Opinion: I helped put Ivan Cantu on death row. Now I feel like I was fooled.

Serving on a jury is a civic service and obligation in our country. We should recognize its importance in maintaining a fair and constitutional legal system.

I was summoned for jury duty in 2001. Like most people, I was disappointed to get the summons. I was 40, raising a family, and busy with work. As the jury selection process unfolded, I began realizing this case was different. I would be serving on the jury for the trial of Ivan Cantu, who is slated to be executed by the State of Texas on Wednesday, February 28. Selected as head juror, I knew the magnitude of my involvement was even greater.

With that role came responsibility to my community, to my state and to the Constitution and I took this very seriously. We were tasked with determining whether Ivan Cantu murdered his cousin and his cousin’s fiance and, if so, determining the appropriate sentence.

As a supporter of capital punishment and based on the facts provided and testimonies given in that trial, I and the rest of the jury concluded that by the direction and process of the State of Texas, the death penalty fit the punishment for this crime. I am certain all jurors felt the weight of our decision. Tough as the task is, I signed the document on behalf of the jury turning Ivan Cantu back over to the state of Texas for execution. I was firm and confident with this decision.

Over two decades afterwards, I gave my experience in this case little thought. It's not an experience someone would dwell upon. Late last year, my wife said she had learned of some private investigation on the case and advised me to read and watch some of the newfound evidence. I didn't, explaining it was water under the bridge. Soon after, a couple of UT law students showed up on my porch to discuss, along with their professor. I put little weight in what I heard, still stoic of my decision in the case.

It was a couple months later when Matt Duff, an investigator and podcast developer contacted me and presented some evidence he had uncovered - much of which was contrasting to the testimonies I heard in the trial. Matt showed me where a key witness and compelling testimony was false. The witness has admitted to lying on the stand and furthermore was under the influence of recreational drugs at the time of his testimony. The state now has this evidence, showing that the state's star witness falsely testified and the lead detective knew she was lying, according to a legal filing made before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

This struck me hard. Simply put, we jurors did not hear the truth you assume you would hear from a person under oath. Bottom line, I feel like I was fooled. This trial had some fabrication and, in my opinion, the course of investigative action is incomplete.

Please know that I am not speaking out for recognition or attention. None of that appeals to me. Rather, I chose to because as foreman of that jury, my obligation to this service has ultimately been extended. I trust our legal system as one of the best in the world, but unfortunately, not perfect as it is dependent on the integrity it upholds. Addressing these imperfections strengthens our judicial system. There is meaning and righteousness in that pursuit. My purpose in stepping up here is in the hopes that it will serve a benefit to justice and the families affected by the grizzly acts that took place in this crime.

I am a proud Texan, conservative, and strongly support the direction our governor has taken in upholding the standards and freedom we Texans enjoy. In full respect, I ask Governor Abbott, that you hand me back the document I signed that confirmed the jury's decision, and delay the execution of Ivan Cantu so further examination can be conducted. This one is unfortunately flawed and therefore incomplete.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: I helped put Ivan Cantu on death row. Now I feel like I was fooled.