Court Opinion

ID: 2943034
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 01:42:28.325275+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:26.968476
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                          NO. AP-76,420

                    EX PARTE EPHRAIM LEE WILSON, Applicant

          ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
    CAUSE NO. W97-74953-S(A) IN THE 282 ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
                       FROM DALLAS 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 writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant pleaded guilty to aggravated

robbery in exchange for seven years’ deferred adjudication community supervision. He was later

adjudicated guilty and sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment. The Fifth Court of Appeals

dismissed his appeal for want of jurisdiction. Wilson v. State, No. 05-02-00163-CR (Tex. App. –

Dallas, November 18, 2002).

       Applicant contends, inter alia, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance, and that
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his plea of guilty was caused by counsel’s ineffectiveness. The trial court held a hearing, and has

determined that trial counsel was ineffective in that counsel failed to investigate, failed to interview

a witness who was available and willing to provide testimony that would have exonerated Applicant,

and erroneously advised Applicant to plead guilty. The trial court finds that but for counsel’s

deficient performance, Applicant would not have pleaded guilty but would have insisted on going

to trial. Furthermore, the trial court finds that had Applicant gone to trial with competent counsel,

and had the testimony of the witness in question been presented, the jury would have been unlikely

to convict Applicant of this offense.

       Applicant is entitled to relief. The judgment in Cause No. W97-74953-S(A) from the 282nd

Judicial District Court of Dallas County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the

Sheriff of Dallas County to answer the charge against him.

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: September 22, 2010
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