Prunty, Travis

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 13, 2018
• Docket: WR-84,059-03
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NOS. WR-84,059-03 AND WR-84,059-04

EX PARTE TRAVIS PRUNTY, Applicant

ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NOS. 11CR-116-1 AND 11CR-113-1 IN THE 349TH DISTRICT COURT FROM HOUSTON 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 pleaded guilty to two charges of

assault on a public servant and was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for each charge, to run

concurrently with each other. He did not appeal his convictions.

Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because trial counsel

failed to investigate, failed to seek out and interview a witness who had expressed a willingness to

testify on Applicant’s behalf, and tricked Applicant into pleading guilty by telling him erroneously

that the original trial judge had removed himself from the case and that it would be in Applicant’s 2

best interest to plead guilty because the new judge would be harder on him. Applicant alleges that

his cases were set for trial, but that he was brought to plead guilty a week early “behind the back”

of the original trial judge.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. 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 trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. 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 Applicant at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

Because Applicant's convictions in these cases were final in 2012, but he did not file these

applications until more than five years later, there is a possibility that Applicant's claims may be

precluded by laches. However, because the record is silent on the circumstances that may excuse

this substantial delay, we reserve judgment as to whether laches bars Applicant's request for relief

until he is given an opportunity to explain his delayed applications. See Ex parte Smith, 444 S.W.3d

661 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). The trial court shall provide Applicant with the opportunity to explain

his delay in seeking habeas relief, and thereafter the trial court shall make findings of fact and

conclusions of law as to whether Applicant's claims should be barred by laches. The trial court shall

make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the performance of Applicant's counsel

was deficient and, if so, whether counsel's deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial 3

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 claim for habeas corpus relief.

These applications 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

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: June 13, 2018 Do not publish