On November 13, 2015, the Harris County Sheriff’s department arrested 19-year-old Juan Landin after they confiscated what they believed were Alprazolam pills—a common anti-anxiety drug.
On November 16, 2015, Landin pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 30 days in the Harris County Jail.
The Harris County Institute for Forensic Sciences conducted laboratory tests on the pills on November 25, 2015 and the pills were negative for any controlled substance.
The lab report was sent to the Harris County District Attorney’s conviction integrity unit, which then forwarded the report to Landin’s attorney, who filed a motion for a new trial.
On January 6, 2016, the motion was granted by the trial court judge, the conviction was vacated and the charge was dismissed.
– Maurice Possley
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