for writs of habeas corpus. Ex

parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). In Cause No. CR10077, Applicant was

convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual assault, one count of indecency with a child by

contact, and three counts of indecency with a child by exposure and sentenced to sixty-five years’

imprisonment, twenty years’ imprisonment, and eight years’ imprisonment, respectively. In Cause

No. 8888, Applicant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to forty

years’ imprisonment. Applicant’s convictions were affirmed by the Second Court of Appeals in

White v. State, Nos. 02-07-089-CR & 02-07-090-CR (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 29, 2008)(not
                                                                                                          2

designated for publication).

        Applicant contends, among other things, that counsel was deficient for failing to effectively

cross-examine the State’s expert witness, Dr. Jayme Coffman. 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). It also appears that Applicant is complaining about

pre-sentence jail time credit. Ex parte Bennett, 508 S.W.2d 646 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974).

        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.

        It appears that Applicant is represented by counsel. The trial court shall determine whether

Applicant is represented by counsel, and if not, 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 findings of fact as whether it has

ruled on Applicant’s Judgment Nunc Pro Tunc that was filed with the trial court on June 22, 2017,

requesting flat and good time credit accrued under Applicant’s previous conviction, and if not, the

trial court shall indicate the legal basis for the refusal to rule on the motion. 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.
                                                                                                      3

       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 12, 2018
Do not publish