Rainwater, Lester Lewis

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 11, 2015
• Docket: WR-71,783-03
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-71,783-03

EX PARTE LESTER LEWIS RAINWATER, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. C-14,699 IN THE 173RD DISTRICT COURT FROM HENDERSON COUNTY

Per curiam.

OPINION

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 was convicted of possession of a

controlled substance and sentenced to life years’ imprisonment.

Applicant contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to

timely file a notice of appeal. We find that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-

time appeal of the judgment of conviction in Cause No. C-14,699 from the 173rd District Court of

Henderson County. Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which he may give a written notice 2

of appeal so that he may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain a meaningful appeal. Within ten days

of the issuance of this opinion, the trial court shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If

Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall immediately

appoint an attorney to represent Applicant on direct appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if

the sentence had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that,

should Applicant desire to prosecute an appeal, he must take affirmative steps to file a written notice

of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate of this Court issues.

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

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: February 11, 2015 Do not publish