Adams, Curtis

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: March 19, 2014
• Docket: WR-80,973-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

NO. WR-80,973-01 EX PARTE CURTIS ADAMS, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

CAUSE NO. D-1-DC-11-904084-A IN THE 299TH DISTRICT COURT

FROM TRAVIS COUNTY

Per curiam.

O P I N I O N

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 aggravated assault and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.

Applicant contends that he was denied his right to appeal the conviction and sentence through no fault of his own. See Adams v. State, No. 03-12-00176-CR (Tex. App.--Austin del. May 9, 2012) (dismissing appeal for want of jurisdiction); Ex parte Riley, 193 S.W.3d 900 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Ex parte Crow, 180 S.W.3d 135, 138-39 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). The trial court recommends granting Applicant an out-of-time appeal, and the recommendation is supported by the habeas record.

Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of conviction in Cause No. D-1-DC-11-904084 from the 299 District Court of Travis County. Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which he may give a written notice of appeal so that he may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain a meaningful appeal.

Within ten days of the issuance of this opinion, the trial court shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall immediately appoint an attorney to represent Applicant on direct appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if the sentence had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute an appeal, he must take affirmative steps to file a written notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate of this Court issues.

Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: March 19, 2014

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