Court Opinion

ID: 9363526
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-16 00:12:39.028271+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:32.495938
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                        NO. WR-93,813-01

                   EX PARTE MICHAEL KEITH LUERA, JR., Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. A-13,345-A IN THE 173RD DISTRICT COURT
                           FROM HENDERSON COUNTY

     Per curiam. KELLER , P.J. filed a dissenting opinion in which HERVEY , YEARY , and
SLAUGHTER , JJ., joined.

                                           OPINION

       Applicant pled guilty to indecency with a child and was placed on deferred-adjudication

community supervision for eight years. His community supervision was subsequently revoked, and

he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. The Twelfth Court of Appeals affirmed his

conviction. Luera v. State, No. 12-09-00101-CR (Tex. App. — Tyler, Feb. 26, 2010). 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 he is actually innocent, supported by an affidavit from the

complainant recanting her allegations against him. Based on the record and after a hearing during
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which the complainant testified and recanted her original statements, the trial court has determined

that Applicant has established by clear and convincing evidence that it is more likely than not that

no reasonable juror would have convicted him in the light of the new evidence.

       We agree. 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). The judgment in cause number A-13,345

in the 173rd District Court of Henderson County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the

custody of the Sheriff of Henderson County to answer the charges as set out in the information. 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: January 11, 2023
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