Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-22-00691-CR
The STATE of Texas, Appellant
v.
Fernando ROQUIEL-TOPOF, Appellee
From the 49th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas Trial Court No. 2022CVK001352D1 Honorable Jose A. Lopez, Judge Presiding
PER CURIAM
Sitting: Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice H. Todd McCray, Justice Velia J. Meza, Justice
Delivered and Filed: October 29, 2025
REVERSED AND RENDERED
The State of Texas appeals the trial court’s order granting the appellee’s request for habeas
relief. On August 30, 2023, this court affirmed the trial court’s judgment and ordered the case
dismissed with prejudice. On December 11, 2024, the Court of Criminal Appeals vacated our
opinion and remanded the case to consider the merits of the appeal in light of its decision in Ex
parte Aparicio, 707 S.W.3d 189 (Tex. Crim. App. 2024), cert denied sub nom. Aparicio v. Tex., 04-22-00691-CR
145 S. Ct. 2852 (2025). On August 12, 2025, we issued an opinion and judgment reversing the
trial court’s judgment and remanding for further proceedings consistent with the opinion.
Appellee subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration en banc. Acting sua sponte, we
withdraw our August 12, 2025 opinion and judgment in this case and substitute this opinion and
judgment in their stead to render judgment. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.3 (appellate court should render
judgment trial court should have rendered, except when remand is necessary for further
proceedings or for another trial in the interests of justice); see also State v. Lopez-Miranda, No.
04-23-00153-CR, 2024 WL 3954213, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Aug. 28, 2024, no pet.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (reversing and rendering judgment dismissing habeas
application and reinstating information). For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court’s
order granting habeas relief, render judgment denying Appellee’s application for pretrial habeas
relief, and reinstate the information charging Appellee with the misdemeanor offense of criminal
trespass. Because we substitute this opinion and judgment for our August 12, 2025 opinion and
judgment, we deny Appellee’s motion for en banc reconsideration as moot.
BACKGROUND
Appellee was arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass as a part of
Operation Lone Star (“OLS”). Appellee subsequently filed a pretrial application for writ of habeas
corpus, arguing that the State engaged in selective prosecution by choosing to prosecute men for
criminal trespass but not to prosecute similarly situated women for the same offense, in violation
of the Equal Protection clauses of the United States and Texas constitutions. The trial court granted
Appellee’s habeas application and ordered the case dismissed. The State appealed.
-2- 04-22-00691-CR
DISCUSSION
On appeal, the State argues that Appellee’s selective-prosecution claim is not cognizable
in a pretrial habeas proceeding and that the trial court erred by granting the application for writ of
habeas corpus.
I. Standard of Review
Generally, we review a trial court’s ruling on a pretrial application for a writ of habeas
corpus for an abuse of discretion. See Kniatt v. State, 206 S.W.3d 657, 664 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006);
Ex parte Jarreau, 623 S.W.3d 468 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2020, pet. ref’d). “However, when,
the resolution of the ultimate issue turns on the application of purely legal standards, we review
the trial court's ruling de novo.” Jarreau, 623 S.W.3d at 472. We will uphold the trial court’s ruling
“if that ruling was supported by the record and was correct under any theory of law applicable to
the case.” Armendariz v. State, 123 S.W.3d 401, 404 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing State v. Ross,
32 S.W.3d 853, 856 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)). “That rule holds true even if the trial court gave the
wrong reason for its ruling.” Armendariz, 123 S.W.3d at 404 (citing Romero v. State, 800 S.W.2d
539, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)).
II. Jurisdiction
The State argues that a pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus based on a claim of
selective prosecution is not cognizable on appeal. The Appellee, however, disputes this argument.
From our review, the facts and arguments in this case are substantively the same as those in Ex
parte Aparicio, in which the Court of Criminal Appeals concluded that the appellee’s claim of
selective arrest and prosecution was cognizable under the facts of that case. 707 S.W.3d at 202.
Accordingly, we conclude that Appellee’s claim is cognizable.
-3- 04-22-00691-CR
The State’s other argument alleging the district court lacked jurisdiction because the writ
did not formally issue with service on an officer with custody of Appellee also fails. “Because (1)
formal issuance of a writ is not a jurisdictional requirement, (2) the State fails to argue or provide
a record to show that it did not enter a general appearance in the trial court proceedings, that the
trial court did not otherwise obtain personal jurisdiction over the State, or that it did not receive
notice that the district court was considering [Appellee’s] habeas application, and (3) the district
court had, in effect, issued the writ when it granted relief on the merits of [Appellee’s] application,
we conclude that the district court did not lack jurisdiction based on any alleged failure of the
district court to formally issue a writ.” Rodriguez-Gomez, 716 S.W.3d at 717.
