Mims, Jonathan Austin ( 2015 )

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May 11, 2015
Mr. Abel Acosta, Clerk
Court of Criminal Appeals
P.O. Box 12308
Austin, Texas 78711-2308
Re: Ex parte Jonathan Mims, Case No. 10-08-09096-CR
WR-77, 257-02
Dear Clerk:
Enclosed please find a copy of Applicant Mim’s Reply to State’s Answer- With Brief in Support,
to be filed among the papers in the above-styled and numbered cause.
Applicant was given an opportunity to prepare and file this with the district court prior today
because the trial court ordered the clerk of the court to transmit the Writ application before he had
even received a copy of same.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Enclosure
Cc: Montgomery County District Clerk
Montgomery County District Attorney (Respondent)
File
RECE|VED |N
couRr oFcR:MlNALAPPEALs »
MAY 20 2015
Abel Acosta, Q|erk
NO. 10-08-09096-CR
l EX PARTE . § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
JoNATHAN AUSTIN MIMs § 43,5lH JUDICIAL I)ISTRICT COURT
APPLICANT, PRo sE § MoNTGoMERY CoUNTY, TEXAS
APPLICANT MIM’S REPLY BRIEF TO
STATE’S ANSWER WITH BRIEF IN SUPPORT
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:
CQMES NOW, Jonathan A. Mims, Applicant, proceeding in pro se on his own behalf in
the above-styled and numbered cause, files this, his Brief in Memorandum in Support of his
Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus, in support thereof, Applicant would show the Court as
follows:
I.
Procedural Historyl
Applicant was charged by a two-paragraph indictment 2 with the felony offense of sexual
assault of a child. The Applicant, on advice of trial c.ounsel, Rick Brass, entered into a plea
bargain with the State in which he would receive five (5) years in the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutional Division (“TDCJ-CID”) in lieu of his plea of guilty to
the instant charge. Applicant waived his right to direct review as part of his bargain with the
State. However, Applicant actually pled “nolo-contendre,” instead, which Applicant was under
the misimpression such a plea was not an admission of guilt. Applicant file his original
' Applicant would advise the Court that while he has previously filed an application seeking habeas corpus relief, the
same was “dismissed” by the Court of Criminal Appeals as being non-compliant in Ex parte Jonalhan Austin Mims,
WR-77,257-01.
2 See Exhibit A, lndictment, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
l
application, which was dismissed as being “non-compliant,” by the Court of Criminal Appeals
(CCA), so this is his second, but not subsequent application as the first was “dismissed” versus
“denied” and therefore, the art. 11.07, § 4 (a)-(c), V.A.C.C.P., should not be applicable to the
case at bar.
II.
Applicant’s Allegations
l. Applicant complains that his guilty plea was entered unknowingly, unintelligently
and therefore, involuntarily based upon the erroneous advice of trial counsel Rick
Brass;
2. Applicant asserts that he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel Rick
Brass in violation of the Sixth Amendment.
Id. State Writ Appl. at 6-7.
III.
APPLICANT’S REPLY TO STATE’S ANSWER WITH BRIEF IN SUPPORT
Preliminary Statement
In its answer, the State avers that Applicant’s application seeking habeas corpus relief
should be denied. Answer at 2.3 Since Applicant’s first writ application was “dismissed” by the
CCA, it is of no moment what was presented in that unadjudicated post-conviction application as
the State references and suggests in its answer. Ial.4 Applicant is fully aware that the burden of
proof rests on his shoulders, not the State and submits he has met this requirement heretofore in
his original pleadings.
3 For purposes of these proceedings, Applicant will refer to the ten page document entitled: “State’s Answer to
Second Application for Post-Conviction Writ of Habeas Corpus as “Answer,” followed by the page referenced
4 See generally Ex parte Torres, 943 S.W.Zd 469, 474 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
2
IV.
Argument and Authorities
I. In his first ground, Applicant submitted his guilty plea was not entered voluntarily, based
upon the erroneous advice of trial counsel, that being, that if he pled nolo-contendre he would
not be pleading “guilty” and as such, would not be required to register as a sex offender upon his
future release. Counsel did not properly explain what the term nolo-contendre meant in legal
terms and misled him to believe he was not, in actuality, pleading guilty to the instant offense.
