Court Opinion

ID: 2937391
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 18:41:12.418873+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:36:19.587699
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

NO. 75,531

EX PARTE JUAN CORONADO DELACRUZ, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. 88-407,845 IN THE 137TH DISTRICT COURT
LUBBOCK COUNTY

 Per curiam.

O P I N I O N

 This is a post-conviction application for a writ of habeas corpus forwarded to this
Court pursuant to Tex. Code Crim. Proc.  art. 11.07, § 3, et seq.  Applicant was convicted
of the felony offense of aggravated sexual assault and punishment was assessed at thirty (30)
years' confinement.  Applicant's appeal was dismissed for want of jurisdiction.  Delacruz
v. State, No. 07-90-00234-CR (Tex. App. - Amarillo, delivered August 28, 1990, no pet.).
	Applicant contends that he was denied his right to appeal.  The trial court has entered
findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that Applicant be granted an out-of-time appeal.  We agree.  Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.04 (j) (2), requires appointed counsel
to "represent the defendant until charges are dismissed, the defendant is acquitted, appeals
are exhausted, or the attorney is relieved of his duties or replaced by other counsel."  The
duty to perfect an appeal attaches whether counsel is appointed or retained.  See Ex parte
Axel, 757 S.W.2d 369 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988).  Knowing that Applicant wanted to appeal,
counsel had the duty to timely file a motion for new trial or give timely notice of appeal,
unless relieved by the trial court or replaced by other counsel.
	Habeas corpus relief is granted and Applicant is granted an out-of-time appeal from
his conviction in cause number 88-407,845 from the 137th District Court of Lubbock County. 
The proper remedy in a case such as this is to return Applicant to the point at which he can
give notice of appeal.  For purposes of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, all time
limits shall be calculated as if the conviction had been entered on the day that the mandate
of this Court issues.  We hold that Applicant, should he desire to prosecute an appeal, must
take affirmative steps to see that notice of appeal is given within thirty days after the mandate
of this Court has issued.

DO NOT PUBLISH
DELIVERED: OCTOBER 25, 2006