Court Opinion

ID: 2947733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 05:00:11.312396+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:54.451378
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-80,058-01

                      EX PARTE WILLIAM PENDERGRASS, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. 241-0571-11-A IN THE 241ST DISTRICT COURT
                               FROM SMITH 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 prohibited

substance in a correctional facility and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.

        Applicant contends that he was denied his right to appeal because the trial court’s

certification of right to appeal was not timely completed.

        The trial court has determined that the certificate of right to appeal was not timely completed.

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

of conviction in Cause No. 241-0571-11 from the Twelfth District Court of Smith County.
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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: September 11, 2013
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