Court Opinion

ID: 4057207
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 08:28:57.749036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:32:12.145981
License: Public Domain

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October 19, 2015

                                                     Valentin Moreno, jr.
                                                     788216, Robertson Unit
Abel Acosta, Clerk                                   12071 FM 3522
Court of Criminal Appeals                            Abilene, Texas 79601
P.O. Box 12308
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711

Re: "Ex parte Valentin Moreno, Jr.,"
     Writ No. 49,474-05
     Cause No. CR-0517-96-F

Dear Mr. Acosta:

Enclosed you will find the original copies, of Applicant's Motion for Re-
Consideration of motion for Remand for an Evidentiary Hearing, and ~liamt's
Second Request for Judicial Notice. All to be filed in the above referenced
writ, and brought to the attention of the Court, as time permits.

Also enclosed, you will find a self-addressed envelope with postage pre-paid.
Can you please, send me a stampted filed copy of this cover letter, for my
records.

Thank you for your time, attention and assistance.

Respectfully,
                                                       RECEIVED        IN
                                                         OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                                           OCT 23 2015

cc: file, HCDA
    •.:

                                         IN THE
                               COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                     AUSTIN, TEXAS

EX PARTE                                      §

VALENTIN MORENO, JR.                          §      WRIT NO. 49,474-05

APPLICANT                                     §

                       APPLICANT'S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF
                       MOTION FOR REMAND FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING

TO THE MOST HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

    COMES NOW, Valentin Moreno, Jr., "Applicant", ProSe and respectfully files this,

"Applicant's Motion For Reconsideration Of Motion For Remand For Evidentiary Hearing".

In support thereof, Applicant would the following:

                                              I.

    This most Honorable Court possess exclusive habeas corpus jursidiction over the

parties and subject-matter, therein, pursuant to Chapter 11 in the Texas Code of

Criminal Procedure Ann. (Vernon 2015).

                                          II.

(A)> Applicant duly filed subsequent Habeas Corpus   Applicantion, with Memorandum
     and Exhibites in Support thereof, on June 15, 2015.

(B)> The Attorney representing the State, filed the State's Original Answer, on
    July 8, 2015.

(C)> The State's ANSWER "contradicts the established record". The State did not file
     additional evidence into the record in support of their ANSWER, and the State
     failed to address Applicant's claims submitted under Article "11.073",   c.   Cr. P.;

(D)> The Applicant raised claims of Prosecutorial Misconduct and Ineffective Assistance
     of Counsel, in support of a claim of "Actual Innocence", pursuant to 'newly'
     obtained scientific related evidence. The.State's ANSWER did·not controvert these
     claims and the facts asserted therein;

                                         Page 1.
    ...

(E)> The Applicant raised a claim of "ACTUAL INNOCENCE", via the provisions set
     forth in Schlup v. Delo, 513   u.s.   298, 315 (1995). No Schlup-type inquiryaOCVor
     hearing was conducted. Pursuant to the "new" evidence submitted in support of
     Applicant's constitutional violation claims;

(F)> The Applicant also raised a prima facie claim under Article 11.073,     c.   Cr. P.
     Applicant profferred newly obtained sworn scientific expert testimony, made a
     prima facie showing of the required due diligence in obtaining same; and also
     made a prima facie showing of the 'now' required under Art. 11.073 (d)       C Cr.   P.;

(G)> The trial judge failed to enter explicit Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law,
     Recommendation and Order, pursuant to the 'new' Article 11.073 (b), (c) and (d)
     c. Cr. P.:
(H)> On September 22, 2015, this Honorable Court of Criminal Appeals, DENIED the
     Applicant's Motion for Remand for Evidentiary Hearing. In the interest of justice
     and so that this Court can have an adequate record to assess. The Applicant
     respectfully files this motion for re-consideration.

                                             III.

    Applicant' i3 habeas arguments, concerning the scientific evidence the State elicitEd

and presented at trial, was argued from 'two' standpoints. First, Applicant argued

under 11.073 (a)(2), which state in part, "This article applies to relevant scientific

evidence that: 'contradicts scientific evidence relied on by the state at trial'."

   Attrial, the State elicited and presented the scientific testimony of psychologist

Dr. A.J. Alamia (hereinafter Dr. Alamia). Dr. Alamia testified, that 'in traumatic

events the human memory functions like a camera; taking "snapshots" that stay igrainEd

in the memory".' The State in Closing Arguments, bolstered the testimonies of the

State's "key" witnesses, with Dr. Alamia's testimony, that the human memory works like

a camera. So clearly the state relied on Dr. Alamia's scientific testimony.

    However, Applicant presented credible scientific research and the sworn affidavit

of psychology professor Dr. James Aldridge, showing that the human memory does not

function like a camera, and that Dr. Alamia's testimony was misleading and incorrect.

                                           Page 2.
.,       •.'

        Second, same facts and evidence that Applicant used in his 11.073 argument,

     concerning the scientific testimony of Dr. Alamia. The only difference, Applicant

     argued, that his Due Process of Law was violated by the State use of Dr. Alamia's

     misleading and false scientific testimony. Due process is violated when the State

     has knowingly or [u]nknowingly uses false testimony. See; Expnte Chabot, 300              s.w.
     3d 2009 (TCCA 2009).

