Newton, Roderick Dashad

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: July 22, 2009
• Docket: WR-54,073-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

NO. WR-54,073-02 EX PARTE RODERICK DASHAD NEWTON

ON APPLICATION FOR POST-CONVICTION WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

AND MOTION FOR STAY OF EXECUTION FROM CAUSE NO. W99-36618-I(B)

IN CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 2

DALLAS COUNTY

Per Curiam. Johnson, J., joins but would also remand applicant's fourth allegation. Keller, P.J., and Keasler, J., concur. Meyers, J., dissents.

O R D E R

This is a subsequent application for writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to the provisions of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 11.071, § 5, and a motion for stay of execution.

In February 2000, a jury found applicant guilty of the offense of capital murder. The jury answered the special issues submitted pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.071, and the trial court, accordingly, set applicant's punishment at death. This Court affirmed applicant's conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Newton v. State, No. AP-73,778 (Tex. Crim. App. June 12, 2002)(not designated for publication). Applicant filed his initial post-conviction application for writ of habeas corpus in the convicting court on December 10, 2001. This Court denied applicant relief. Ex parte Newton, No. WR-54,073-01 (Tex Crim. App. Jan. 15, 2003)(not designated for publication). Applicant's subsequent application was filed in the trial court on July 21, 2009.

Applicant presents four allegations in his application. In his first allegation, applicant asserts that he is mentally retarded and his execution would violate the United States Supreme Court's opinion in Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002). In his second allegation, applicant asserts that the State violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), by withholding material, exculpatory evidence from the defense. In his third allegation, applicant makes several claims regarding his competency. And, in his fourth allegation, applicant claims that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at the punishment phase of his trial because his attorneys failed to conduct a reasonably competent mitigation investigation.

We have reviewed the application and find that allegations one and two satisfy the requirements of Article 11.071, § 5. Accordingly, we grant applicant's motion to stay his execution and remand the application to the trial court for a live hearing on these claims. Applicant's third and fourth claims do not satisfy the requirements of Article 11.071, § 5 and are, therefore, dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS THE 22^ND DAY OF JULY, 2009.

Do Not Publish