Court Opinion

ID: 2947475
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 04:57:27.119694+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:30.983772
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-79,596-01

                          EX PARTE CHRIS L. VASQUEZ, Applicant

                ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
              CAUSE NO. 2008-420,480-A IN THE 140TH DISTRICT COURT
                            FROM LUBBOCK 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 was convicted of burglary of a

habitation and sentenced to forty-five years’ imprisonment. The Seventh Court of Appeals affirmed

his conviction. Vasquez v. State, No. 07-10-00325-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2011, pet. ref’d).

        Applicant contends, among other things, that appellate counsel rendered ineffective

assistance because he failed to challenge the validity of a restitution order on direct appeal. We

remanded this application to the trial court for findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial

court has determined that appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance. We find that Applicant
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is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of conviction in cause

number 2008-420,480 from the 140th District Court of Lubbock 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. Applicant’s remaining claims are dismissed. Ex parte

Torres, 943 S.W.2d 469 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: October 30, 2013
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