Court Opinion

ID: 7804383
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-29 02:12:30.606046+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:50.437960
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                 NOS. WR-93,950 -01, -02, & -03

                     EX PARTE BRANDON V. CARRAWAY, Applicant

              ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
          CAUSE NOS. W17-75820-S(A), W17-75821-S(A), AND W17-75822-S(A)
            IN THE 282ND DISTRICT COURT FROM DALLAS COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                            ORDER

       A jury convicted Applicant of compelling prostitution of a person under the age of eighteen,

sexual assault of a child, and trafficking of a person under the age of eighteen for prostitution. The

jury assessed prison terms. Applicant appealed, and the appellate court affirmed the convictions.

Applicant filed these applications for writs of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the

district clerk forwarded them to this Court. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       In the -01 habeas application, Applicant claims his retained appellate counsel failed to timely

inform him of the appellate decision affirming the conviction for compelling prostitution (trial no.

F-17-75820-S; appeal no. 05-18-00367-CR), which he says denied him of his right to seek a petition

for discretionary review with this Court. See Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App.
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1997); Ex parte Crow, 180 S.W.3d 135 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). In the -02 and -03 habeas

applications, Applicant complains that his retained appellate counsel did not attack the merits of the

convictions for sexual assault of a child (trial no. F-17-75821-S; appeal no. 05-18-00368-CR) and

trafficking (trial no. F-17-75822-S; appeal no. 05-18-00369-CR), so appellate counsel should have

filed briefs in accordance with Anders v. State of Cal., 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967), withdraw from

representation in these two appeals, and permitted Applicant to file pro se briefs regarding the

convictions. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). There is no response in the habeas

record from appellate counsel.

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

should be developed. The trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. TEX . CODE CRIM .

PROC . art. 11.07, § 3(d). The trial court shall order appellate counsel to respond to Applicant’s

claims. In developing the record, the trial court may use any means set out in Article 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 wants to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel

to represent him at the hearing. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or

retained, the trial court shall immediately notify this Court of counsel’s name.

       The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether appellate

counsel provided ineffective assistance, whether Applicant would have timely filed a petition for

discretionary review in the compelling prostitution case but for appellate counsel’s alleged deficient

performance, and whether Applicant would have filed non-frivolous pro se briefs in the sexual

assault and trafficking cases but for appellate counsel’s alleged deficient performance. The trial

court may make any other findings and conclusions that it deems appropriate.
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        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

hearings and depositions. See TEX . R. APP. P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

Filed: August 24, 2022
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