Hopkins, Deanotra Lwan

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: November 15, 2023
• Docket: WR-94,704-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-94,704-01

EX PARTE DEANOTRA LWAN HOPKINS, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. C-213-W012206-1653363-A IN THE 213TH DISTRICT COURT FROM TARRANT COUNTY

Per curiam. KEEL, J. filed a dissenting opinion in which KELLER, P.J. joined. YEARY and SLAUGHTER, JJ., dissented.

OPINION

Applicant pled guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity and was sentenced to eight

years’ imprisonment. Applicant did not file a direct appeal. Applicant filed this application for a

writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded it to this Court.

See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07.

Applicant contends that his plea was involuntary because trial counsel erroneously advised

Applicant on his parole eligibility. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court found that Applicant

had failed to prove counsel’s advice regarding parole eligibility constituted ineffective assistance of

counsel and, therefore, failed to prove his guilty plea was involuntary due to ineffective assistance 2

of counsel.

We disagree. It is clear from the record that parole eligibility was an important factor in

Applicant’s decision to plead guilty, and counsel erroneously told him that he would be eligible for

parole in eleven months when he was not eligible until he served half his sentence, or four years.

Relief is granted. Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 (1970). The judgment in cause

number 1653363D in the 213th District Court of Tarrant County is set aside, and Applicant is

remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Tarrant County to answer the charges as set out in the

indictment. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within ten days from the date of

this Court’s mandate.

Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional

Institutions Division and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Delivered: November 15, 2023 Do not publish