Court Opinion

ID: 2946307
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 04:02:09.113725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:18.045531
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                           NO. AP-76,840

                         EX PARTE SCOTTY RAY BATES, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                   CAUSE NO. 29601-A IN THE 3rd DISTRICT COURT
                            FROM ANDERSON 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 theft and

sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

        Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to

timely advise the Applicant of his right to appeal. The Applicant further alleges that counsel’s

failure to advise him of his appellate rights caused him to miss the deadline for filing a notice of

appeal and for appellate counsel to be untimely appointed by the trial court. We remanded this

application to the trial court for findings of fact and conclusions of law.
                                                                                                    2

       The trial court, after conducting a live evidentiary hearing, has determined that Applicant was

deprived of his right to appeal due to the ineffective assistance of his counsel. We find that

Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of conviction

in Cause No. 29601-A from the 3rd District Court of Anderson County. Applicant is ordered

returned to that time at which he may give a written notice of appeal so that he may then, with the

aid of counsel, obtain a meaningful appeal. 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 Applicant

on direct appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if the sentence had been imposed on the date

on which the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute an

appeal, he must take affirmative steps to file a written notice of appeal in the trial court within 30

days after the mandate of this Court issues.

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: August 22, 2012
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