DAWSON, RONNIE LEE Jr.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas·Decided April 5, 2017·No. WR-86,442-01·Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS

NO. WR-86,442-01

EX PARTE RONNIE LEE DAWSON JR. , Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 22806 IN THE 336TH DISTRICT COURT FROM FANNIN 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 manufacture or delivery of controlled substance and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.

Applicant contends, among other things, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel did not investigate whether the offense occurred within a drug free zone.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him 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 specific findings of fact determining the specific location of this offense and the distance between where the offense occurred and the drug free zone alleged in the indictment. The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and 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. The issues shall be resolved within 90 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 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time must be requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: April 5, 2017 Do not publish

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

DAWSON, RONNIE LEE Jr., (Tex. 2017).

DAWSON, RONNIE LEE Jr. (DAWSON, RONNIE LEE Jr.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Ex Parte Rodriguez
334 S.W.2d 294 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1960)
Ex Parte Patterson
993 S.W.2d 114 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1999)
Ex Parte Young
418 S.W.2d 824 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1967)