Ex parte Sheffield

ENOCH, Chief Justice. Joseph B. Sheffield appeals from an order denying his application for a writ of habeas corpus to avoid extradition to Kansas where he is charged with “computer crime.” In a single point of error, applicant contends that the trial court committed reversible error by refusing to admit into evidence applicant’s affidavit which was intended to raise the issue of his identity as the fugitive named in the Governor’s warrant. Because this affidavit failed to place applicant’s identity at issue, we affirm. During applicant’s extradition hearing, the State introduced the Governor’s warrant and supporting documents into evidence. Applicant did not testify or present any evidence other than his own affidavit, which was offered for the purpose of raising the issue of identity. The trial court sustained the prosecutor’s hearsay objection complaining that admission of this affidavit would prevent him from cross-examining applicant. Although the extradition papers included a photograph and affidavit identifying applicant as the man wanted in Kansas, applicant urges that the trial court erred by refusing to consider applicant’s sworn denial. [77] Evidence of a Governor’s warrant, regular on its face, is sufficient to establish a 'prima facie case authorizing extradition of the person named.1 Ex parte Johnson, 651 S.W.2d 439, 440 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1983, no pet.). After admission of the warrant, the burden then shifts to the extradition contestant to overcome the prima facie case. Ex parte Nelson, 594 S.W.2d 67, 68 (Tex.Crim.App.1979). The State has no further burden to prove the identity of the accused as the fugitive named in the warrant unless that issue is raised. Ex parte Wheeler, 528 S.W.2d 229, 229 (Tex.Crim.App.1975). The demanding state is not prohibited from using hearsay evidence to identify the fugitive named in the Governor’s warrant. Ex parte Martinez, 530 S.W.2d 578, 580-82 (Tex.Crim.App.1975). Although this rule has not been specifically applied to an affidavit from the accused, the introduction of a document containing his sworn denial of identity has been held sufficient to raise the issue. See Ex parte Meador, 597 S.W.2d 372, 373 (Tex.Crim.App.1980); Ex parte Spencer, 567 S.W.2d 520, 521-22 (Tex.Crim.App.1978). Meador and Spencer were both decided at a time when inadmissible hearsay, even if not objected to, completely lacked any probative value. See Chambers v. State, 711 S.W.2d 240, 245-47 (Tex.Crim.App.1986). Consequently, affidavits could not have successfully raised identity issues in those cases had the rule against hearsay been applicable. Further, the issue of identity can be raised by the mere filing of an appropriate affidavit. Ex parte Nelson, 594 S.W.2d at 68. We hold that an extradition contestant’s affidavit denying that he is the individual named in the Governor’s warrant is admissible, even over a timely objection that it constitutes hearsay or prevents cross-examination of the accused. Applicant was entitled to introduce an affidavit raising the issue of identity, and the prosecutor’s hearsay objection should have been overruled. In addressing the question of whether the exclusion of applicant’s affidavit caused any harm, however, we must examine the nature of that document’s allegations. The affidavit reads as follows: AFFADAYIT [sic] IN ANY FACT I, Joseph B. Sheffield of Plano, Texas, being of sound mind and lawful age, hereby swear that I did not at any time commit a crime in the State of Kansas, was never incarcerated in Kansas and never met any law enforcemtn [sic] or prosecutorial personnel in Kansas. I therefore deny that I am the same Joseph Sheffield who the State of Kansas seeks to extradite in Cause No. 86-CR-1963. /s/_ Joseph B. Sheffield The critical portion of this affidavit asserts that applicant did not commit a crime in Kansas; “therefore” he denies being the person sought by that state for extradition. Applicant’s statement that he has never met with authorities or been incarcerated in Kansas is irrelevant. In Ex parte Scarbrough, 604 S.W.2d 170, 174-75 (Tex.Crim.App.1980), the Court of Criminal Appeals examined the accused’s writ application stating that she was not the person named in the Governor’s warrant if the fugitive sought committed the acts alleged in the extradition papers. That language was held insufficient to raise the issue of identity because it constituted merely an assertion of innocence, which is a matter for determination by the courts of the demanding state. We hold that applicant’s affidavit similarly failed to raise the issue of his identity as the fugitive named in the Governor’s warrant. Nowhere did the affidavit unequivocally deny that applicant was the person sought for extradition. Instead, the Menti [78] ty denial was entirely predicated upon applicant’s claim of innocence to the offense underlying the extradition demand, an issue not presented at an extradition proceeding. The affidavit thus failed to properly raise an identity issue, and applicant suffered no harm when the trial court sustained the State’s hearsay objection. AFFIRMED. THOMAS, J., files a dissenting opinion. Footnotes [1] Applicant’s name is written as Joseph R. Sheffield on the Governor’s warrant, but as Joseph B. Sheffield on applicant’s affidavit and writ application. Any mistake concerning the middle name on the Governor’s warrant, however, is immaterial. Ex parte Burns, 507 S.W.2d 777, 778 (Tex.Crim.App.1974).