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Trina Sanders

Other 2015 Texas Drug Exonerations
https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/PublishingImages/Galveston_County.jpg
On November 16, 2014, police in Galveston, Texas arrested 49-year-old Trina Sanders after they seized two bottles of liquid they suspected was codeine syrup from her.

On November 19, 2014, Sanders, who had three prior felony drug convictions, pled guilty in Galveston County Criminal District Court to possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to two years in prison.

On May 20, 2015, the Texas Department of Public Safety crime laboratory notified the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office that the liquid seized from Sanders had been tested and was negative for the presence of any controlled substance. The lab reported that the liquid was an antihistamine.

The prosecution informed Sanders’ defense attorney and joined in a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The trial court recommended the writ be granted and on July 10, 2015, Sanders was released on bond.

On July 29, 2015, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the writ and vacated Sanders’ conviction. On August 6, 2015, the prosecution dismissed the charge. Sanders was awarded $46,600 in state compensation.

– Maurice Possley

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Posting Date: 8/20/2015
Last Updated: 11/26/2016
State:Texas
County:Galveston
Most Serious Crime:Drug Possession or Sale
Additional Convictions:
Reported Crime Date:2014
Convicted:2014
Exonerated:2015
Sentence:2 years
Race/Ethnicity:Black
Sex:Female
Age at the date of reported crime:49
Contributing Factors:
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:No