Court Opinion

ID: 4088245
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-10 07:32:07.830964+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:30.305464
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                            NOS. WR-85,344-01 & -02 & -03 & -04

                      EX PARTE PABLO GONZALES, JR. , Applicant

                ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
                 CAUSE NOS. 08792-A & 08793-A & 08794-A & 08796-A
               IN THE 90TH DISTRICT COURT FROM YOUNG COUNTY

       Per curiam. A LCALA, J., filed a concurring opinion.

                                            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 was convicted of three counts

of indecency with a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to

twenty years’ imprisonment in each of the indecency cases, and life imprisonment in the sexual

assault case. The Second Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions. Gonzales v. State, 477 S.W.3d
475 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2015).

       Applicant contends, among other things, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance
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because counsel: (1) failed to introduce a report in which two of the victims failed to report that

Applicant had penetrated their sexual organs, but testified as to such at trial; (2) failed to make a

Batson objection to the exclusion of Hispanic jurors from the jury; and, (3) refused to allow

Applicant to testify on his own behalf.

       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 claim 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

performance of Applicant’s trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced Applicant. 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.

       These applications 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
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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: October 5, 2016
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