On December 14, 2010, police in Houston, Texas, arrested 32-year-old Charlotte Brown after the officers performed a field test on a powder they confiscated from her and it tested positive for cocaine.
Brown, who had an extensive record of prior arrests and convictions for assault, drug possession and prostitution, pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court on July 18, 2011 and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Not long after, the Houston Police Crime Laboratory conducted tests on the substance seized from Brown and the tests were negative for cocaine or any other controlled substance.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office notified Brown’s attorney and supported a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus to vacate the plea.
In October 2012, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the writ and vacated the conviction. On December 12, 2012, the charge against Brown was dismissed. She remained incarcerated on other unrelated charges.
– Maurice Possley
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