Hernandez-Mendoza, Jose Angel

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: April 3, 2019
• Docket: WR-89,376-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-89,376-02

EX PARTE JOSE ANGEL HERNANDEZ-MENDOZA, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 164728B IN THE 452ND DISTRICT COURT FROM MASON 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 and sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment. The Fourth Court of Appeals

dismissed his appeal. Hernandez-Mendoza v. State, No. 04-18-00353-CR (Tex. App.—San Antonio

Oct. 31, 2018) (not designated for publication).

Applicant contends, among other things, that the State failed to disclose a report prepared by

the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime Laboratory showing that a yellow ziplock baggie

contained .40 grams of methamphetamine. Applicant also contends that guilty-plea counsel failed 2

to investigate this report.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Brady v. Maryland, 373

U.S. 83 (1963); 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 the prosecutor(s) and guilty-plea

counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims. 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 him 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 State,

including members of the “prosecution team,” failed to disclose the report before Applicant pleaded

guilty and was adjudicated guilty. The trial court shall also determine whether the report was material

for purposes of Brady. Finally, the trial court shall determine whether guilty-plea counsel was

deficient for not investigating the report and whether Applicant was prejudiced. 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 claims 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 3

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 3, 2019 Do not publish