Davis, Crystal Yvonne Mitchell AKA Mitchell, Crystal

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 4, 2015
• Docket: WR-82,616-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-82,616-01

EX PARTE CRYSTAL YVONNE MITCHELL, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 728779-A IN THE 339th DISTRICT COURT FROM HARRIS COUNTY

Per curiam.

ORDER

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 possession of a

controlled substance with intent to deliver and sentenced to eighteen years’ imprisonment. She did

not appeal her conviction.

Applicant contends that her trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he coerced

her into entering a plea of guilty and he failed to call a witness who would have provided exculpatory

evidence in this case. In response to Applicant’s claims of ineffective assistance, the trial court 2

entered a detailed order designating issues (ODI) ordering a response from counsel. The ODI was

signed on September 26, 2006. Approximately eight years later, the trial court has now entered

findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that relief be dismissed because the

Applicant is “not incarcerated in the primary case.” However, the trial court’s conclusions of law

are in error. According to the habeas record, the trial court has based its recommendation on an

affidavit that states the Applicant is currently on release to parole in this cause. However, release

to parole is still a restraint in liberty and this application is properly before this Court.1

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle her to relief. Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these

circumstances, additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294

(Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court

shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The

trial court may use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).

If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent.

If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the

performance of Applicant’s trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and

1 TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.22, which defines the term restraint, states:

By “restraint” is meant the kind of control which one person exercises over another, not to confine him within certain limits, but to subject him to the general authority and power of the person claiming such right. 3

conclusions of law that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant’s claim for

habeas corpus relief.

This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues.

Given the already lengthy delay in this case, the issues shall be resolved within 60 days of this order.

A supplemental transcript containing all affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court

reporter’s notes from any hearing or deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings

of fact and conclusions of law, shall be forwarded to this Court within 90 days of the date of this

order. Any extensions of time shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: February 4, 2015 Do not publish