Hopper, Ronnie Michael

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 25, 2023
• Docket: WR-94,327-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-94,327-01

EX PARTE RONNIE MICHAEL HOPPER, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 60066-A-1*1 IN THE 30TH DISTRICT COURT FROM WICHITA COUNTY

Per curiam.

ORDER

Applicant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault (count one) and indecency with a child

(counts two and three) and sentenced to twenty five years’ imprisonment on count one, and three

years’ imprisonment on counts two and three, with count three to run consecutively to counts one

and two. The Second Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Hopper v. State, No. 02-18-00476-

CR (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Feb. 6, 2020) (not designated for publication). 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 trial counsel was ineffective by failing to call fact witnesses and

failing to investigate, that the State presented false testimony, and that there was cumulative error. 2

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466

U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Weinstein, 421 S.W.3d 656 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Accordingly, the

record should be developed. The trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. TEX . CODE

CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). The trial court shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s

claims. In developing the record, the trial court may use any means set out in Article 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 wants to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel

to represent him at the hearing. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or

retained, the trial court shall immediately notify this Court of counsel’s name.

The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial counsel’s

performance was deficient and Applicant was prejudiced. The trial court shall also make findings

of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the State presented false testimony, and, if so, whether

the testimony was material. The trial court may make any other findings and conclusions that it

deems appropriate in response to Applicant’s claims.

The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

hearings and depositions. See TEX . R. APP. P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

Filed: January 25, 2023 Do not publish