Moreno, Marshall

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: November 20, 2025
• Docket: WR-96,609-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-96,609-01

EX PARTE MARSHALL MORENO, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. D-1-DC-01-303571-A IN THE 403RD DISTRICT COURT TRAVIS COUNTY

Per curiam. YEARY, J., dissented.

OPINION

Applicant was charged by a three-count indictment with aggravated sexual assault of a child

(count 1), indecency with a child by contact (count 2), and indecency with a child by exposure (count

3). Following a jury trial, Applicant was found guilty of all three offenses and was sentenced to

thirty-six years’ imprisonment on count 1, twelve years’ imprisonment on count 2, and six years’

imprisonment on count 3. The Third Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions. Moreno v. State,

No. 03-03-00527-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 10, 2005) (not designated for publication).

Applicant filed this application for a writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the

district clerk forwarded it to this Court. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07.

Applicant contends that the new evidence of the complainant’s recantation establishes that 2

he is actually innocent and that the State violated his due process rights when it presented false

testimony. The trial court conducted a live evidentiary hearing, at which the complainant testified.

The trial court found the complainant’s recantation credible and recommends that the Court grant

Applicant relief based on actual innocence and false evidence grounds. The record supports the trial

court’s findings and recommendation.

Relief is granted. Ex parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Ex parte

Tuley, 109 S.W.3d 388 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Ex parte Chabot, 300 S.W.3d 768, 772 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2009). The judgments in cause number 3013571 in the 403rd District Court of Travis County

are 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

ten days from the date of this Court’s mandate.

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

Institutions Division and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Delivered: November 20, 2025 Do not publish