Court Opinion

ID: 6342978
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-23 07:18:03.587283+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:40.001904
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                        NO. WR-93,669-01

                        EX PARTE LONG VIET NGUYEN, Applicant

               ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
             CAUSE NO. 16-09-00114CRF IN THE 218TH DISTRICT COURT
                               FROM FRIO COUNTY

       Per curiam. YEARY , J., filed a concurring opinion in which SLAUGHTER , J., joined.

                                            ORDER

       Applicant was convicted of possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility and

sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction. 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, that counsel failed to timely file a motion for new

trial and a notice of appeal. Applicant also contends that his plea was involuntary because (1)

counsel was ineffective for giving him erroneous advise and for refusing to allow him to enter an

open guilty plea; and (2) the substance he possessed was not in fact a prohibited substance.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Jones v. State, 98 S.W.3d 700,
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703 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Garza v. Idaho, 139 S. Ct. 738 (2019); Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52

(1985); Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 (1970); Ex parte Mable, 443 S.W.3d 129, 131 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2014). 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.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether Applicant

was denied his right to an appeal because trial counsel was ineffective. The trial court shall make

specific findings addressing whether Applicant instructed counsel to perfect appeal. The trial court

shall also make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether Applicant’s plea was

involuntary. The trial court may 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.
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Filed: May 18, 2022
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