Baldwin, Christopher

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 10, 2016
• Docket: WR-82,928-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-82,928-01

EX PARTE CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 1421085-A IN THE 176TH DISTRICT COURT FROM HARRIS 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 a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

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

than one gram of cocaine and was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his

conviction.

After Applicant was convicted, the controlled substance in his case was tested and

determined to contain .09 grams of codeine and acetaminophen. Applicant now contends that he is

actually innocent and his guilty plea was involuntary. Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d 202 (Tex. 2

Crim. App. 1996); Ex parte Mable, 443 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). The trial court made

findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommended that we grant relief because Applicant had

established that he was actually innocent and his plea was involuntary. We agree in part.

Applicant contends that he is actually innocent of possessing the codeine and acetaminophen

because he obtained these substances under a valid prescription for Tylenol 3. See TEX . HEALTH &

SAFETY CODE § 481.117(a) (“Except as authorized by this chapter, a person commits an offense if

the person knowingly or intentionally possesses a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 3,

unless the person obtains the substance directly from or under a valid prescription or order of a

practitioner acting in the course of professional practice”). Section 481.117(a) is a legal defense, and

we have not held that such defenses establish that a person is actually innocent. See Ex parte

Fournier, WR-82,102-01, ___ S.W.3d ___ (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 28 2015).

We do agree that Applicant’s guilty plea was rendered involuntary. Relief is granted. The

judgment in cause number 1421085 in the 176th District Court of Harris County is set aside, and

Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Harris County to answer the charges as set out

in the information. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within 10 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: February 10, 2016 Do not publish