Zeno, Jason ( 2015 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. WR-81,814-03
EX PARTE JASON PAUL ZENO, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. F-2002-1700-E IN THE 367TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM DENTON 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). Applicant was convicted of sexual assault
and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.
Applicant contends, among other things, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance.
He alleges that counsel was ineffective at his adjudication hearing by not requesting a separate
sentencing hearing after his guilt was adjudicated, failing to call his treatment provider to testify that
he was not discharged from treatment, eliciting damaging testimony, not doing an adequate pre-trial
investigation, and not presenting mitigation and character witnesses. He also alleges that counsel
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was ineffective as his initial plea for not informing him that if his guilt was adjudicated, he would
be facing the entire range of punishment. He also alleges that counsel coerced him into pleading
guilty by refusing to go to trial without more money.
Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). 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 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).
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 and conclusions of law as to whether the
performance of Applicant’s trial counsel 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. 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
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be obtained from this Court.
Filed: October 7, 2015
Do not publish