Opinion
NO. WR-70,259-02
02-24-2021
EX PARTE THERAN BLACKWELL, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 932330-B IN THE 184 DISTRICT COURT FROM HARRIS COUNTY Per curiam. ORDER
Applicant was convicted of indecency with a child and sentenced to thirty years' imprisonment. The First Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction. Blackwell v. State, 193 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1 Dist.] 2006). Applicant filed this application for a writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded it to this Court. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07.
Applicant contends, among other things, that perjured testimony was used to convict him based on the recantation of the complainant and that the State coerced the complainant to falsely testify against him. We believe that in recantation cases such as this one, before we make the important decision of whether Applicant is entitled to relief, the record should be more fully developed. The trial court shall therefore conduct a live evidentiary hearing on the matter at which the complainant shall be called to testify. Notice of the hearing and an opportunity to testify shall be given to those persons who participated in the trial or the investigation.
The trial court shall make findings as to the credibility of the complaining witness' recantation. The court shall make further findings of fact regarding the circumstances surrounding the complainant's recantation, including the delay between the trial and the recantation. The trial court shall make findings as to whether Applicant could have presented the information contained in the recanting witness' affidavit prior to his trial. The trial court shall specifically weigh the evidence of Applicant's guilt against the new evidence of innocence. See Ex parte Tuley, 109 S.W.3d 388, 393 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The trial court shall enter findings of fact as to the credibility of each witness and as to whether Applicant is entitled to relief. The trial court shall also enter findings regarding whether the complainant was coerced by the State into testifying falsely at trial and whether the State improperly withheld evidence from the defense.
It appears that Applicant is not represented by habeas counsel. The trial court, within 30 days of the date of this order, 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 evidentiary hearing. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.04.
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 the transcription of the court reporter's notes from the live evidentiary hearing and a copy of the exhibits admitted, along with the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law and a copy of the trial record, including the clerk's record and a transcription of the reporter's record of the trial, shall be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time must be requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court. Delivered: February 24, 2021
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