Court Opinion

ID: 4393061
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-02 06:46:14.131024+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:58.690682
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-70,204-03

                      EX PARTE JUAN MELECIO ESPARZA, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                          CAUSE NO. F-2005-2101-C (WHC3)
                           IN THE 211TH DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM DENTON 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 seventy-five years’ imprisonment.

        In his present application, Applicant raises four grounds challenging his conviction. This

application, however, presents a more serious question. Applicant alleges, among other things, that

he is actually innocent and that counsel was ineffective. In support of his allegations, Applicant

submitted a document purporting to be affidavit.
                                                                                                      2

        After a remand, the trial court has found that the purported affidavit submitted by Applicant

“is neither accurate nor correct, nor was it authored by the person listed in the document.” The court

also found that the Notary Public listed in the affidavit did not notarize the document. The court

concluded that Applicant submitted false evidence.

        The writ of habeas corpus is not to be lightly or easily abused. Sanders v. U.S., 373 U.S. 1

(1963); Ex parte Carr, 511 S.W.2d 523 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974). We find that Applicant has abused

The Great Writ by submitting false evidence. We deny relief on this application and cite him for

abuse of the writ. By that abuse, Applicant has waived and abandoned any contention that he might

have in regard to the instant conviction, at least insofar as existing claims that he could have or

should have brought in the application. Ex parte Jones, 97 S.W.3d 586 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003);

Middaugh v. State, 683 S.W.2d 713 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985); Ex parte Emmons, 660 S.W.2d 106

(Tex. Crim. App. 1983). Additionally, based on Applicant’s submission of false evidence, we find

that Applicant has filed a frivolous lawsuit.

        Therefore, we instruct the Clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals not to accept or file the

instant application for a writ of habeas corpus, or any future application pertaining to this conviction

unless Applicant is able to show in such an application that any claims presented have not been

raised previously and that they could not have been presented in a previous application for a writ of

habeas corpus. Ex parte Bilton, 602 S.W.2d 534 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980).

        Copies of this order shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Filed:         May 1, 2019
Do not publish