On February 17, 2015, police in Houston, Texas arrested 36-year-old Wanda Flowers after they confiscated suspected hydrocodone pills from her.
On February 20, 2015, Flowers pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to eight days in the Harris County jail.
On June 11, 2015, the Houston police crime laboratory tested the pills and determined they were not hydrocodone or any other controlled substance.
The laboratory notified the conviction integrity unit of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and prosecutors informed Flowers’ defense attorney of the test results.
The prosecution then joined in a defense petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to vacate Flowers’ conviction. On December 9, the petition was granted, the conviction was vacated, and the prosecution dismissed the charge.
– Maurice Possley
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