III. Selective Prosecution
Appellee’s habeas petition argues the State unlawfully discriminated against Appellee by
selectively prosecuting only men for criminal trespass and not women. The State argues the
Appellee failed to present evidence of selective prosecution and only presented evidence of
selective enforcement. However, both claims utilize the same standards for determining a violation
of the Equal Protection Clause and invoke the same analysis, since they both impose the same
burdens on the litigants. 1 Aparicio, 707 S.W.3d at 200–01.
1 On appeal, Appellee contends the State waived any argument as to the merits of the Appellee’s selective prosecution claims during the hearing in the trial court. However, the “appellant bears the burden initially to ‘dispel the presumption that the [Government] has not violated equal protection’ with ‘clear evidence to the contrary.’” Aparicio, 707 S.W.3d at 204 (quoting United States v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456, 465 (1996)); see Ex parte Kimes, 872 S.W.2d 700, 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (“A writ applicant has the burden of proving the facts which would entitle the applicant to relief.”); cf. State v. Kilma, 934 S.W.2d 109 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (State was able to raise the issue of standing for the first time on appeal where defendant, as the party bringing the motion to suppress, bore the burden of first establishing all elements of suppression claim before the burden shifted to the State).
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Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-22-00691-CR
The STATE of Texas, Appellant
v.
Fernando ROQUIEL-TOPOF, Appellee
From the 49th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas Trial Court No. 2022CVK001352D1 Honorable Jose A. Lopez, Judge Presiding
PER CURIAM
Sitting: Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice H. Todd McCray, Justice Velia J. Meza, Justice
Delivered and Filed: October 29, 2025
REVERSED AND RENDERED
The State of Texas appeals the trial court’s order granting the appellee’s request for habeas
relief. On August 30, 2023, this court affirmed the trial court’s judgment and ordered the case
dismissed with prejudice. On December 11, 2024, the Court of Criminal Appeals vacated our
opinion and remanded the case to consider the merits of the appeal in light of its decision in Ex
parte Aparicio, 707 S.W.3d 189 (Tex. Crim. App. 2024), cert denied sub nom. Aparicio v. Tex., 04-22-00691-CR
145 S. Ct. 2852 (2025). On August 12, 2025, we issued an opinion and judgment reversing the
trial court’s judgment and remanding for further proceedings consistent with the opinion.
Appellee subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration en banc. Acting sua sponte, we
withdraw our August 12, 2025 opinion and judgment in this case and substitute this opinion and
judgment in their stead to render judgment. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.3 (appellate court should render
judgment trial court should have rendered, except when remand is necessary for further
proceedings or for another trial in the interests of justice); see also State v. Lopez-Miranda, No.
04-23-00153-CR, 2024 WL 3954213, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Aug. 28, 2024, no pet.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (reversing and rendering judgment dismissing habeas
application and reinstating information). For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court’s
order granting habeas relief, render judgment denying Appellee’s application for pretrial habeas
relief, and reinstate the information charging Appellee with the misdemeanor offense of criminal
trespass. Because we substitute this opinion and judgment for our August 12, 2025 opinion and
judgment, we deny Appellee’s motion for en banc reconsideration as moot.
BACKGROUND
Appellee was arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass as a part of
Operation Lone Star (“OLS”). Appellee subsequently filed a pretrial application for writ of habeas
corpus, arguing that the State engaged in selective prosecution by choosing to prosecute men for
criminal trespass but not to prosecute similarly situated women for the same offense, in violation
of the Equal Protection clauses of the United States and Texas constitutions. The trial court granted
Appellee’s habeas application and ordered the case dismissed. The State appealed.
-2- 04-22-00691-CR
DISCUSSION
On appeal, the State argues that Appellee’s selective-prosecution claim is not cognizable
in a pretrial habeas proceeding and that the trial court erred by granting the application for writ of
habeas corpus.
I. Standard of Review
Generally, we review a trial court’s ruling on a pretrial application for a writ of habeas
corpus for an abuse of discretion. See Kniatt v. State, 206 S.W.3d 657, 664 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006);
Ex parte Jarreau, 623 S.W.3d 468 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2020, pet. ref’d). “However, when,
the resolution of the ultimate issue turns on the application of purely legal standards, we review
the trial court's ruling de novo.” Jarreau, 623 S.W.3d at 472. We will uphold the trial court’s ruling
“if that ruling was supported by the record and was correct under any theory of law applicable to
the case.” Armendariz v. State, 123 S.W.3d 401, 404 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing State v. Ross,
32 S.W.3d 853, 856 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)). “That rule holds true even if the trial court gave the
wrong reason for its ruling.” Armendariz, 123 S.W.3d at 404 (citing Romero v. State, 800 S.W.2d
539, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)).
