NO. 07-04-0418-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL D
SEPTEMBER 20, 2004
______________________________
IN RE FRANK DWIGHT CARTER, RELATOR
_______________________________
Before QUINN and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
By this original proceeding, relator Frank Dwight Carter, proceeding pro se and in
forma pauperis, seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the Honorable Mackey K. Hancock,
Judge of the 99th District Court of Lubbock County, to dismiss his aggravated robbery
charge and find that his conviction is void. Under applicable principles of law, mandamus
relief is denied.
According to the documents filed by relator, he was indicted for aggravated robbery
in 1989. That same year, the State filed a motion to dismiss the indictment in cause
number 89-409,601, indicating that on July 7, 1989, relator had been re-indicted in cause
number 89-409,752. Pursuant to the State’s request, on July 12, 1989, the trial court
signed an order dismissing cause number 89,409,601. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann.
art. 32.02 (Vernon 1989) (providing that the State may dismiss a criminal prosecution at
any time with permission of the trial court). A certified copy of the motion to dismiss and
the trial court’s dismissal order are included with relator’s documents. See Tex. R. App.
P. 52.3(j)(1)(A). Appellant was convicted of aggravated robbery pursuant to a subsequent
indictment, and on June 12, 1990, was sentenced to confinement for life. Per relator’s
statements, this Court affirmed the conviction on May 1, 1992.
Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy available only in limited circumstances
involving manifest and urgent necessity and not for grievances that may be addressed by
other remedies. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992). Relator is entitled
to mandamus relief if he establishes (1) the act sought to be compelled is purely ministerial
and (2) he has no other adequate legal remedy. State ex rel. Rosenthal v. Poe, 98 S.W.3d
194, 198 (Tex.Cr.App. 2003). The ministerial act requirement is satisfied if relator
establishes a “clear right to the relief sought” with nothing left to the exercise of discretion
or judgment. Id.
Relator argues that the trial court was without jurisdiction over the re-indicted offense
and that his conviction is void as a matter of law. By his prayer for relief he requests that
Judge Hancock be directed to comply with the dismissal order entered in the first indicted
offense in cause number 89-409,601.
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It is well settled that dismissal of an indictment does not prevent the grand jury from
returning a subsequent indictment charging the same offense. Ex parte Williams, 379
S.W.2d 911, 912 (Tex.Cr.App. 1964); see also Hughes v. State, 16 S.W.3d 429, 431
(Tex.App.–Waco 2000, no pet.). Furthermore, when the dismissal order does not indicate
that the case was dismissed “with prejudice,” it does not operate as a bar to a subsequent
indictment and prosecution. Hughes, 16 S.W.3d at 431. The certified copy of the dismissal
order provided by relator does not recite that it was dismissed “with prejudice.”
The copy of the order included with relator’s petition establishes that the trial court
dismissed the first indictment. Also, by his own words, relator acknowledges that he filed
a direct appeal of his conviction based on the subsequent indictment, which was affirmed.
Thus, relator has not demonstrated any entitlement to mandamus relief.
Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
Don H. Reavis
Justice
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