Phillips, Sherron Dondriel

WR-82,437-01 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS March 13, 2015 Transmitted 3/13/2015 10:57:11 AM Accepted 3/13/2015 11:28:24 AM ABEL ACOSTA Cause No. WR-82,437-01 CLERK IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EX PARTE SHERRON DONDRIEL PHILLIPS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus CAUSE NO. CR-566-12-D(1) FROM THE 206th DISTRICT COURT HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS The Honorable Rose Guerra Reyna, Presiding ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRIEF OF THE STATE OF TEXAS1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr. Criminal District Attorney Hidalgo County, Texas Glenn W. Devino State Bar No. 24012525 Lead Counsel for Appellee Office of the Criminal District Attorney 100 N. Closner Blvd. Edinburg TX 78539 Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808 Facsimile 956-380-0407 glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS 1 This Brief is filed in accordance and in compliance with the Order of the Court of December 17, 2015, directing the parties to brief certain issues as set forth in the said Order. IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL The State of Texas certifies that the following is a complete list of the parties, attorneys, and all other interested persons regarding this matter: 1.) The Applicant is: Sherron Dondriel Phillips Dominguez Unit, Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice TDCJ no. 1926973 6535 Cagnon Road, San Antonio, TX 78252-2202 2.) Applicant was represented in the trial court by: Toribio ‘Terry’ Palacios, Esq. (deferred adjudication proceeding) Texas bar no. 15423050 1805 E Russell, Edinburg, TX 78539 Michael Tuttle, Esq. (guilty plea proceeding) Texas bar no. 24037620 PO Box 4450, Edinburg TX 78540 3.) Applicant is represented in these habeas proceedings by:2 Alfredo Morales, Jr. Esq. 700 S. 25 1/2 St. E., McAllen, TX 78501 Texas bar no. 14417290 4.) The State of Texas was represented in the trial court by: Ricardo Rodriguez, Criminal District Attorney in and for Hidalgo County, Texas 100 N. Closner, 3rd floor, Edinburg TX 78539 by his Assistant Criminal District Attorney Joaquin Zamora Texas bar no. 24003229 6.) The State of Texas is represented in these habeas proceedings by: Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr., Criminal District Attorney in and for Hidalgo County, Texas 100 N. Closner, 3rd floor, Edinburg TX 78539 by his Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Glenn W. Devino Texas bar no. 24012525 7.) The Board of Pardons and Paroles is represented in these habeas proceedings by: Joseph P. Corcoran, Ass’t Att’y Gen. PO Box 12548, Austin TX 78711 Texas bar no. 00793549 2 The instant Application was filed by Applicant pro se. The Court, by Order of December 14, 2017, directed the trial court to, contingent upon a finding of Applicant’ indigence, appoint counsel to represent him in these habeas proceedings. The trial court, by Order of December 18, 2015, appointed Alfredo Morales, Jr., Esq. to represent Applicant in these habeas proceedings. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page…………………………………………………………………………...1 Identification of Parties and Counsel……………………………………………….2 Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………...3 Index of Authorities………………………………………………………………...4 Note as to Statement of the Case, Statement of Facts, and Issues Presented…...………………………………………………………………5 Summary of Arguments……………………………………………………….........6 Note as to Oral Argument…………………………………………………………..7 Argument…………………………………………………………………………...8 Prayer…………………………………………………………………………….....8 Certificate of Compliance…………………………………………………………..9 Certificate of Service…………………………………………………………….....9 3 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES The State of Texas hereby adopts by reference the Index of Authorities set forth by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7 4 NOTE AS TO STATEMENT OF THE CASE, FACTS AND ISSUES The State of Texas not being dissatisfied with the Statement of the Case, Statement of Facts and Statement of the Issues Presented set forth by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in its Brief, the State of Texas will not herein incorporate any further Statement of the Case, Statement of Facts or Statement of Issues Presented. Tex. R. App. P. 38.2(a)(1)(B). The State of Texas hereby adopts by reference the said Statements as set forth by the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7. 5 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS The State of Texas hereby joins the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in the Summary of the Arguments set forth in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7. 6 NOTE AS TO ORAL ARGUMENT Applicant has not requested oral argument. The State of Texas respectfully submits that oral argument in the case at bar would not serve to enlighten the Court further or illuminate the issues in that, because the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented in the briefs and record, the decisional process of the Court would not be significantly aided by oral argument. The State of Texas reserves the right to present oral argument should the Court order oral argument. 7 ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES The State of Texas hereby joins the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in the Argument advanced in its Brief. Tex. R. App. P. 9.7 PRAYER Wherefore, premises considered, the State of Texas prays the Court deny Applicant’s 11.07 application and hold that such a challenge is not cognizable under either habeas or mandamus processes. Respectfully submitted, _____/s/ Glenn W. Devino______________ Glenn W. Devino Assistant Criminal District Attorney Hidalgo County, Texas 100 N. Closner, 4th floor Edinburg TX 78539 Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808 Facsimile 956-380-0407 glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us State bar no. 24012525 8 Certificate of Compliance I hereby certify that this Brief, a computer-generated documents contains 1017 words _____/s/ Glenn W. Devino______________ Glenn W. Devino Assistant Criminal District Attorney Hidalgo County, Texas 100 N. Closner, 4th floor Edinburg TX 78539 Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808 Facsimile 956-380-0407 glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us State bar no. 24012525 Certificate of Service I hereby certify that I have sent a true and correct copy of the foregoing Brief to the following, as shown, on this the 13th day of March, 2015: 1.) Applicant, Sherron Dondriel Phillips TDCJ 1926973, through his attorney, Alfredo Morales, by facsimile to 956-381-4269 2.) The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, through its attorney, Assistant Attorney General Joseph P. Corcoran, by facsimile to 512-936-12803 _____/s/______Glenn W. Devino Glenn W. Devino Assistant Criminal District Attorney Hidalgo County, Texas 100 N. Closner, 4th floor Edinburg TX 78539 Telephone 956-318-2300 ext. 808 Facsimile 956-380-0407 glenn.devino@da.co.hidalgo.tx.us State bar no. 24012525 3 The State of Texas recognizes and acknowledges the mandate of Rule 9.5(b)(1), Tex. R. App. P. for service of documents by electronic mail; however, because of technical constraints, this brief cannot be served upon other parties electronically through the ‘email’ system of the Criminal District Attorney of Hidalgo County, Texas. 9