Blackwell, Andrew James

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 15, 2026
• Docket: WR-97,055-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-97,055-01

EX PARTE ANDREW JAMES BLACKWELL, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 21DCR84349-A IN THE 264TH DISTRICT COURT BELL COUNTY

Per curiam.

OPINION

A jury convicted Applicant of sexual assault. The trial court assessed his

punishment at ten years’ imprisonment. Applicant appealed his conviction to the

Third Court of Appeals, but it was dismissed at his request. Blackwell v. State, No. 03-

24-00347-CR (Tex. App.—Austin, delivered October 30, 2024) (not designated for

publication). Through habeas counsel, Applicant filed this application for a writ of

habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded it to this 2

Court. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07.

Applicant argues that his trial counsel wrongly informed him that the trial court

had the authority to place Applicant on community supervision after being convicted

by the jury of sexual assault. This information was incorrect because a judge may not

order community supervision to a defendant adjudged guilty of sexual assault under

Section 22.011 of the Texas Penal Code. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art 42A.054(8).

Once Applicant was convicted by the jury of sexual assault, only the jury had the

authority to make a recommendation for community supervision. See TEX. CODE

CRIM. PROC. art. 42A.055. This Court’s independent review of the record shows that

Applicant is entitled to habeas relief. See Miller v. State, 548 S.W.3d 497 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2018).

Relief is granted. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). The sentence

in cause number 21DCR84349-A in the 264th District Court of Bell County is set

aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Bell County for a

new punishment hearing. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant

within ten days from the date of this Court’s mandate.

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

Justice–Correctional Institutions Division and the Board of Pardons and Paroles. 3

Delivered: January 15, 2026 Do not publish