Court Opinion

ID: 3176592
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-11 06:30:01.84711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:05:11.333740
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-83,109-01

                       EX PARTE ROBERT FARREN YORK, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 12483-A IN THE 77TH DISTRICT COURT
                            FROM LIMESTON 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 prohibited sexual

conduct and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.

        Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because did not

discover and advise Applicant that the prosecution was barred by limitations.

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

466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Moody, 991 S.W.2d 856, 857–58 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). The trial

court has made findings in this case. However, in these circumstances, additional findings of fact are
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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 trial 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 the

performance of Applicant’s trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall make specific findings addressing whether

counsel advised Applicant of the applicable statute of limitations in this case, and if counsel did

advise Applicant, the court shall make specific findings concerning the substance of the advice. If

the trial court finds that counsel erred, it shall also make specific findings addressing whether there

is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s advice, Applicant would not have pleaded guilty

and insisted on a trial instead. 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
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be obtained from this Court.

Filed: February 10, 2016
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