Opinion

Hartfield, Maurice

Court
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Filed
Sep 12, 2012
Status
Published
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 38.3%

The opinion

ORDER IS

WITHDRAWN

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

NO. WR-76,916-01

EX PARTE MAURICE HARTFIELD, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

CAUSE NO. 2009CR2039 IN THE 437TH DISTRICT COURT

FROM BEXAR COUNTY

Per curiam.

O R D E R

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 two counts of

intoxication assault and sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment on each count. The Fourth Court

of Appeals dismissed his appeal. Hartfield v. State , No. 04-11-00050-CR (Tex. App.-San Antonio

March 16, 2011, no pet.).

Applicant contends that there was a pre-indictment delay, that he was denied a speedy trial,

that no evidence was presented in his case, and that trial counsel were ineffective. The trial court

made findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommended that we dismiss or deny Applicant's

claims. We agree that Applicant's claims are without merit. But in the interests of justice, we have

reviewed the entire record and believe that Applicant might have received ineffective assistance of

counsel and multiple punishments for the same offense in violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause.

Strickland v. Washington , 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Brown v. Ohio , 432 U.S. 161 (1977); Ex parte Ervin ,

991 S.W.2d 804 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Applicant was charged with one count of aggravated

assault and one count of intoxication assault, Tex. Pen. Code §§ 22.02, 49.07, and each count

alleged that he caused serious bodily injury to the identical complainant on or about January 1, 2008.

He was convicted, however, of two counts of intoxication assault.

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. 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 him at the hearing. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.04.

The trial court shall make further findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial

counsel were ineffective and Applicant received multiple punishments for a single offense in

violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause. The trial court shall also make findings and conclusions

as to what remedy, if any, is appropriate. 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 these grounds.

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.

Filed: September 12, 2012

Do not publish

ORDER IS WITHDRAWN

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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