Court Opinion

ID: 2946294
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 04:01:41.823769+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:26:33.151793
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                           NO. AP-76,863

                    EX PARTE SCOTTY MURL CASSELMAN, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 8983-A IN THE 132ND DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM SCURRY COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                            OPINION

        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 entered an open plea of guilty to

possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone, and was sentenced to forty years’

imprisonment.

        Applicant contends, inter alia, that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he

incorrectly advised Applicant that he would have to waive his right to appeal if he entered an open

plea of guilty, and would have to seek the trial court’s permission to appeal. We remanded this

application to the trial court for findings of fact and conclusions of law.
                                                                                                      2

        The trial court has determined that counsel did advise Applicant incorrectly, and that

counsel’s performance was deficient in that respect. However, the trial court finds that Applicant

was not prejudiced by counsel’s incorrect advice. We disagree. We find that Applicant is entitled

to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of conviction in Cause No. 8983-A

from the 132nd District Court of Scurry County. Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which

he may give a written notice of appeal so that he may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain a

meaningful appeal. Within ten days of the issuance of this opinion, the trial court shall determine

whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the

trial court shall immediately appoint an attorney to represent Applicant on direct appeal. All time

limits shall be calculated as if the sentence had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of

this Court issues. We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute an appeal, he must take

affirmative steps to file a written notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate

of this Court issues.

        Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: August 22, 2012
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