Ex Parte Davis

248 S.W.2d 133, 157 Tex. Crim. 370, 1952 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1811

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 27, 1952
• Docket: 25730
• Status: Published

Opinions

WOODLEY, Judge.

Relator, an inmate of the state penitentiary, filed his application for habeas corpus before Hon. Max M. Rogers, Judge of the 12th Judicial District of Texas. Judge Rogers heard the testimony and ordered the writ issued, returnable to this court.

Appellant’s confinement is' by virtue of a conviction in cause No. 16,437 in the district court of Jefferson County of the offense of robbery with firearms, he having been on October 8, 1946, sentenced to a term of 25 years in the penitentiary.

The judgment of conviction in said cause shows that relator appeared “in person and by counsel,” and that upon his plea of guilty, a jury assessed his punishment at 25 years in the penitentiary.

Appellant is entitled to have the sentence construed as an indeterminate sentence of not less than 5 years nor more than 25 years, though the sentence may not be reformed in this collateral proceeding. See Ex Parte Brewer 156 Texas Crim. R. 369, 242 S.W. (2) 430.

Appellant testified in the hearing before Judge Rogers that he had no counsel and that none was appointed for him in cause No. 16,437.

Such testimony is not sufficient to overcome the above recitation found in the judgment. Further, relator’s testimony is contradicted by other facts and circumstances in the record, including the affidavit of the trial judge.

Relator’s confinement being lawful, the relief prayed for is denied.

Opinion approved by the court.