Richardson, Ex Parte Pete Lavard

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. AP-76,026 EX PARTE PETE LAVARD RICHARDSON, Applicant ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 1044020 IN THE 184 TH DISTRICT COURT FROM HARRIS COUNTY Per curiam. OPINION 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 writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of compelling prostitution and sentenced to life imprisonment. The First Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Richardson v. State, No. 01-06-00004-CR, (Tex. App.–Houston [1st] delivered May 31, 2007). Applicant contends that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel failed to timely notify Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed. Appellate counsel filed an affidavit with the trial court. Based on that affidavit, the trial court 2 has entered findings of fact and conclusions of law that appellate counsel failed to timely notify Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed. The trial court recommends that relief be granted. Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time petition for discretionary review of the judgment of the First Court of Appeals in Cause No. 01-06-00004-CR that affirmed his conviction in Case No. 1044020 from the 184th Judicial District Court of Harris County. Applicant shall file his petition for discretionary review with the First Court of Appeals within 30 days of the date on which this Court’s mandate issues. Delivered: November 5, 2008 Do not publish