Warren, Jamarcus D ( 2016 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. WR-86,015-01
EX PARTE ROYCE JAMARCUS D. WARREN, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. 33,637-A-H-1 IN THE 188TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM GREGG 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). Pursuant to a plea bargain, Applicant was
convicted of murder and sentenced to forty years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.
Applicant contends, among other things, that the State committed misconduct, his plea was
involuntary, and he is actually innocent. Specifically, Applicant has included affidavits from
Gregory Wheeler and Bryson Carey, recanting their accusations in this case and alleging the State’s
prosecutor coerced and intimidated false statements from them regarding Applicant’s involvement.
Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Ex parte Castellano, 863 S.W.2d
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476 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Ex parte
Tuley, 109 S.W.3d 388 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). We believe that in cases such as this one, in which
an allegation is made that the State conspired with witnesses to fabricate evidence, 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
Gregory Wheeler and Bryson Carey 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.
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.
The trial court shall make findings as to Gregory Wheeler and Bryson Carey’s recantations
and accusations of State misconduct. The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of
law as to whether Wheeler and Carey actually wrote and signed the affidavits attached to Applicant’s
writ application. If so, the trial court shall make findings as to the credibility of the statements made
in the affidavits; specifically, whether or not Wheeler and Carey were threatened and coerced by the
District Attorney and whether they were told by the State what to put in their statements. The trial
court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law in regard to Applicant’s claim that his plea
was involuntary. The trial court shall specifically weigh the evidence of Applicant’s guilt against
any 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 make any other findings of fact and
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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. 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: December 14, 2016
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