Yepez, Cristian

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 24, 2021
• Docket: WR-92,334-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-92,334-01

EX PARTE CRISTIAN YEPEZ, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 2014CRN001641D4 IN THE 406TH DISTRICT COURT FROM WEBB COUNTY

Per curiam.

ORDER

Applicant was convicted of one count of murder and one count of tampering with evidence

and sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment for the murder count and fifteen years’ imprisonment

for the tampering count. The Fourth Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions. Yepez. v State, No.

04-17-00358-CR (Tex. App. — San Antonio July 3, 2019) (not designated for publication).

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 appellate counsel failed to timely inform Applicant that his

conviction had been affirmed. Applicant alleges that he did not receive notification of the court of

appeals’ decision until August 6, 2019, by which time the deadline for filing a petition for 2

discretionary review had passed. Applicant also alleges that appellate counsel did not prepare or

advise Applicant that he could prepare a motion for an extension of time to file the petition. The

appellate docket reflects that appellate counsel did not certify compliance with rule 48.4 of the Texas

Rules of Appellate Procedure until August 6, 2019, at which time appellate counsel submitted a copy

of the notification he sent to Applicant, dated on August 6, 2019. Applicant has alleged facts that,

if true, might entitle him to relief. Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Ex

parte Crow, 180 S.W.3d 135 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). 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 appellate 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 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 findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether appellate

counsel timely informed Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed. The trial court shall also

determine whether Applicant would have timely filed a petition for discretionary review but for

appellate counsel’s alleged deficient performance. 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, 3

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

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: February 24, 2021 Do not publish