During a drug sweep in 1988 in Suffolk County, New York, an undercover officer recorded a drug sale. One officer identified Collin Woodley, who had prior drug convictions, as the man who participated in the sale.
The officer identified Woodley from his voice on the tape and during a photo identification several months later. The officer also identified him as participating in an earlier sale.
The officer testified against Woodley at trial, and a jury convicted Woodley of possession and sale of a controlled substance. Woodley was sentenced to 10- to-20-years.
In 1998, an acquaintance of Woodley’s confessed to the sales, identifying the voice on the tape as his. Woodley’s conviction was vacated, and the indictment was dismissed by a Suffolk County judge in March 1998.
Woodley subsequently filed a claim for compensation with the New York Court of Claims, but the claim was dismissed.
– Stephanie Denzel
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