II. Jurisdiction
The State argues that a pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus based on a claim of
selective prosecution is not cognizable on appeal. The Appellee, however, disputes this argument.
From our review, the facts and arguments in this case are substantively the same as those in Ex
parte Aparicio, in which the Court of Criminal Appeals concluded that the appellee’s claim of
selective arrest and prosecution was cognizable under the facts of that case. 707 S.W.3d at 202.
Accordingly, we conclude that Appellee’s claim is cognizable.
-3- 04-22-00691-CR
The State’s other argument alleging the district court lacked jurisdiction because the writ
did not formally issue with service on an officer with custody of Appellee also fails. “Because (1)
formal issuance of a writ is not a jurisdictional requirement, (2) the State fails to argue or provide
a record to show that it did not enter a general appearance in the trial court proceedings, that the
trial court did not otherwise obtain personal jurisdiction over the State, or that it did not receive
notice that the district court was considering [Appellee’s] habeas application, and (3) the district
court had, in effect, issued the writ when it granted relief on the merits of [Appellee’s] application,
we conclude that the district court did not lack jurisdiction based on any alleged failure of the
district court to formally issue a writ.” Rodriguez-Gomez, 716 S.W.3d at 717.
III. Selective Prosecution
Appellee’s habeas petition argues the State unlawfully discriminated against Appellee by
selectively prosecuting only men for criminal trespass and not women. The State argues the
Appellee failed to present evidence of selective prosecution and only presented evidence of
selective enforcement. However, both claims utilize the same standards for determining a violation
of the Equal Protection Clause and invoke the same analysis, since they both impose the same
burdens on the litigants. 1 Aparicio, 707 S.W.3d at 200–01.
1 On appeal, Appellee contends the State waived any argument as to the merits of the Appellee’s selective prosecution claims during the hearing in the trial court. However, the “appellant bears the burden initially to ‘dispel the presumption that the [Government] has not violated equal protection’ with ‘clear evidence to the contrary.’” Aparicio, 707 S.W.3d at 204 (quoting United States v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456, 465 (1996)); see Ex parte Kimes, 872 S.W.2d 700, 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (“A writ applicant has the burden of proving the facts which would entitle the applicant to relief.”); cf. State v. Kilma, 934 S.W.2d 109 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (State was able to raise the issue of standing for the first time on appeal where defendant, as the party bringing the motion to suppress, bore the burden of first establishing all elements of suppression claim before the burden shifted to the State). Because we review the application of law to facts de novo, we will first turn to see if the habeas applicant affirmatively established their right to relief. Alford v. State, 400 S.W.3d 924, 929 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (“Even if the trial court had limited its conclusion of law to a particular legal theory, an appellate court would not be required to defer to that theory under its de novo review.”). Moreover, neither the trial court nor the State had the benefit of the Court of Criminal Appeals decision in Aparicio in reviewing the merits of Appellee’s Equal Protection prosecutorial discrimination claim. 707 S.W.3d 189. We thus conclude the State did not waive its argument Appellee failed to meet its burden under Aparicio. Id.
-4- 04-22-00691-CR
To establish a prima facie case of “selective prosecution or selective enforcement, the
claimant must prove with ‘exceptionally clear evidence’ that: 1. The prosecutorial policy had a
discriminatory effect; and 2. it was motivated by a discriminatory purpose.” Id. at 204 (citations
omitted). The second prong requires the claimant “definitively show that an otherwise facially
neutral law is being administered in bad faith—that it was ‘directed so exclusively against a
particular class of persons . . . with a mind so unequal and oppressive’ that equal protection of the
law was denied.” Id. at 208 (emphasis in original) (quoting U.S. v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456, 464–
65 (1996)). In other words, the claimant must show by “‘exceptionally clear evidence’ that the
OLS mindset administering the facially neutral criminal trespass law was ‘so unequal and
oppressive’ against him because he is male.” Id. at 210 (emphasis in original) (citations omitted).
The evidence here is substantively the same as the evidence presented in Aparicio. Id. at
189. We therefore conclude, based on our review of the entire record and after considering the
parties’ arguments, that the evidence is insufficient to show that the State of Texas’ policy was
motivated by a discriminatory purpose. Id. at 204.
CONCLUSION
Because Appellee failed to establish the second prong of his selective prosecution claim,
the trial court erred in granting his application for writ of habeas corpus. Accordingly, we reverse
the trial court’s order granting Appellee’s pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus, render
judgment denying Appellee’s habeas relief, and reinstate the information charging Appellee with
the misdemeanor offense of criminal trespass.
DO NOT PUBLISH
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