Court Opinion

ID: 2936539
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 17:04:24.066915+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:35:53.280713
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

 

        NO. 74,871        

EX PARTE TONY LEWIS THOMAS, Applicant

 

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS 

                            FROM HARRIS COUNTY                    

 Per Curiam.
O P I N I O N

 This is a post-conviction application for a writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to Article
11.07, V.A.C.C.P.  Applicant was convicted of aggravated robbery and his punishment was
assessed at ninety-nine years imprisonment after applicant was found to be a habitual
offender.  This conviction was affirmed, Thomas v. State, No. 01-00-201-CR (Tex.App. -
Houston [1st], delivered November 9, 2000,, no pet.). 
	Applicant contends that he was denied an opportunity to file a petition for discretionary
review because his appellate attorney did not notify him that the conviction had been affirmed
or what he needed to do to file such a petition.  An affidavit filed by appellate counsel states
that counsel has no record any notice of the affirmance was sent to Applicant until a year after
the opinion was delivered.  The trial court has recommended that Applicant be granted an
opportunity to file an out-of-time petition for discretionary review.
	Therefore, Applicant is entitled to relief.  Ex parte Wilson, 965 S.W.2d 25 (Tex.Cr.App.
1997).  The proper remedy in a case such as this is to return Applicant to the point at which
he can file a petition for discretionary review.  He may then follow the proper procedures in
order that a meaningful petition for discretionary review may be filed.  For purposes of the
Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, all time limits shall be calculated as if the Court of
Appeals' decision had been rendered on the day the mandate of this Court issues.  We hold
that should Applicant desire to seek discretionary review, he must take affirmative steps to see
that his petition is filed in the Court of Appeals within thirty days after the mandate of this
Court has issued.
	All other allegations are dismissed.  See Ex parte Torres, 943 S.W.2d 469 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1997).

DELIVERED:  January 28, 2004
DO NOT PUBLISH