Toler, Jordan Donald

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: September 16, 2015
• Docket: WR-83,738-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-83,738-01

EX PARTE JORDAN DONALD TOLER, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 24629 HC-1 IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT COURT FROM LAMAR 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 originally pleaded guilty to attempt

to commit theft of property valued at more than $100,000 but less than $200,000, in exchange for

deferred adjudication community supervision. He was later adjudicated guilty and sentenced to three

years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.

Applicant contends, among other things,1 that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance

1 This Court has considered Applicant’s other claims and finds them to be without merit. 2

because counsel failed to investigate or advise Applicant of the availability of an insanity defense,

and failed to investigate the value of the property that Applicant was charged with attempting to

steal.

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.

The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the

performance of Applicant’s trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial 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.

This application 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 shall 3

be obtained from this Court.

Filed: September 16, 2015 Do not publish