Court Opinion

ID: 8274550
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-17 00:16:12.077009+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:43:38.058505
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                                       NO. WR-90,432-02

                        EX PARTE LISSETTE FUENTES, Applicant

                ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
              CAUSE NO. 16-CRS-318-B IN THE 229TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM STARR COUNTY

       Per curiam. YEARY , J., concurred.

                                          OPINION

       Applicant entered an open plea of guilty to intoxication manslaughter (x2), intoxication

assault, and aggravated assault (x3) and was sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment in counts one

and two, and ten years’ imprisonment in counts three through six. Count two was set to run

consecutively to count one, and count three was set to run consecutively to count two. The Fourth

Court of Appeals dismissed her appeal for want of jurisdiction. Fuentes v. State, No. 04-18-00704-

CR (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec. 27, 2018) (not designated for publication). Applicant filed this

application for a writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded

it to this Court. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       Applicant contends, among other things, that her plea was involuntary because of trial
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counsel’s failure to give competent advice and failure to review the evidence with her. Based on

the record, the trial court has determined that Applicant’s plea was involuntary due to trial counsel’s

failure to properly advise Applicant.

       Relief is granted. Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 (1970). The judgment in cause

number 16-CRS-318 in the 229th District Court of Starr County is set aside, and Applicant is

remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Starr County to answer the charges as set out in the

indictment. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within ten days from the date of

this Court’s mandate.

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

Institutions Division and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Delivered: October 12, 2022
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