Court Opinion

ID: 2941945
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 23:23:12.72712+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:00:39.392004
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                          NO. AP-76,161

                       EX PARTE RONALD E. HODGE, Applicant

             ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
            CAUSE NO. W01-55060-W IN THE 363rd DISTRICT COURT
                         FROM DALLAS COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                           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 possession of

marihuana and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in state jail. He did not appeal his conviction.

       Applicant contends that his plea of true at the hearing on the State’s motion to adjudicate

guilt was involuntary because it was based on the erroneous promise that he would receive two

years’ imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional Institutions Division.
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       The trial court determined, based upon the record, that all parties, including the trial court,

were under the mistaken impression that this case was a third degree felony and the Applicant was

initially sentenced to two years imprisonment in the Correctional Institutions Division. However,

subsequent to pronouncement of the sentence, and outside the presence of the Applicant, the trial

court improperly modified the Applicant’s sentence to two years’ imprisonment in state jail in

violation of the provisions of Article 42.03, § 1(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The

trial court’s recommendation to grant relief is supported by the record.

       Relief is granted. The judgment adjudicating guilt in Cause No. W01-55060-W in the 363rd

Judicial District Court of Dallas County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the

sheriff of DALLAS County to answer the allegations set out in the motion to adjudicate guilt.

       Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: June 3, 2009
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