IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. WR-82,063-01
EX PARTE ELMER HOWARD WHISENANT, JR., Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. F34688 A IN THE 249TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM JOHNSON COUNTY
Per curiam. KELLER , P.J., and MEYERS, J., would deny relief. KEASLER , J., filed a
dissenting statement in which HERVEY , J., joined.
ORDER
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 six counts of
aggravated assault, one count of violation of a protective order, one count of burglary of a habitation,
one count of retaliation, two counts of aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of obstruction. He
was sentenced to imprisonment for seven terms of twenty years, four terms of ten years, and two
terms of seventy years. The Tenth Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions. Whisenant v. State,
2
No. 10-01-00305-CR (Tex. App.—Waco Mar. 12, 2003) (not designated for publication).
In six grounds, Applicant contends that his convictions and sentences violate due process
because they were based on knowing false testimony, the State engaged in misconduct, and trial
counsel rendered ineffective assistance. On October 15, 2014, in response to a motion to remand,
we instructed Applicant in a written order that if he wished to properly present his documentary
evidence to this Court, he could file it in the county of conviction within 30 days of the date of that
order. He filed his evidence within 30 days of October 15, and it was forwarded to this Court as a
supplement.
Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Weinstein, 421 S.W.3d 656 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Ex parte
Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these circumstances, additional facts
are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the
trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order trial counsel to
respond to Applicant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims. The trial court may use any means
set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).
Applicant appears to be represented by counsel. If he is not and 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 him at the hearing.
TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.
The trial court shall determine whether (1) the affidavits and declarations Applicant filed as
supplements are credible; (2) Applicant’s due process rights were violated because false evidence
was presented that was material to his convictions and sentences; (3) the State engaged in
3
misconduct; (4) counsel’s conduct was deficient; and (5) but for counsel’s deficient conduct there
is a reasonable probability that the result would have been different. 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 claims 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. 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 forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall
be obtained from this Court.
Filed: June 3, 2015
Do not publish