Reply to State ’s Response to Grouna’ One
In its answer, the State’s answer in response to the first ground presented by Applicant, it
relies upon an affidavit that was submitted by trial counsel, Rick Brass, in response to
Applicant’s first writ application which was “dismissed” by the Court of Criminal Appeals as
being non-compliant on March 07, 2012; see Ex parte Jonathan Mz``ms, Writ No. WR-77,257-01.5
Which Applicant avers is stale and does not respond to the issues presented in the instant
application sufficiently. Applicant respectfully requests that this Honorable Court remand this
case back to the trial court with instructions to obtain a new affidavit from trial counsel that
addresses the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel contained herein. Moreover, just
because counsel provides self-serving'averments within his original affidavit responding to the
allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel presented in the original application, that does not
vest him with certain credibility, which the trial court has extended to based solely on the fact he
is an officer of the court and nothing more. Applicant asserts he “never made it clear to Mr.
v
Brass that he did not wish to risk going to trial.” Ia’. Answer at 4. Applicant had always
5 See Exhibit A, Electronic docket sheet of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
3
maintained his innocence to counsel and only accepted the State’s plea bargain offer based upon
counsel’s erroneous advice as alleged in his first ground for habeas corpus relief.
Bura'en of Proof in a Post-Convictl``on Habeas Corpus Proceedz``ng
“In a post-conviction collateral attack, the.burden is on the Applicant to allege and prove
facts which, if true, would entitle him to relief.” See Ex parte Mala'anado, 688 SW2nd 116 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1985). An Applicant has the burden of proving his grounds for relief by a
preponderance of the evidence. See Ex parte Aa’ams, 768 S.W.2d 281, 287-88 (Tex. Crim. App.
1989). “[S]wom allegations are not alone sufficient proof.” Ex parte Empey, 757 SWZd 77l, 775
(Tex. Crim. App. 1988).
A guilty plea is involuntary when it's entered by a defendant because of threats made
against him, or perhaps someone else he knows; or because he was motivated or "induced" to
enter it by improper promises made to him. Some examples of when threats and promises may
make a guilty plea involuntary include situations when:
0 A defendant's attorney threatens withdraw as counsel and a family
member threatens to withdraw bail if he doesn't plead guilty;
o The prosecution knows that it doesn't have probable cause to believe that a
defendant actually committed a crime but threatens to prosecute him unless he
pleads guilty;
o The prosecution threatens to prosecute a member of the defendant's familyl,
even though it doesn't have probable cause to believe that the family member
committed a crime, unless the defendant pleads guilty;
¢, The prosecution promises the defendant that he'll get a certain sentence or
punishment if he pleads guilty but the prosecution knows or has a good reason to
believe that the judge won't give the defendant the promised sentence.
Standard of Review
Counsel's advice can provide assistance so ineffective that it renders a guilty plea
involuntary Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56, 106 S. Ct. 366, 88 L.Ed.Zd 203 (1985) (quoting
McMcmn v. Richardson,' 397 U.S. 759, 771, 90 S. Ct. 1441, 25 L.Ed.Zd 763 (1970);
“voluntariness of the plea depends on whether counsel's advice ‘was within the range of
competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.’ ”). A guilty plea is not knowing or
voluntary if made as a result of ineffective assistance of counsel. Ex parte Burns, 601 S.W.Zd
370, 372 (Tex.Crim.App.1980). A defendant's decision to plead guilty when based upon
erroneous advice of counsel is not done voluntarily and knowingly. Ex parte Battle, 817 S.W.2d
81, 83 (Tex.Crim.App.1991).See also Ex parte Harrington, 310 S.W.3d 452, 459
(Tex.Crim.App.ZOlO) (“When counsel's representation falls below this [Strz'cklana’ ] standard, it
renders any resulting guilty plea involuntary.”).
Applicant contentions remain the same, that his trial counsel so grossly misadvised him
concerning the meaning of him entering a nolo-contendere plea that it rendered Applicant’s
guilty plea involuntarily entered and but for such inadequate advice, Applicant would not have
accepted the plea offer made by the State, but would have insisted on proceeding to trial
otherwise. Additionally, contrary to trial counsel’s stale aversions contained in his original
affidavit, Applicant never contended he was unaware he would have to serve prison time as part
of the plea bargain, but counsel misled Applicant by telling him by entering a “nolo-contendre”
plea he would avoid a conviction on his record. Applicant‘avers this made his plea
unintelligently and therefore, involuntarily entered.6 Applicant has demonstrated by clear and
convincing evidence that the instant ground has merit and should therefore be sustained.