         In the State's Response and Answer, there is "no" mention of Apllicant's ar:gurett

     under 11.073 and its provisions.-The trial courts "Findings of Facts", also, does

     'not' mention Article 11.073, its provisions and Applicant argument under such. The

     State only responds, to the "false testimony" argument; "Applicant supports the claim

     that this witness (Dr. Alamia) provided "false" testimony by way of an opinion providEd

     by another expert (Dr. Aldridge). As such, this is more properly a battle of experts

     rather than "false" testimony." A 'battle' of exr-erts translates into "o:::ntra:licting" exp?rts.

        Clearly, everything surrounding the "two" arguements,"ll.073 (a)(2)" and the "false

     testimony". Bring a situation where there is "controverted issues, previosly 1.ll1re9Jlve::l

     facts, material to the legality of applicant's confinement".

        Moreso, because everything surrounding Dr. Alamia's incorrect scientific testimony,

     has a direct bearing, on Applicant's arguments of ineffective assistance of counsel,

     and actual innocence claim.

                                                     IV.

        Pursuant to scientific evidence in the feild of forensic psychology, Applicant

     argued that the State influenced and contaminated, the in-court-identification of

     State witness Beatrice Trevino (hereinafter Ms. Trevino), with suggestive post event

     information and post event misinformation (hereinafter PEI and PEM). Which resulted,

     in a violation of Due Process of Law.

        The foundation for this argument, arrives from Ms. Trevino's testimony at trial,

     "[A]pplicant's trial". Ms. Trevino testified that 'before' the applicant's trial, she

                                                   Page 3.
    '•.

confessed to the lead prosecutor, that 'she believed she was making a mistake and

mis-identifying the applicant'. In response, the prosecutor told her, that 'she was

not making a mistake, because a witness that was at the actual crime scene "had statErl

the same (had also identified applicant), and two witnesses couldn't be wrong".'

   Based on that testimony and the "newly" discovered scientific evidence on PEI and

PEM. Applicant argued, that what the prosecutor told Ms. Trevino, was [u]nduly

suggestive and prejudicial PEI and PEM.

   The State's Response and Answer admits, that the State did share this suggestive

and prejudicial PEI, with Ms. Trevino. [B]ut, the State attempts to excuse such act,

by "knowingly making a false statement of a material fact", to this Court. The State's

Response and Answer, states in part, "the only ''new" aspect of this claim is that the

witness was influenced by some post event information. However, the past event information

applicant complains of was only provided to the witness 'after' she testified in his

trial. The State contends this could not have influenced her testimony."

   Applicant vigorously contends, that that Reponse and Answer, is a bold face lie. If

the suggestive PEI that Applicant complains about, was not given to Ms. Trevino till

"after" his trial, then 'how did Ms. Trevino testify about "[d]uring" his trial .••••. ?'

   Applicant would add [e]mphasis, that the foregoing produces "controverted issues,

previously unresolved, material to the legality of his confinement.

   Moreso,   ~~,   arguments and facts surrounding this issue, are also essential to

a Brady argument, an ineffective assistance of counsel argument and a claim of actual

innocence.

                                            v.
                                        CONCLUSION

   For the foregoing reasons, but not limited thereto, Applicant respectfully asks

this most Honorable Court, to re-consider his motions for an evidentiary hearing.

Applicant has shown, that the State Response and Answer,· and the trial court's

                                          Page 4.
  ...   ·~   ...

Findings of Fact, Conclusion of Law, Recommendation and Order, circumvents his 11.073

arguments and evidence. Additionally, Applicant has shown, that the attorney that is

representing the State, has made knowingly false statements of material and crucial

facts.

   More importantly, Applicant has shown, that there are important controverted mssues,

previously unresolved facts, that are essential material to the legality of his          ~t

confinement.

                                                 VI.
                                             PRAYER

   WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the Applicant, respectfully prays that this most

Honorable Court 're-consider' his motions for an Evidentiary Hearing.

   Signed on this   fli·A   day of   Oc-6./zec         I   2015.

                                                                   Respectfully Submitted,

                                                                   U/~4A&~·oc
                                                                   Valentin Moreno, Jr., ProSe
                                                                   French M. Robertson Unit
                                                                   TDCJ-ID No. 788216
                                                                   12071 FM. 3522
                                                                   Abilene, Texas 79601

                                            Page 5.
..~,    'o   I   .. •   •

                                                                   VII.
                                                               VERIFICATION

                    I, Valentin Moreno, Jr., TDCJ-CID No. 788216, being incarcerated in the French M.

       Robertson Unit, in Jones County, Texas; do hereby verify and declare under the                        ~ty

       of perjury that the foregoing and all statements therein, are true and correct, as

       well bein9 offered by me, in good faith.

                   Signed on this       ~ day of        t)/o.ber ,         2015.

                                                                                       t£:k&.~t%
                                                                                      Valentin Moreno, Jr.
                                                                                      TDCJ-ID No. 788216
                                                                                      French M. Robertson Unit
                                                                                      12071 FM. 3522
                                                                                      Abilene, Texas 79601

                                                                 VIII.
                                                        CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

                   I, Valentin Moreno, Jr., do hereby certify that the original copy of Applicant's

       Motion for Re-Consideration of Motion for Remand for Evidentiary Hearing, was sent to

       the Clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals, via                      u.s.   lst Class Mail. And that notice

       of such, was sent to the Hidalgo County D.A.'s office, via same way.

                        Done on this   /t(fA   day of   Oc/o.ber ,     2015.

                                                                                       ~?fld/LM-0 Vl
                                                           '

                                                                                      Valentin Moreno, Jr.
                                                                                      Prp Se

                                                                 Page 6.