Keller, Daniel

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 20, 2015
• Docket: WR-36,232-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-36,232-02

EX PARTE DANIEL KELLER, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 924217-B IN THE 147TH DISTRICT COURT FROM TRAVIS COUNTY

Per curiam. Johnson, J. filed a concurring opinion.

OPINION

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 aggravated sexual

assault of a child and sentenced to forty-eight years’ imprisonment. The Third Court of Appeals

affirmed his conviction. Keller v. State, No. 03-92-00603-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 26, 1994)(not

designated for publication).

Applicant contends, among other things, that his conviction was based on the false testimony

of Dr. Michael Mouw. Dr. Mouw testified at Applicant’s original trial that he observed physical 2

indications of sexual abuse in the complainant. Dr. Mouw has now recanted that trial testimony.

The trial court held a hearing during which Dr. Mouw testified that his testimony at Applicant’s

initial trial was misleading and that he now believes that what he believed to be trauma was actually

a normal variation in the complainant’s anatomy.

Based on the testimony at the writ hearing, the State and Applicant presented agreed findings

of fact to the trial court, recommending that relief be granted due to false evidence. The trial court

agreed and signed the findings. The trial court’s recommendation is supported by the record.

Applicant is entitled to relief. Ex parte Chavez, 371 S.W.3d 200, 206-207 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012);

Ex parte Ghahremani, 332 S.W.3d 470, 478 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). Applicant also alleges that

he is actually innocent of the offense. Based on both the trial court’s findings and this Court’s own

independent review of the record, those claims are denied.

Relief is granted on the basis of false testimony. The judgment in Cause No. 924220 in the

147th District Court of Travis County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the

Sheriff of Travis County to answer the charges as set out in the indictment. The trial court shall issue

any necessary bench warrant within 10 days after the mandate of this Court issues.

Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: May 20, 2015 Do not publish