IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
CAUSE NO. 3748-A IN THE 154TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM LAMB COUNTY
O P I N I O N
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 was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Applicant contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to timely file a written notice of appeal. We remanded this application to the trial court for findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial court has determined that at the end of Applicant's trial his appointed counsel gave oral notice of appeal and moved to withdraw, but did not file a written notice of appeal or provide Applicant with a written notice to file pro se. Although Applicant was properly advised of his right to appeal and the deadlines to file notice of appeal, counsel failed either to file written notice of appeal or to provide Applicant with a written notice to file himself before counsel withdrew, even though counsel had previously given oral notice of appeal for Applicant.
We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of conviction in Cause No. 3748 from the 154th Judicial District Court of Lamb County. Ex parte Axel, 757 S.W.2d 369 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which he may give a written notice of appeal so that he may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain a meaningful appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if the sentence had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute an appeal, he must take affirmative steps to file a written notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate of this Court issues.
Delivered: December 5, 2007
Do Not Publish