Howard, Tenika

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 19, 2024
• Docket: WR-93,975-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-93,975-01

EX PARTE TENIKA HOWARD, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 19CR-201 IN THE 349TH DISTRICT COURT FROM HOUSTON COUNTY

Per curiam.

OPINION

Applicant pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance PG 1 > 4G < 200G in a drug

free zone and was originally placed on deferred adjudication for a period of ten years. Later,

Applicant was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. Applicant did not

appeal her conviction. 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, among other things, that her plea was involuntary because she was not

informed that her conviction would be treated as a “3g” offense. Based on the record, the trial court

has determined that Applicant’s plea was involuntary.

On remand, the trial court attempted to grant Applicant a new trial, set aside the judgment, 2

and re-sentence Applicant to possession of a controlled substance PG 1 > 4G < 200G, a non-3g

offense. The trial court was without authority to do so. See Ex parte Alexander, 685 S.W.2d 57, 60

(Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (noting that, “[i]t is well established that only the Court of Criminal Appeals

possesses the authority to grant relief in a post-conviction habeas corpus proceeding where there is

a final felony conviction. The trial court is without such authority.”). The amended judgment

purporting to change Applicant’s conviction and sentence undertaken by the trial court is void and

of no effect.

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

number 19CR-201 in the 349th District Court of Houston County is set aside, and Applicant is

remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Houston 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.

Filed: June 19, 2024 Do not publish