On September 10, 2008, police in Houston, Texas arrested 23-year-old Cleaven Clark after they confiscated a substance from him that field-tested positive for cocaine.
On September 17, 2008, Clark pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance in Harris County Criminal District Court and was sentenced to six months in Texas State Jail.
In August 2014, the Harris County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit was informed that the Houston police department crime laboratory performed tests on the substance on September 18, 2008—the day after Clark pled guilty—and found no controlled substances.
In December 2015, the prosecution and a defense attorney for Clark jointly filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus. A trial court judge recommended the writ be granted and on February 4, 2016, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the writ and vacated Clark’s conviction.
On March 1, 2016, the prosecution dismissed the charge.
– Maurice Possley
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