Court Opinion

ID: 9406681
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-03 04:10:09.024432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:32.470902
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                                        NO. WR-93,870-01

                      EX PARTE HAROLD L. GRAVES, JR., Applicant

             ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
       CAUSE NO. C-297-W012075-1338568-A IN THE 297TH DISTRICT COURT
                         FROM TARRANT COUNTY

       Per curiam. YEARY and SLAUGHTER, JJ., dissented.

                                          OPINION

       Applicant was convicted of murder and sentenced to 37 years’ imprisonment. The Sixth

Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Graves v. State, 452 S.W.3d 907 (Tex. App.–Texarkana

2014). 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 that trial counsel was ineffective because counsel failed to investigate

and interview witnesses before trial and failed to consult with an expert in preparing for trial.

Additionally, Applicant contends that counsel did not properly object to or effectively question a
                                                                                                   2

witness or request a limiting instruction when that witness raised extraneous offenses.1 Based on

the record, the trial court has determined that trial counsel’s performance was deficient and that

Applicant was prejudiced.

       Relief is granted. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). The judgment in cause

number 1338568R in the 297th District Court of Tarrant County is set aside, and Applicant is

remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Tarrant County to answer the charges as set out in the

indictment. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within ten days from the date of

this Court’s mandate.

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

Institutions Division and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Delivered:     JUNE 28, 2023
Do not publish

       1
           Applicant also contends that trial counsel failed to raise evidence of sudden passion and
request a sudden passion instruction at the punishment phase. Because we are granting a new
trial, this contention is moot.