II. Ground Two Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
ln his second ground for relief, Applicant submits that he was denied the effective
assistance of counsel guaranteed to all criminal defendants at trial. In the instant application
seeking habeas corpus relief, Applicant alleges that his trial attorney was deficient by (1) failing
to file requisite motions prior to Applicant entering his plea of nolo-contendre as part of a plea
agreement with the state, which effected and impacted the voluntariness of his plea based on the
erroneous advice of counsel who obviously had not attempted to advocate on behalf of the
Applicant. State Writ Appl. at 7.
Standard of Review
The right to effective assistance of counsel is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution. See, McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 771 n. 14 (1970). This
constitutional guarantee attaches to both retained and appointed counsel. See Cuyler v.
Sulll``van, 446 U.S. 335, 344-45 (1980).
In 1984 the U.S. Supreme Court established a two-prong test to be used by the lower
courts in evaluating ineffective assistance claims: a criminal defendant must prove that counsel’s
performance was “deficient” because it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and
l that this deficient performance so prejudiced the defendant that the resulting conviction or death
l sentence is unreliable or fundamentally unfair. See, Strl``ckland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687
6 In the State’s Answer, state counsel mixes ineffective assistance of counsel claims made in ground two of the
application with his claims made in ground one regarding his plea being entered involuntarily based upon counsel’s
misrepresentations Applicant will address the issues as,originally presented for purposes of clarity and continuity
ion these proceedings
(1984). ``Deficient performance is not enough to warrant reversal under Strickland. A defendant
must demonstrate that the deficient performance prejudiced his/her defense lnherent in the
prejudice component is a prerequisite showing that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different A
reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” 466
U.S. at 694. See als().' SQ[far v. Drel'ke, supra, 368 F.3d at 478 [“reasonable probability need not
be proof by a preponderance that the result would have been different”].
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently handed down an ineffective assistance of
_ counsel ruling involving an attorney’s failure to investigate, interview and subpoena a
witness. See Harrison v. Quarterman, __ F.3d __ 2007 WL 2306918, C.A. lt is beyond
cavil that “an attorney must engage in a reasonable amount of pretrial investigation and [,] at
a minimum, interview potential witnesses and make an independent investigation of the facts
and circumstances in the case.” Bryant v. Scott, 28 F.3d 1411, 1415 (5th Cir. 1994) (intemal
quotation marks and alterations omitted). In Bryant, this court held that trial counsels g‘failure
to interview eyewitnesses to the crime was constitutionally deficient representation.” Id., at
1418. The record in this case is devoid of any motions defense counsel filed and obtained a
ruling on.
(2) Counsel was ineffective for failing to explain the meaning of the word “nolo-
contendre,” and the legal ramifications of entering such a plea. In fact, counsel misled
Applicant into believing that he was not pleading “guilty” but was accepting the five year
`` punishment in prison in lieu of having to register as a sex offender thereafter. To prevail on a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant must show that trial counsel's
performance was deficient and that a reasonable probability exists that the result of the
proceeding would have been different but for the deficiency.7 The first prong of the
Strickland test requires that the appellant show that counsel's performance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness Stricklana’ v. Washz``ngton, 466‘U.S. 668, 687 (1984). It
cannot be said that counsel in this case was not deficient for failing to provide Applicant with
an accurate definition of what the term nolo-contendere meant and that it would not, contrary
to counsel’s previous assertions to Applicant prior to his plea) constitute reasonable effective
assistance of counsel and more than a mere probability exists that had he correctly
enlightened Applicant of what the true definition and reality of entering such a plea would be,
the proceedings would have been different, because Applicant would have not accepted the
State’s offer and would have insisted on proceeding to trial.
(3) lt should be noted by the Court of Criminal Appeals his trial attomey, in his stale
affidavit asserted that while there was “scientific evidence in the State’s file [which] consisted of
some DNA testing,” Ia'. Answer at 9, that it was “insignificant” and would not be a factor in
making a decision to try the case or not. Ibl``a’. However, Applicant contends he was never told by
counsel before his plea was entered that there had been any DNA testing by the State and as the
State’s Answer does not specify what DNA testing was completed or the results, this supports
Applicant’s contentions his plea was unknowing, unintelligently and involuntarily entered. The
State attempts to cloak counsel’s ineffectiveness in this regard by stating, in relevant part within
its answer, “[T]herefore, it appears that Brass made a strategic decision not to rely upon the DNA'
evidence in advising Applicant whether to proceed to trial. . .” Id. At 9. Applicant has complained
trial counsel was ineffective for failing to have DNA testing conducted on the biological material
7 strickland v_ Washmgmn, 466 u.s. 668, 687 (1984).
