Court Opinion

ID: 2948909
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 05:45:01.911579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:16.559233
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-82,327-01

                   EX PARTE ANDRES MALDONADO NAVA, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                 CAUSE NO. 1260355-A IN THE 232ND 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 murder and

sentenced to sixty years’ imprisonment. The conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. Nava v. State,

415 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

        Applicant contends, inter alia, that his trial and appellate counsel rendered ineffective

assistance. He claims that trial counsel should have filed a motion to sever his trial from that of a co-

defendant, that trial counsel should have objected to the jury instruction on party liability, that trial

counsel failed to object to the admission of prejudicial photos of a deceased co-conspirator, that trial
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counsel failed to challenge several objectionable jurors, that trial counsel should have objected to

the trial court’s limiting instruction regarding a co-defendant’s extraneous offenses, that trial counsel

failed to object to and that appellate counsel failed to raise an issue concerning the jury being

improperly empaneled, that appellate counsel failed to raise an issue regarding the trial court’s

comment on the Spanish word “Tirale,” that appellate counsel should have raised an issue

challenging the trial court’s ruling to allow testimony Applicant states was hearsay from expert

witness Glen Dodson, that appellate counsel failed to raise an issue concerning the trial court’s

refusal to give a specific instruction that the co-defendant’s extraneous offenses could not be

considered against Applicant, that trial counsel elicited and/or failed to object to and that appellate

counsel failed to raise an issue concerning the introduction of hearsay testimony, and that appellate

counsel failed to seek re-hearing of this Court’s opinion delivered on direct appeal on the basis that

the opinion was factually inaccurate.

        Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Smith v. Robbins, 528
U.S. 259, 285-86 (2000); Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). 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

Applicant’s trial and appellate counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims 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
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performance of Applicant’s trial and appellate counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s

deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall also make findings as to

Applicant’s other grounds and may 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: December 17, 2014
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