Court Opinion

ID: 2945369
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 03:05:43.670856+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:24.272753
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                 NOS. AP-76,514 & AP-76,515

                        EX PARTE RAUL GARCIA, JR., Applicant

              ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
                    CAUSE NOS. B17973-0903 & B17974-0903
                   IN THE 64TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
                           FROM HALE 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 these applications for writs of habeas corpus. Ex

parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant pleaded guilty to two charges

of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one carrying a drug-free zone allegation,

and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his convictions.

       Applicant contends, inter alia, that his pleas were involuntary because he relied on the

erroneous advice of his trial counsel, who also filed these applications on Applicant’s behalf.
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Applicant was given two plea options by the State: he could plead guilty to both charges in exchange

for concurrent four-year TDCJ sentences, or the State would waive the drug-free zone allegation, and

Applicant would plead guilty in exchange for concurrent two-year state jail felony sentences. Based

on trial counsel’s research and the belief of the parties, counsel advised Applicant that he would

serve less time if he elected the four-year TDCJ sentences than he would by serving the two-year

state jail felony sentences day-for-day. Counsel (and apparently the prosecutor) failed to note that

under Texas Government Code Section 508.145(e), Applicant would also be compelled to serve the

four-year TDCJ sentence day-for-day, because of the drug-free zone allegation in one of the charges.

       The trial court determined that trial counsel’s advice to Applicant was erroneous, and

Applicant relied on that advice to his detriment. Applicant is entitled to relief. Ex parte Huerta, 692
S.W.2d 681 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985).

       Relief is granted. The judgment in Cause Nos. B17973-0903 and B17974-0903 in the 64th

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

sheriff of HALE County to answer the charges as set out in the indictments.

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: March 9, 2011
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