Court Opinion

ID: 2943757
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 01:53:53.508946+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:02:45.260039
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                          NO. AP-76,311

                       EX PARTE ABEL LEAL MARIN, Applicant

          ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
     CAUSE NO. CR-2365-00-E IN THE 275 TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
                       FROM HIDALGO 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 one count of

delivery of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone, three counts of delivery of a controlled

substance, and one count of possession of a controlled substance, and was sentenced to ten years’

probation. His probation was later revoked, and he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. He

did not appeal his conviction.

       Applicant contends, inter alia, that his plea was involuntary and his sentence improperly
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enhanced.

       The trial court determined that the count in the indictment charging Applicant with delivery

of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone should have been a second degree felony, with the

minimum punishment raised from two to seven years’ imprisonment. Applicant was admonished

that each of the delivery of a controlled substance charges was a first degree felony, when in fact all

three were second degree felonies. The trial court finds that Applicant is entitled to relief on the

basis of an improperly enhanced charge, and recommends that the case be remanded solely for re-

sentencing. However, in this case Applicant was not properly admonished as to the correct

punishment range for the offenses to which he was pleading guilty. Therefore, his plea was not

knowingly and voluntarily entered, and the entire plea must be vacated.

       Relief is granted. The judgment in Cause No. CR-2365-00-E in the 275th Judicial District

Court of Hidalgo County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the sheriff of

Hidalgo County to answer the charges as set out in the indictment.

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: March 17, 2010
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