IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
CAUSE NO. 52293-D IN THE 320TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
FROM POTTER 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 writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to ninety-nine years' imprisonment. The Seventh Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Daigle v. State, No. 07-07-0264-CR (Tex. App. - Texarkana, May 24, 2010).
Applicant contends that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel failed to timely notify Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed. The State responds that Applicant's appellate counsel died on May 30, 2011, and that his secretary made a diligent search of appellate counsel's file in Applicant's case, but was unable to find any correspondence showing that appellate counsel notified Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed on direct appeal and advising him of his right to file a pro se petition for discretionary review. 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 Seventh Court of Appeals in Cause No. 07-07-0264-CR that affirmed his conviction in Case No. 52293-D from the 320th Judicial District Court of Potter County. Applicant shall file his petition for discretionary review with this Court within 30 days of the date on which this Court's mandate issues.
Delivered: August 24, 2011
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