Lopez, Ex Parte Armando R.

















IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS




NO. 74,842


EX PARTE ARMANDO R. LOPEZ, Applicant




ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

FROM BEXAR COUNTY


Per Curiam.

O P I N I O N





This is a post-conviction application for a writ of habeas corpus forwarded to this Court pursuant to Article 11.07, § 3, et seq., V.A.C.C.P. Applicant was convicted of the felony offense of murder, and punishment was assessed at forty-five years confinement. Applicant's direct appeal was dismissed for want of jurisdiction. Lopez v. State, No. 04-01-00684-CR, (Tex. App. -- San Antonio, delivered February 11, 2002, no pet.).

Applicant contends that he was denied his right to appeal when counsel failed to properly raise an appealable issue. The trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that Applicant be granted an out-of-time appeal. We agree.

Habeas corpus relief is granted and Applicant is granted an out-of-time appeal from his conviction in cause number 2001-CR-4929 from the 187th District Court of Bexar County. The proper remedy in a case such as this is to return Applicant to the point at which he can give notice of appeal. For purposes of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, all time limits shall be calculated as if the conviction had been entered on the day that the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that Applicant, should he desire to prosecute an appeal, must take affirmative steps to see that notice of appeal is given within thirty days after the mandate of this Court has issued.

DO NOT PUBLISH

DELIVERED: December 10, 2003