IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
CAUSE NO. 05F0189-102-B IN THE 102ND DISTRICT COURT
FROM BOWIE 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 theft over $20,000 and punishment, enhanced by a prior conviction, was assessed at fifty years' imprisonment. Appeal was dismissed because notice was untimely. Reed v. State, No. 06-07-003-CR (Tex.App. - Texarkana, delivered January 31, 2007, no pet.).
Applicant contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to file a notice of appeal. The trial court has determined that trial counsel failed to file a notice of appeal when he withdrew as Applicant's counsel, and new counsel was not appointed in time to file a timely notice of appeal. 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. 05F0189-102-B in the 102nd District Court of Bowie County. 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.
Applicant's remaining claims are dismissed. See Ex parte Torres, 943 S.W.2d 469 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
Delivered: June 27, 2007
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