Court Opinion

ID: 4324232
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-25 09:36:08.370597+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:19:24.329412
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-89,028-01

                 EX PARTE TILTON JOSHUA ISAIAH MAPPS, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 1524810A IN THE 8TH DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM HOPKINS 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 murder and

sentenced to ninety-nine years’ imprisonment. The Sixth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction.

Mapps v. State, No. 06-16-00156-CR (Tex. App. — Texarkana 2017) (not designated for

publication) .

        Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance for numerous

reasons. Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to object when Applicant was not present during

critical stages of trial, and failed to object to ex parte meetings between the trial court and two
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jurors.

          Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to advise him about the “confession and avoidance

doctrine,” and failed to advise him that if he testified that he was not present during the offense he

could not have the jury consider whether he acted in self-defense.

          Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to request a mistrial when a venire member had an

outburst that tainted the entire venire panel. Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to request an

instruction to disregard or a mistrial when it was noticed that a person seated in the gallery

immediately in front of the jury was wearing a shirt with a large picture of the deceased on it.

          Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to request an instruction limiting the jury’s

consideration of extraneous offenses and bad acts.

          Applicant alleges that trial counsel failed to file a motion to suppress evidence illegally

seized from his cell phone. He alleges that trial counsel failed to object to improper victim impact

testimony, failed to object to the State’s gang expert on the basis that he was not qualified, failed to

object when the prosecutor interjected his personal and religious beliefs during closing arguments,

failed to ask that the jurors be re-admonished regarding their consideration of the application of

parole law to Applicant’s sentence, and failed to object when the State introduced evidence of the

national gang problem and suggested that Applicant should be punished based on gang activities

throughout the state and nation.

          Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington,

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
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shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The

trial court may use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). In the

appropriate case, the trial court may rely on its personal recollection. Id.

       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 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 must

be requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: October 24, 2018

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