Court Opinion

ID: 4363318
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-31 07:41:48.882795+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:48.548651
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-89,134-01

                           EX PARTE DAVID CHAVIRA, Applicant

                ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
              CAUSE NO. 20120D03609-41-1 IN THE 41st DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM EL PASO 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 ninety years’ imprisonment. The Eighth Court of Appeals

affirmed his conviction. Chavira v. State, No. 08-15-00128-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso May 16, 2017)

(not designated for publication).

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

because he failed to adequately communicate with Applicant, failed to interview witnesses who

would have testified about the validity of the stop, search and seizure, failed to be prepared for trial,
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failed to file any pre-trial motions, waived a twelve person jury without stipulation, and failed to

apply the applicable law and the standard of admissibility for extraneous offense evidence. In

addition, Applicant alleges that trial counsel, who was also appellate counsel, was ineffective on

direct appeal for not raising issues regarding counsel’s ineffective assistance at trial, and for failing

to adequately communicate with Applicant.

        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). In the

appropriate case, the trial court may rely on its personal recollection. Id.

        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.

        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
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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: January 30, 2019
Do not publish