Court Opinion

ID: 2950892
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 06:50:35.709862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:34.226062
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-53,367-03

                   EX PARTE WALTON JOHN ALEXANDER, Applicant

                  ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                 CAUSE NO. CR10295C IN THE 266TH DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM ERATH 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 indecency with

a child by contact and sentenced to seventy-five years’ imprisonment. The conviction was affirmed

on direct appeal. Alexander v. State, No. 11-97-00255-CR (Tex. App.—Eastland Nov. 19, 1998) (not

designated for publication). Applicant’s initial habeas application (-01) was denied by this Court in

2002. A second habeas application (-02) was dismissed by this Court for non-compliance and was

not considered on its merits.

        In this third habeas application, Applicant contends, inter alia, that he is actually innocent.

He claims that the victim recanted to her sister, and he provides an unsworn statement purportedly
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made by the sister in 2009 that indicates the victim recanted to her many years earlier. According to

the sister’s statement, the victim admitted to the sister that she fabricated the allegation of sexual

contact against Applicant, who is the victim’s father, because Applicant and the family paid more

attention to the sister than to her, and the victim wanted to have Applicant removed.

       According to the appellate opinion, the victim testified at trial that she was sitting on

Applicant’s lap and that he said he was “getting horny.” The victim testified that Applicant tried to

kiss her and that he then slid his hand under her shorts and touched her genitals. The victim

eventually told her stepmother and sister. The stepmother testified that she confronted Applicant and

that he claimed he could not remember anything. Applicant later admitted to her that he touched the

victim’s leg and told the victim that she was making him “horny.” During his case-in-chief,

Applicant presented evidence attacking the credibility of the victim. He offered testimony that the

victim had made previous allegations of sexual abuse against other men that were proven to be false.

Applicant also offered testimony of the victim’s promiscuity. The State called, in rebuttal, a

professional counselor for victims of sexual abuse and sex offenders. He testified that the victim’s

behavior was consistent with a victim of sexual abuse. The jury convicted.

       Considering the recantation allegedly made by the victim to her sister along with the evidence

presented at Applicant’s trial, Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief.

Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d
202, 206 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). 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 make findings of fact regarding whether the sister’s written statement

is authentic and credible, whether it is newly discovered evidence, and whether “th[is]newly
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discovered evidence, if true, creates a doubt as to the efficacy of the verdict sufficient to undermine

confidence in the verdict and that it is probable that the verdict would be different” if the jury had

heard the recantation. See Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d at 206. 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, including findings regarding the State’s affirmative

defense of laches. 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.

          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.

Filed: January 14, 2015
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