Sparks, Robert Blake

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 14, 2014
• Docket: WR-76,786-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

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NO. WR-76,786-02

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EX PARTE ROBERT SPARKS

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ON APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

CAUSE NO. W08-01020-J(B) IN THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 3

DALLAS COUNTY

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           Per curiam.

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.

           In 2008, a jury convicted applicant of the offense of capital murder. The jury answered the special issues submitted under Article 37.071, and the trial court, accordingly, set punishment at death. This Court affirmed applicant’s conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Sparks v. State, No. AP-76,099 (Tex. Crim. App. October 20, 2010) (not designated for publication). Applicant filed his initial post-conviction application for writ of habeas corpus in the convicting court in 2010, and this Court denied relief in 2011. Applicant then filed an application for a writ of habeas corpus in federal district court. See Sparks v. Stephens, No. 3:12-CV-469-N, Document 33 (N.D.-Dallas Div., January 13, 2014). The federal district court stayed the proceedings to give applicant an opportunity to exhaust his claims in state court. Id. Applicant then filed this subsequent application for writ of habeas corpus in the convicting court on February 21, 2014. The convicting court forwarded this application to this Court, where it was received on April 7, 2014. Art. 11.071, § 5(b)(1).

           We have reviewed this subsequent application and find that the allegation fails to satisfy the requirements of Article 11.071, § 5(a). Accordingly, we dismiss the application as an abuse of the writ without considering the merits of the claim. Art. 11.071, § 5(c).

           IT IS SO ORDERED THIS THE 14^TH DAY OF MAY, 2014.

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