Schibi, Michael Gregory

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 4, 2022
• Docket: WR-93,551-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-93,551-01

EX PARTE MICHAEL GREGORY SCHIBI, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 10841-D (1) IN THE 350TH DISTRICT COURT FROM TAYLOR COUNTY

Per curiam.

ORDER

Applicant pleaded guilty to aggravated assault family violence and placed on deferred

adjudication community supervision for seven years. Applicant’s community supervision was later

revoked and he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. The Eleventh Court of Appeals

dismissed his appeal for want of jurisdiction. Schibi v. Texas, No. 11-19-00325-CR (Tex. App. —

Eastland, Oct. 28, 2021). 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 his plea was involuntary because both the trial court and his trial

counsel improperly admonished Applicant that his charge was for a first-degree felony when, in fact, 2

it was a second-degree felony offense. Based on the record, the trial court has determined that the

trial court incorrectly admonished Applicant on the applicable punishment range for a first-degree

felony and that trial counsel incorrectly advised Applicant to plead guilty to a first-degree felony

when he had only been charged with a second-degree felony. However, there is no response from

trial counsel in the record.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S.

52 (1985); Ex parte Argent, 393 S.W.3d 781 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Ex parte Morrow, 952 S.W.2d

530, 534 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). 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 claim. 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/her] 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 additional findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether

trial counsel was ineffective. 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 3

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: MAY 04, 2022 Do not publish