Court Opinion

ID: 2949012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 05:46:44.23809+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:37.122139
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                            OF TEXAS
                                          NO. WR-82,086-01

                          EX PARTE STEVEN D. HAWKINS, Applicant

                    ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                    CAUSE NO. 03-3319-A IN THE 106TH DISTRICT COURT
                                 FROM GAINES COUNTY

           Per curiam.

                                              ORDER

           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 one count of

aggravated sexual assault and six counts of indecency with a child. He was sentenced to seventy-five

years’ imprisonment for the aggravated sexual assault, twenty years’ imprisonment for three counts

of indecency with a child, and ten years’ imprisonment on the other three counts of indecency with

a child.

           Applicant contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel failed

to timely file a notice of appeal.
                                                                                                         2

          Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Ex parte

Axel, 757 S.W.2d 369 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). In these circumstances, additional facts are needed.

As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is

the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order counsel to respond to

Applicant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court may use any means set out in

TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).

          If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent.

If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

          The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether Applicant

was denied him right to a meaningful appeal because Applicant’s counsel failed to timely file a

notice of appeal. The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and conclusions of law

that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant’s claim for habeas corpus

relief.

          This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The

issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all

affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or

deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall

be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall

be obtained from this Court.

Filed: November 19, 2014
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