Austin, TX
Man free after decades in prison for child sex abuse prosecutors say never happened
AUSTIN, Texas – A Travis County man is free after spending more than 20 years in prison for a crime prosecutors now say never happened.
For more than two decades, Marshall Moreno sat in a Texas prison, convicted of sexually assaulting his own child.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man’s child sex abuse charges dismissed after more than 20 years in prison
What they’re saying:
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office is now saying he is actually innocent, and they’re working to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
“We have put in new processes here and now to make sure that our prosecutors aren’t securing convictions of people who are actually innocent or so that we don’t have processes that deny people’s constitutional rights,” Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said.
Moreno was charged in 2002 after his daughter made an outcry to her therapist. She testified at trial at just 12 years old, telling jurors her father abused her years earlier.
Marshall Moreno (Travis County Jail)
“The primary evidence in the case was the testimony of the victim. There was otherwise scant physical evidence,” Garza said.
In 2003, Moreno was convicted and sentenced to 36 years in prison. Nearly 20 years later, the now-adult daughter reached out to the University of Texas Actual Innocence Clinic and said her testimony was not true. The DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit took the case.
“That separate team reviews the filings, reviews the evidence at hand and really has a goal of testing the conviction and making sure that people who are innocent aren’t sitting in prison,” Garza said.
In a rare move, they asked a judge to declare Moreno actually innocent.
“In 2025, it was only one of two cases in which the Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a case on the basis of actual innocence,” Garza said.
Moreno has since been released from custody.
“It was incredibly significant for Mr. Moreno, who had spent far too long in prison for a crime he did not commit, and we were grateful that because of this process he was able to be home for the holidays this year,” Garza said.
The Source: Information in this report comes from reporting/interview by FOX 7 Austin’s CrimeWatch reporter Meredith Aldis and previous reporting
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.
Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.
Weather Resources:
Live Updates:
5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.
3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.
Video of new Texas Tech System chancellor home at historic Lubbock property
The Texas Tech System is acquiring the historic Tudor Revival ‘English Home’ in Lubbock to serve as the new chancellor’s residence.
Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.
Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.
To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.
As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”
UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!
Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”
My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”
Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.
– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.
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AUSTIN, Texas — APD SWAT responded to a barricaded subject in East Austin Saturday afternoon.
According to police, the incident took place near the 3400 block of Kay St., and officers responded to the call at around 1:30 p.m.
Once officers arrived, they made contact with a victim who “advised of circumstances that met the state law requirement of assault with a deadly weapon family violence.” Shortly after, the suspect barricaded themselves inside the residence.
ALSO: National Weather Service warns of storms with gusty winds
Austin Police officers, SWAT, hostage negotiators, and Austin-Travis County EMS were still on the scene and the suspect was still barricaded as of 6:15 p.m.
People are being encouraged to avoid the area due to increased police presence, or stay in a safe location if they are unable to avoid the area.
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This is a developing story and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
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