Opinion
No. WR-69,458-01
Filed: March 19, 2008. DO NOT PUBLISH.
On Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, Cause No. 04F0606-102-A in the 102nd District Court from Bowie County.
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 writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex.Crim.App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, in an amount of more than 200 grams but less than 400 grams, and sentenced to forty years' imprisonment. The Sixth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Duck v. State, No. 06-06-00054-CR (Tex.App.-Texarkana, April 3, 2007, pet. ref'd). Applicant contends, inter alia, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Specifically, he alleges that counsel: (1) failed to seek fingerprint testing of jars of liquid found in Applicant's storage room, to help determine whether Joanna Shope's allegation that she had planted the jars without Applicant's knowledge was true; (2) failed to call witnesses Whitney, Randy Jewell, and Carlene Carter to corroborate Shope's and Don Wild's testimony that Shope had planted the jars found in Applicant's storage room; (3) failed to properly object to extraneous offense evidence, including evidence that pornography and a pistol were found in Applicant's house, evidence of Applicant's financial problems, including an I.R.S. lien on his home, a domestic disturbance call from his house shortly before trial, and the State's assertion that a prior case against Applicant had not gone to trial because Applicant had beaten up and intimidated a potential witness; and (4) failed to request a jury instruction on a lesser offense after Shope testified that she had planted 258 grams of methamphetamine in Applicant's storage room without his knowledge. Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 608 (1984); Ex parte Lemke, 13 S.W.3d 791,795-96 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). 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 provide Applicant's trial counsel with the opportunity to respond to Applicant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court may use any means set out in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.07, § 3(d). In the appropriate case, the trial court may rely on its personal recollection. Id. 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 make findings of fact as to whether the performance of Applicant's trial attorney was deficient and, if so, whether counsel's deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. 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. 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. If any continuances are granted, a copy of the order granting the continuance shall be sent to this Court. 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 returned to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall be obtained from this Court.