IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
CAUSE NO. 05CR-16,561 IN THE 273RD DISTRICT COURT
FROM SHELBY COUNTY
O R D E R
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 delivery of a controlled substance and sentenced to fourteen (14) years' imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.
Applicant contends that his plea was involuntary because the plea agreement cannot be followed. Specifically, he alleges that he pleaded guilty upon the condition that he would receive 1578 days credit, but that the agreement cannot be followed as he only committed his offense 737 days before sentencing. He alleges that his trial counsel and the trial judge both assured him that he would get the 1578 days pre-sentence jail time credit and that he would not have pleaded guilty but for the promise of the credit. Applicant has alleged facts which, if true, could entitle him to relief.
On April 30, 2008, this Court remanded this application to the trial court to get an affidavit from trial counsel and an affidavit from the TDCJ time office. On June 17, 2008, the trial judge forwarded a supplemental record containing the affidavit from the TDCJ time office, an affidavit from the Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted a case, and a transcription of the court reporter's notes from the plea hearing. The trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that relief be denied because the agreement concerned good time credits and not credit for time served in county jail. However, the trial judge's finding that the agreement concerned good time credits is not supported by the record as the court documents, including the transcription of the court reporter's notes from the plea hearing, show that the agreement concerned credit for time served in county jail.
In these circumstances, additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court may use any means set out in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.07, § 3(d) in that it shall order trial counsel to file an affidavit addressing whether: (1) the 1578 days of pre-sentence jail time credit was an affirmative part of Applicant's plea agreement; (2) whether he advised Applicant that he would get the 1578 days credit if he pleaded guilty; and, (3) whether he believes that Applicant would not have pleaded guilty, but for the promise of 1578 days pre-sentence jail time credit. If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.04.
The trial court shall make findings of fact as to whether Applicant pleaded guilty upon the condition that he would get 1578 days pre-sentence jail time credit. The trial judge shall make findings of fact as to whether counsel believed that Applicant would have pleaded guilty, but for the promise of 1578 days of pre-sentence jail time credit. The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant's claim for habeas corpus relief.
This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. If any continuances are granted, a copy of the order granting the continuance shall be sent to this Court. A supplemental transcript containing all affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter's notes from any hearing or deposition, along with the trial court's supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be returned to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall be obtained from this Court.
Filed: August 20, 2008
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