On January 31, 2009, police in Houston, Texas arrested 29-year-old Carlton Talbert after confiscating what they believed was codeine syrup.
On February 6, 2009, Talbert pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 2 days in the Harris County Jail.
On June 7, 2010, the Houston Police crime laboratory tested the liquid and no controlled substance was found. The lab, however, did not notify the Harris County District Attorney’s Office until September 2014.
At that time, the District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit notified Talbert’s defense attorney and joined in a motion to vacate the conviction. On May 1, 2015, the motion was granted and the prosecution dismissed the charge.
– Maurice Possley
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