Court Opinion

ID: 3174668
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-05 09:13:25.343532+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:22.617399
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                            OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-26,727-06

                     EX PARTE THOMAS GILMORE STEWART, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. W88-69008 U(E) IN THE 291ST DISTRICT COURT
                               FROM DALLAS 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 possession of a

controlled substance and sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment.

        Applicant contends, among other things,1 that he was denied due process in the parole

revocation process. Applicant alleges that his parole was revoked on an allegation that he possessed

a controlled substance in the Ellis County Jail. Applicant alleges that he never possessed a

        1
            This Court has considered Applicant’s other claims and finds them to be without merit.
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controlled substance in the Ellis County Jail, although he admits that he was found to be in

possession of a controlled substance at his home, which resulted in a conviction in Ellis County.

Applicant alleges that he was not provided with adequate notice of the alleged parole violations, and

that he was not provided with adequate notice for the reasons his parole was revoked. The habeas

record contains no information or documentation regarding Applicant’s parole revocation.

       Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. 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

the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Office of the General Counsel to file an affidavit stating

when Applicant’s parole was revoked, and upon what basis. The affidavit shall state whether

Applicant was provided with notice of the alleged parole violations, and whether he was afforded

a preliminary hearing and a final revocation hearing or waived such hearings. The affidavit shall

state whether Applicant was provided with notice of the reasons for which his parole was ultimately

revoked.

       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 first supplement the habeas record with all documents relevant to

Applicant’s parole revocation, including any notice of the alleged violations, any notification of the

offender’s rights in the revocation process signed or acknowledged by Applicant, any reports relating

to the revocation hearing or recommendation to revoke parole, and any notification of the reasons

for the revocation provided to Applicant. The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions
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of law as to whether Applicant was afforded adequate notice of the alleged violations of parole, and

adequate notice of the facts upon which the revocation was based. 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: February 3, 2016
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