obtained during the CW’s SANE examination Although Applicant voluntarily provided a
sample of his DNA and there was a presumptive detection of semen in the rape kit. No DNA
testing was doneaccording to the record before this Court. Counsel was deficient for failing to
conduct a thorough and proper investigation of the facts and witnesses in this case. The right to
counsel is a key constitutional protection for criminaldefendants that are provided via the Sixth
Amendment. The United States Supreme Court has determined that this fundamental right
includes the right to effective assistance of counsel. More specifically, the Sixth Amendment
affords the accused the right to counsel, while the Fourteenth Amendment ensures the right to
due process, and the Supreme Court has determined that due process includes the right to
effective counsel. Ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC) claims have been reviewed by the .
Supreme Court in numerous cases since the court first held that the Sixth Amendment right to
' counsel applied to the states in Powell v. Alabama (1932). The high court has struggled to
develop a clear explanation of what it means for counsel to be “effective” in their roles as legal
advocates. The range of incompetency for defense counsel ranges from those whose failure to
perform adequately results in harmless error to those whose incompetency demonstrates a blatant
disregard of a defendant’s interests, and therefore affects the defendant’s ability to obtain a fair
trial. lt cannot be found that Applicant received effective assistance from his trial attorney
through his neglect to ensure the available material for DNA testing, did in fact get tested,
prejudicing the defense.
(4) Applicant submits trial counsel was ineffective for failing to interview a favorable
witness for the defense, Kendryan Lee, who was both willing and available to testify on
Applicant’s behalf. However, counsel coerced Applicant into accepting the defense not calling
this witness in to be interviewed, “because it would piss off the DA and the plea offer would be
withdrawn. Texas courts adhere, as we must, to the United States Supreme Court’s two-pronged
Strickland test to determine whether counsel’s representation was inadequate so as to violate a
defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Hernandez v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53, 55 (Tex
Crim. App. 1986).
\.
CoNCLUsIoN
Accordingly, Applicant would respectfully request that this Honorable Court sustain
these grounds as presented for habeas relief or in the altemative, remand this case back to the
trial court with instructions to( obtain a fresh affidavit from trial counsel responding to these
allegations and the manner in which they were couched.
sIGNEI) 66 this the 11“‘ day Of May 2015.
Respectfully submitted,
"a A” j','/ ’ '
065 Wa ut Bend Lane, #33
Houston, Texas 77042
10
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
l, Jonathan A. Mims, Applicant, pro se, herein certify that a true and correct copy of
this instrument was sent to the Respondent, by placing same, in a U.S. mail box, first-class
postage paid, addressed to:
Mr. Brent W. Ligon
Montgomery County District Attomey
207 W. Phillips, Second Floor
Conroe, Texas 77301
sIGNED 66 this the 11"‘ day Of May 2015.
11
EXHIBIT
A
CASE:
WR-77,257-01
STYLE;
M|MS, JONATHAN AUST|N
APPELLATE BR|EFS
DATE EvENT TYPE DEscRIPTIoN DocuMENT
No BmEFs.
CASE EVENTS
DATE EVENT TYPE DEscRiPTIoN DlsPosrnoN DocuMENT
v APPLICATION FoR
03/07/2012 AcnoN TAKEN WRIT oF HABEAS t E§x;§/E§C``E`` NON``
coRPus - 11.07 -
_ APPucATIoN FoR .l
02/27/2012 Wth RECEt\/ED WRIT oF HABEAs :
coRPus - 11.07 ``
CAL E N DARS
set DATE cALENDAR TYPE REAsoN sET
03/07/2012 ' sToRED ; Wth sToRED
PARTlES
PARTY PARTYTYPE REPRESENTAn\/E
MI|\/|S, JONATHAN AUSTIN
1 APPLICANT (WRITS)/APPELLANT'S z
v (CASES) 1
COURT OF APPEALS lNFOR|\/|AT|ON:
1
COA CASE NUN|BER
COA D|SPOS|T|ON:
OP|N|ON ClTE:
COURT OF APPEALS D|STR|CT:
TR|AL COURT |NFOR|V|AT|ON
COURT:
435TH D|STR|CT COURT
couNTY':
MONTGOMERY
COURT JUDGE:
COU RT CASE:
1068-09096-€»?(1)
COURT REPORTER: