Court Opinion

ID: 4042091
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 22:59:33.656791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:36.715606
License: Public Domain

WR-82,437-01
                                                                                  COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                                                                                   AUSTIN, TEXAS
March 13, 2015                                                                 Transmitted 3/13/2015 10:57:11 AM
                                                                                 Accepted 3/13/2015 11:28:24 AM
                                                                                                    ABEL ACOSTA
                                    Cause No. WR-82,437-01                                                  CLERK

                 IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     EX PARTE SHERRON DONDRIEL PHILLIPS
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         On Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
                                 CAUSE NO. CR-566-12-D(1)
                             FROM THE 206th DISTRICT COURT
                                 HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS
                         The Honorable Rose Guerra Reyna, Presiding
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           BRIEF OF THE STATE OF TEXAS1

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr.
                               Criminal District Attorney
                               Hidalgo County, Texas

                               Glenn W. Devino
                               State Bar No. 24012525
                               Lead Counsel for Appellee

                               Office of the Criminal District Attorney
                               100 N. Closner Blvd.
                               Edinburg TX 78539
                               Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808
                               Facsimile 956-380-0407
                               glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us

                               FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS

  1
   This Brief is filed in accordance and in compliance with the Order of the Court of December
  17, 2015, directing the parties to brief certain issues as set forth in the said Order.
                  IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

The State of Texas certifies that the following is a complete list of the parties, attorneys,
and all other interested persons regarding this matter:
1.) The Applicant is:
   Sherron Dondriel Phillips         Dominguez Unit, Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice
    TDCJ no. 1926973                    6535 Cagnon Road, San Antonio, TX 78252-2202

2.) Applicant was represented in the trial court by:
   Toribio ‘Terry’ Palacios, Esq. (deferred adjudication proceeding)
    Texas bar no. 15423050              1805 E Russell, Edinburg, TX 78539

  Michael Tuttle, Esq.                  (guilty plea proceeding)
  Texas bar no. 24037620                         PO Box 4450, Edinburg TX 78540

3.) Applicant is represented in these habeas proceedings by:2
    Alfredo Morales, Jr. Esq.     700 S. 25 1/2 St. E., McAllen, TX 78501
     Texas bar no. 14417290

4.) The State of Texas was represented in the trial court by:
   Ricardo Rodriguez, Criminal District Attorney in and for Hidalgo County, Texas
   100 N. Closner, 3rd floor, Edinburg TX 78539
   by his Assistant Criminal District Attorney Joaquin Zamora Texas bar no. 24003229

6.) The State of Texas is represented in these habeas proceedings by:
   Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr., Criminal District Attorney in and for Hidalgo County, Texas
   100 N. Closner, 3rd floor, Edinburg TX 78539
   by his Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Glenn W. Devino Texas bar no. 24012525

7.) The Board of Pardons and Paroles is represented in these habeas proceedings by:
  Joseph P. Corcoran, Ass’t Att’y Gen.   PO Box 12548, Austin TX 78711
   Texas bar no. 00793549

   2
    The instant Application was filed by Applicant pro se. The Court, by Order of December 14,
   2017, directed the trial court to, contingent upon a finding of Applicant’ indigence, appoint
   counsel to represent him in these habeas proceedings. The trial court, by Order of December 18,
   2015, appointed Alfredo Morales, Jr., Esq. to represent Applicant in these habeas proceedings.
   2
                     TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page…………………………………………………………………………...1

Identification of Parties and Counsel……………………………………………….2

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………...3

Index of Authorities………………………………………………………………...4

Note as to Statement of the Case, Statement of Facts, and Issues

      Presented…...………………………………………………………………5

Summary of Arguments……………………………………………………….........6

Note as to Oral Argument…………………………………………………………..7

Argument…………………………………………………………………………...8

Prayer…………………………………………………………………………….....8

Certificate of Compliance…………………………………………………………..9

Certificate of Service…………………………………………………………….....9

3
                          INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
The State of Texas hereby adopts by reference the Index of Authorities set forth by

the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7

4
                          NOTE AS TO
            STATEMENT OF THE CASE, FACTS AND ISSUES

The State of Texas not being dissatisfied with the Statement of the Case, Statement

of Facts and Statement of the Issues Presented set forth by the Texas Board of

Pardons and Paroles in its Brief, the State of Texas will not herein incorporate any

further Statement of the Case, Statement of Facts or Statement of Issues Presented.

Tex. R. App. P. 38.2(a)(1)(B). The State of Texas hereby adopts by reference the

said Statements as set forth by the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole in its Brief.

Tex. R. App. P. 9.7.

5
                        SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

The State of Texas hereby joins the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in the

Summary of the Arguments set forth in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7.

6
                        NOTE AS TO ORAL ARGUMENT

Applicant has not requested oral argument. The State of Texas respectfully submits

that oral argument in the case at bar would not serve to enlighten the Court further

or illuminate the issues in that, because the facts and legal arguments are

adequately presented in the briefs and record, the decisional process of the Court

would not be significantly aided by oral argument.

The State of Texas reserves the right to present oral argument should the Court

order oral argument.

7
                       ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES

The State of Texas hereby joins the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in the

Argument advanced in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7

                                   PRAYER

Wherefore, premises considered, the State of Texas prays the Court deny

Applicant’s 11.07 application and hold that such a challenge is not cognizable

under either habeas or mandamus processes.

                               Respectfully submitted,

                               _____/s/ Glenn W. Devino______________
                               Glenn W. Devino
                               Assistant Criminal District Attorney
                               Hidalgo County, Texas
                               100 N. Closner, 4th floor
                               Edinburg TX 78539
                               Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808
                               Facsimile 956-380-0407
                               glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us
                               State bar no. 24012525

8
Certificate of Compliance
I hereby certify that this Brief, a computer-generated documents contains 1017
words

                                    _____/s/ Glenn W. Devino______________
                                    Glenn W. Devino
                                    Assistant Criminal District Attorney
                                    Hidalgo County, Texas
                                    100 N. Closner, 4th floor
                                    Edinburg TX 78539
                                    Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808
                                    Facsimile 956-380-0407
                                    glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us
                                    State bar no. 24012525

Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that I have sent a true and correct copy of the foregoing Brief to the
following, as shown, on this the 13th day of March, 2015:
    1.) Applicant, Sherron Dondriel Phillips TDCJ 1926973, through his attorney,
        Alfredo Morales, by facsimile to 956-381-4269
    2.) The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, through its attorney, Assistant
        Attorney General Joseph P. Corcoran, by facsimile to 512-936-12803

                                    _____/s/______Glenn W. Devino
                                    Glenn W. Devino
                                    Assistant Criminal District Attorney
                                    Hidalgo County, Texas
                                    100 N. Closner, 4th floor
                                    Edinburg TX 78539
                                    Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808
                                    Facsimile 956-380-0407
                                    glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us
                                    State bar no. 24012525

3
 The State of Texas recognizes and acknowledges the mandate of Rule 9.5(b)(1), Tex. R. App.
P. for service of documents by electronic mail; however, because of technical constraints, this
brief cannot be served upon other parties electronically through the ‘email’ system of the
Criminal District Attorney of Hidalgo County, Texas.
9