Court Opinion

ID: 4453676
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-07 05:22:05.93827+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:24.358315
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                           OF TEXAS
                   NOS. WR-90,476-01, WR-90,476-02 AND WR-90,476-03

                     EX PARTE TEVIN TYRELL GARRETT, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NOS. 18CR20508A, 17CR20221A AND 17CR20217A
                         IN THE 123RD DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM SHELBY 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 these applications for writs of habeas corpus. Ex

parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant pleaded guilty to one charge

of evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicld and two charges of burglary of a habitation and

originally received deferred adjudication community supervision. He was later adjudicated guilty

and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment for the evading arrest charge and twenty years’

imprisonment for each of the burglary charges, all running concurrently. He did not appeal his

convictions.
                                                                                                      2

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

resulting in unknowing and involuntary pleas. Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to

adequately consult with him, and advised him to plead guilty to all three charges without advising

him that the State lacked sufficient evidence to support the convictions.

       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 claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Specifically, trial counsel shall state whether he communicated with Applicant, whether he advised

Applicant of the State’s evidence, and what advice, if any, he provided to Applicant with regard to

his options of entering a plea or going to trial on the charges. 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 first supplement the habeas records with copies of all of the relevant plea

documents in these cases, including any written plea agreements, admonishments, waivers,

stipulations and judicial confessions, any evidence that was introduced to support the pleas, and a

transcript of the plea proceedings. 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

       1
           This Court has considered Applicant’s other claims and finds them to be without merit.
                                                                                                      3

deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall make findings of fact and

conclusions of law as to whether Applicant’s original pleas of guilty were knowingly and voluntarily

entered. 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 must

be requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: November 6, 2019
Do not publish