Court Opinion

ID: 2939987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 21:59:15.164406+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:58:37.571597
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS

NOS. AP-76,010, AP-76,011, AP-76,012, AP-76,013 & AP-76,014

EX PARTE STEVEN CHARLES PHILLIPS, Applicant

ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NOS. F82-77700-Q; F82-77162-Q; F82-79140-Q; F82-86866-Q
 IN THE 204TH DISTRICT COURT FROM DALLAS COUNTY AND
CAUSE NO.  F82-77161-M IN THE 194TH DISTRICT COURT FROM 
                                                       DALLAS COUNTY 

           Per curiam.

O P I N I O N

            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 these applications for writs of habeas corpus.  Ex
parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967).  Applicant was convicted of two
aggravated sexual abuse causes, sentenced to forty and thirty years’ imprisonment, indecency with
a child, sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment, burglary of a habitation, sentenced to thirty years’
imprisonment, and aggravated rape, sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.  The Fifth Court of
Appeals affirmed his convictions for one of the aggravated sexual abuse cases and the burglary of
a habitation. Phillips v. State, No. 05-83-1058-CR (Tex. App.–Dallas, delivered October 26, 1984)
and Phillips v. State, No. 05-82-01260-CR (Tex. App.–Dallas, delivered January 4, 1984).  Applicant
pleaded guilty to the other causes and no appeal was taken from those. 
            Applicant contends that he has newly discovered evidence that he is actually innocent of
these offenses. The trial court has determined that no rational jury would have convicted Applicant
in light of the new evidence, which was previously unavailable to Applicant. The evidence, obtained
pursuant to post-conviction DNA testing and investigation, indicates that it was another individual,
and not Applicant, who committed at least one of these offenses. Applicant is entitled to relief. Ex
parte Elizondo, 947 S.W.2d 202, 209 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). 
            Relief is granted. The judgments in Cause Nos. F82-77700-Q; F82-77162-Q; F82-79140-Q
and F82-86866-Q in the 204th District Court of Dallas County and Cause No. F82-77161-M in the
194th District Court of Dallas County are set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the
Sheriff of Dallas County to answer the charges against him.
            Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional
Institutions Division and Parole Division.
 
Delivered: October 1, 2008
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