Court Opinion

ID: 3062017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 07:31:18.531318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:04.983052
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                             OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-12,460-12

                             EX PARTE ODELL BURGESS, Applicant

                   ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 1376308-B IN THE 180TH DISTRICT COURT
                                FROM HARRIS 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 was convicted of evading arrest

or detention and sentenced to fifty-three years’ imprisonment. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals

affirmed his conviction. Burgess v. State, 448 S.W.3d 589 (Tex. App. — Houston [14th Dist.]

September 30, 2014).

        Applicant contends, among other things,1 that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance

        1
            This Court has reviewed Applicant’s other claims and finds them to be without merit.
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because counsel failed to request limiting and burden of proof instructions at the time extraneous

offense evidence was introduced during the guilt/innocence phase of trial, advised Applicant not to

testify without challenging the admissibility of his prior convictions for impeachment purposes, and

failed to investigate and interview the State’s witnesses prior to trial.

        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. The trial court

shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Specifically, trial counsel shall state why he did not request limiting and burden of proof instructions

at the time the extraneous offense evidence was introduced. Counsel shall also state whether he

advised Applicant not to testify because he could be impeached with prior convictions. Counsel

shall state whether he considered challenging the admissibility of Applicant’s prior convictions under

Theus v. State, 845 S.W.2d 784 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). Trial counsel shall state whether he tried

to interview any of the State’s witnesses prior to trial. The trial court may use any means set out in

TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). In the appropriate case, the trial court may rely on its

personal recollection. Id.

        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
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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

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: October 14, 2015
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