Court Opinion

ID: 4708320
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-02 07:21:55.259763+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:49.715839
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                           OF TEXAS
                                        NO. WR-92,732-02

                   EX PARTE FRANCISO CASTIO BERBER, JR., Applicant

             ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
      CAUSE NO. W08-71908-K(A) IN THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 4
                          FROM DALLAS COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                             ORDER

       Applicant entered an open plea of guilty to aggravated sexual assault of an elderly or disabled

person and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Fifth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction.

Berber v. State, No. 05-08-01467-CR (Tex. App. — Dallas Dec. 2, 2010) (not designated for

publication). Applicant filed this application for a writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction,

and the district clerk forwarded it to this Court. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       Applicant contends, among other things,1 that his trial counsel was ineffective for various

reasons. Applicant alleges that trial counsel advised him to reject a twenty-five year plea offer and

       1
           This Court has reviewed Applicant’s other claims and finds them to be without merit.
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enter an open plea of guilty to the trial court in the hopes of getting community supervision, when

Applicant was not eligible for community supervision because of the nature of the offense.

Applicant alleges that but for trial counsel’s erroneous advice, he would have accepted the twenty-

five year offer. Applicant also alleges that he was denied the opportunity to consult with trial

counsel before he was evaluated for competency, and was unable to communicate with counsel about

his mental health issues and the effects of his medications.

       Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S.

52 (1985); Ex parte Argent, 393 S.W.3d 781 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). Accordingly, the record

should be developed. The trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. TEX . CODE CRIM .

PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). The trial court shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims.

In developing the record, the trial court may use any means set out in Article 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 wants to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel to represent him

at the hearing. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or retained, the trial

court shall immediately notify this Court of counsel’s name.

       On the habeas application form, Applicant makes reference to various exhibits he allegedly

filed in support of his claims. However, the habeas record does not contain any such exhibits. The

trial court shall first ensure that the habeas record is supplemented with copies any exhibits or

memoranda filed by Applicant in conjunction with his habeas application, and with copies of all

written plea papers and any documents relevant to the competency evaluations and plea proceedings

in this case. The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial

counsel’s performance was deficient and whether Applicant was prejudiced. The trial court may
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make any other findings and conclusions that it deems appropriate in response to Applicant’s claims.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

hearings and depositions. See TEX . R. APP . P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

Filed: July 28, 2021
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