IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. WR-84,057-01
EX PARTE CHUCKWA DON CRABTREE, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. 4600 IN THE 84TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM OCHILTREE COUNTY
Per curiam.
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 pleaded guilty to murder and was
sentenced to forty years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.
Applicant contends, among other things,1 that his trial counsel rendered ineffective
assistance, causing his plea to be unknowingly and involuntarily entered. Applicant alleges that trial
counsel failed to adequately plead his motion to suppress Applicant’s custodial statements, failed
1
This Court has reviewed Applicant’s other claims and finds them to be without merit.
2
to investigate and challenge the validity of the enhancement allegations, and failed to advise
Applicant of his options, the benefits of going to trial, and the consequences of pleading guilty.
Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668 (1984); 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 claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The
trial court may use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).
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 first supplement the habeas record with copies of the trial docket, and
copies of all written motions filed and ruled on before Applicant entered his plea. The trial court
shall also supplement the record with copies of the plea papers, including the plea agreement, written
admonishments, waivers, stipulations, judicial confessions, and any evidence that was introduced
to support the plea, including the judgments from the prior convictions alleged as enhancements in
this case. The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the
performance of Applicant’s trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient
performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall make findings as to whether Applicant’s
plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered, and as to whether he retained any right to appeal. 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.
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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: November 11, 2015
Do not publish
Crabtree, Chuckwa Don
Combined Opinion