Debrow, Edwin Carl Jr.
This text of Debrow, Edwin Carl Jr. (Debrow, Edwin Carl Jr.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
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 writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. His sentence was stacked on a previous juvenile disposition, which he was serving at the time he committed the aggravated assault offense. As the result of an out-of-time appeal from the juvenile adjudication and disposition, the Fourth Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's order of disposition, and remanded that cause for a new disposition hearing. In re E.C.D., No. 04-05-003391-CV (Tex. App. - San Antonio, February 21, 2007).
Applicant contends that when his juvenile disposition was reversed, TDCJ should have recalculated his sentence begin date for the aggravated assault conviction, because the sentence upon which it was stacked had ceased to operate. Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. In these circumstances, additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact.
The trial court may use any means set out in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 11.07, § 3(d), in that it shall order the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Correctional Institutions Division and Parole Division, to file affidavits stating whether Applicant has had a new disposition hearing for the juvenile adjudication, and if so, what the result of that hearing was. The affidavit should state whether or not Applicant's sentence begin date for the aggravated assault was adjusted when his juvenile disposition was reversed, and should describe TDCJ's policy in cases where the first of two stacked sentences is reversed or vacated. The affidavit should state whether or not Applicant is receiving credit for any of the time served on the aggravated assault conviction, and if so, how much time.
The trial court may also order depositions, interrogatories or a hearing. In the appropriate case, the trial court may rely on its personal recollection. Id. 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. C ode Crim. Proc. Art. 26.04.
The trial court shall make findings of fact as to whether TDCJ is correctly calculating the sentence begin date and the amount of time served, if any, on the aggravated assault conviction. 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. If any continuances are granted, a copy of the order granting the continuance shall be sent to this Court. 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 returned to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall be obtained from this Court.
Filed: December 5, 2007
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