Court Opinion

ID: 3169495
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-14 07:10:04.98467+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:59:43.127984
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-84,221-01

                             EX PARTE KEVIN SCOTT, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 19812-B IN THE 104TH DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM TAYLOR 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 theft and

sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.

        Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by not telling him

that the initial plea offer had an expiration date or would change. He also alleges that he was

diagnosed with mental illness, under the influence of psychiatric medications at the time of the plea,

and did not fully understand the consequences of his plea.

        Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him 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 claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. 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 as to whether counsel informed Applicant that the initial

plea offer could change. The trial court shall make findings as to whether counsel knew Applicant

was on psychiatric medications at the time of the plea, and if so, whether counsel investigated

Applicant’s competency to plead guilty. The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions

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

counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. 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 claim 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

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 shall

be obtained from this Court.
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Filed: January 13, 2016
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