Court Opinion

ID: 2949684
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 06:11:24.678941+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:35.632119
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                 NOS. WR-79,776-01, -02 & -03

                     EX PARTE COURTNEY ADAM WATTS, Applicant

                ON APPLICATIONS FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                    CAUSE NOS. 1236670D, 1236671D & 1236802D
                      IN CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 2
                           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 these applications for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex

parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of possession

of marihuana and possession of alprazolam and hydrocodone with the intent to deliver. He was

sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each count. He did not appeal his convictions.

       Applicant contends, among other things, that counsel failed to advise him that he could

appeal his convictions. The trial court found that counsel failed to properly advise Applicant of his

appellate rights and that Applicant’s waivers of his appellate rights were invalid and involuntary.
                                                                                                        2

The trial court recommended that we grant Applicant out-of-time appeals. We agree. Applicant is

entitled to the opportunity to file out-of-time appeals of the judgments of conviction in cause

numbers 1236670D, 1236671D, and 1236802D from Criminal District Court No. 2 of Tarrant

County. Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which he may give written notices of appeal

so that he may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain meaningful appeals. Within ten days of the

issuance of this opinion, the trial court shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant

is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall immediately appoint an

attorney to represent him on direct appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if the sentences had

been imposed on the date on which the mandates of this Court issue. We hold that, should Applicant

desire to prosecute appeals, he must take affirmative steps to file written notices of appeal in the trial

court within 30 days after the mandates of this Court issue.

        Applicant’s remaining claims are dismissed. 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.

Delivered: April 16, 2014
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