Court Opinion

ID: 6334545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-25 07:17:42.236606+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:38.891960
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                        NO. WR-82,735-02

                 EX PARTE CHARLES DEVON WASSERMAN, Applicant

                ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
               CAUSE NO. 12-10-11,721-A IN THE 24TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM DEWITT COUNTY

       Per curiam.

                                             ORDER

       Applicant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to ninety-nine

years’ imprisonment. The Thirteenth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Wasserman v. State,

13-13-00144-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi-Edinburgh Aug. 14, 2014)(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, that trial counsel was ineffective by failing to

consult and hire an expert witness, failing to effectively cross-examine witnesses, failing to call

favorable witnesses, and failing to properly investigate the case and the complainant’s medical

records. Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). 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). Trial counsel

has already submitted an affidavit and testified in a habeas hearing held on March 4, 2022. If the

trial court believes further information or testimony would assist in the making of his findings of

fact, the trial court may obtain a supplemental affidavit or hold an additional hearing.

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

the totality of the circumstances, the common-law doctrine of laches bars equitable relief in this case.

Ex parte Perez, 398 S.W.3d 206 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). The trial court shall also make findings

of fact and conclusions of law as to whether, in light of the totality of the evidence presented at trial,

trial counsel’s performance was deficient and Applicant was prejudiced. 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.

Filed: April 20, 2022
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