Court Opinion

ID: 4189747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-26 21:23:34.480419+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:35.855822
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-86,687-01

                   EX PARTE SARONNA MICHELLE LITTLE, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 21381 IN THE 336TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM FANNIN 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 aggravated sexual

assault of a child and sentenced to fifty-five years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeals affirmed

her conviction. Little v. State, No. 06-06-00161-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana May 30, 2007) (not

designated for publication).

        Applicant contends, among other things, that her trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance

because he did not object to inadmissible testimony and did not convey a plea offer.

        Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle her to relief. Strickland v. Washington,
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466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). 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 trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel raised

by her writ application in Grounds 1–4. 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 addressing Grounds 1–3

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

deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. In addressing Ground 4, Applicant’s failure to convey

a plea offer claim, should the trial court determine that counsel did not convey a plea offer, the court

shall make further findings addressing whether the applicant has shown by a reasonable probability

that: (1) she would have accepted the earlier offer if counsel had not given ineffective assistance; (2)

the prosecution would not have withdrawn the offer; and (3) the trial court would not have refused

to accept the plea bargain. 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 claims 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
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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 must

be requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: July 26, 2017
Do not publish