Court Opinion

ID: 2950879
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 06:50:25.92273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:49.664475
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-82,526-01

                      EX PARTE SHANE MICHAEL CRITES, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. CR-12-24077 IN THE 336TH DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM FANNIN 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 pleaded guilty to theft in exchange

for a two-year state jail sentence, probated for five years. His probation was later revoked pursuant

to a plea of “true,” and Applicant was sentenced to two years’ state jail imprisonment after

revocation. He waived his right to appeal.

        Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel did

not object when the trial court elected not to follow the sentencing recommendation after revocation

of probation. The habeas record contains a “plea agreement” whereby Applicant agreed to plead
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“true” to violating the terms of his community supervision and waive his right to appeal in exchange

for a sentence of twelve months’ state jail time. The agreement was apparently approved by the trial

court. Nevertheless, the judgment revoking probation reflects a sentence after revocation of two

years’ state jail, rather than twelve months as indicated in the agreement.

       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. This Court has

held that there is no such thing as a binding plea agreement in the context of probation revocation.

Gutierrez v. State, 108 S.W.3d 304 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). However, if Applicant’s counsel at

revocation advised him to plead “true” to the allegations in the motion to revoke, and to waive his

right to appeal without also advising Applicant that any plea agreement was not binding on the trial

court, Applicant may have relied on counsel’s advice to his detriment. 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
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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: January 14, 2015
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