Court Opinion

ID: 4306494
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-23 08:32:29.522331+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:55:25.632207
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                          OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-88,371-02

                      EX PARTE ANTHONY NGOZI OKERE, Applicant

              ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
        CAUSE NO. C-371-W011282-1407341-A IN THE 371ST DISTRICT COURT
                          FROM TARRANT COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                            OPINION

        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 disabled person and sentenced to twenty-five years’ imprisonment. The Seventh Court

of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Okere v. State, No. 07-16-00043-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo July

25, 2016)(not designated for publication).

        Applicant contends that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel

failed to timely notify Applicant that the Seventh Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s
                                                                                                     2

judgment.

       The trial court has entered findings of fact and conclusions of law that Applicant was

improperly denied the opportunity to seek discretionary review. The trial court recommends that

relief be granted. Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

       We conclude that there was a breakdown in the system. Ex parte Riley, 193 S.W.3d 900, 902

(Tex. Crim. App. 2006). We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an

out-of-time petition for discretionary review of the judgment of the Seventh Court of Appeals in

Cause No. 07-16-00043-CR that affirmed his conviction in Cause No. 1407341D from the 371st

District Court of Tarrant County. Applicant shall file his petition for discretionary review with this

Court within 30 days of the date on which this Court’s mandate issues.

       While this application was pending in the trial court, Applicant filed another application for

writ of habeas corpus, challenging the merits of this conviction. Because this Court is granting

Applicant an out-of-time petition for discretionary review in this case, the claims raised in his other

application are not yet ripe for resolution. Therefore, that application is dismissed. See Ex parte

Torres, 943 S.W.2d 469 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

       Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Filed: August 22, 2018
Do not publish