Court Opinion

ID: 6221305
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-14 08:20:53.161883+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:21.506080
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                           NOS. WR-93,465-01 AND WR-93,465-02

                    EX PARTE STEVEN MARLIN SCHADE, Applicant

            ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
   CAUSE NOS. CF-14-01377A AND CF-14-01378A IN THE 76TH DISTRICT COURT
                           FROM CAMP COUNTY

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

                                            ORDER

       Applicant pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated robbery and was sentenced to twenty

years’ imprisonment for each charge, to run concurrently. The Sixth Court of Appeals dismissed his

appeal for want of jurisdiction. Schade v. State, Nos. 06-15-00097-CR and 06-15-00098-CR (Tex.

App. — Texarkana August 25, 2015) (not designated for publication). Applicant filed these

applications for writs of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded

them to this Court. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       Applicant contends, among other things, that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

request discovery of exculpatory evidence, failing to object to language in the indictments alleging

a deadly weapon, to-wit: a firearm when Applicant alleges that the police recovered only an air gun
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which is not a firearm, failing to point out that the air gun used by Applicant was broken and was

therefore not a deadly weapon, and allowing Applicant to plead guilty to the offenses as alleged in

the indictments

        Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S.

52 (1985); Ex parte Argent, 393 S.W.3d 781 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). Accordingly, the record

should be developed. The trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. TEX . CODE CRIM .

PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). The trial court shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims.

Specifically, trial counsel shall state whether he filed a motion for discovery of exculpatory evidence,

whether he saw or received a copy of the arrest report, whether he was aware that the police had

recovered an air gun, and whether Applicant advised him that he had used an air gun that was broken

during the offenses. If trial counsel was aware that it was an air gun that was used during the

offenses, trial counsel shall state why he did not object to the language in the indictment alleging a

firearm. If trial counsel was advised that the air gun in question was broken, trial counsel shall state

why he did not object to the deadly weapon element of the offenses but allowed Applicant to plead

guilty to both charges as alleged in the indictments. Trial counsel shall also state what advice, if any,

he gave to Applicant with regard to his options of pleading guilty or disputing the charges at trial.

        In developing the record, the trial court may use any means set out in Article 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 wants to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel

to represent him at the hearing. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or

retained, the trial court shall immediately notify this Court of counsel’s name.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial counsel’s
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performance was deficient and Applicant would have insisted on a trial but for counsel’s alleged

deficient performance. The trial court may make any other findings and conclusions that it deems

appropriate in response to Applicant’s claims.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

hearings and depositions. See TEX . R. APP . P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

Filed: February 9, 2022

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