Ex Parte Benjamin Roark v. the State of Texas

Opinion issued July 13, 2023

In The

Court of Appeals For The

First District of Texas ———————————— NO. 01-23-00454-CR ——————————— EX PARTE BENJAMIN ROARK, Appellant

On Appeal from the County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 Harris County, Texas Trial Court Case No. 2456923

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant, Benjamin Roark, was charged with the misdemeanor offense of violation of a court order in trial court cause number 2447617.1 In the underlying cause, appellant filed a pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus challenging the constitutionality of the statute under which he was charged. After a hearing on

1 See TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 25.07(a)(3)(A).

appellant’s habeas application, the trial court denied appellant’s pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus. On June 9, 2023, appellant filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s denial of his habeas application.

Subsequently, on June 28, 2023, counsel for appellant filed a “Notice to Court,” advising the Court that on June 20, 2023, the underlying cause “was dismissed in connection with a plea agreement.” Counsel further stated that he “believe[d] this development render[ed] this appeal moot.”

We agree and dismiss the appeal as moot.

“Habeas corpus is an extraordinary remedy and is available only when there is no other adequate remedy at law.” Ex parte Cruzata, 220 S.W.3d 518, 520 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “The longstanding rule in Texas regarding habeas corpus is that where the premise of a habeas corpus application is destroyed by subsequent developments, the legal issues raised thereunder are rendered moot.” Bennet v. State, 818 S.W.2d 199, 200 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, no pet.) (internal quotations omitted).

Where, as here, the cause was dismissed in connection with a plea agreement, the requested habeas relief has been mooted. “[T]he premise of [appellant’s] habeas corpus application [has been] destroyed . . . [and] the legal issues raised thereunder are moot.” See Ex parte Guerrero, 99 S.W.3d 852, 853 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, no pet.) (internal quotations omitted).

Accordingly, the Court dismisses the appeal as moot. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(f). We also dismiss any pending motions as moot.

PER CURIAM Panel consists of Chief Justice Adams and Justices Guerra and Farris.

Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).