Court Opinion

ID: 4160620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-17 07:17:08.098688+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:13.105724
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                          OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-31,583-04

                             EX PARTE FELIX RIVERA, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. D-12-0821-SB IN THE 391ST DISTRICT COURT
                           FROM TOM GREEN 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 aggravated sexual

assault of a child and sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment.

        Applicant contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because she failed to

timely file a notice of appeal. Untimely notice of appeal was filed, causing the appellate court to

dismiss the case for want of jurisdiction.           Rivera v. State, No. 07-15-00400-CR (Tex.

App.—Amarillo Dec. 7, 2015).
                                                                                                     2

       The trial court has determined that counsel failed to timely file a notice of appeal. We find

that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of

conviction in Cause No. D-12-0821-SB from the 391st District Court of Tom Green 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: April 12, 2017
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