On November 4, 2016, police in Friendswood, Texas arrested 28-year-old Zachary Barry after confiscating from him pills suspected to be Alprozolam, an anti-anxiety drug, and Carisprodol, a muscle relaxant. Barry was released on bond and was arrested again on November 29 by Friendswood police on a charge of possession of cocaine.
On December 2, 2016, while in custody on the cocaine charge, Barry pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to four days in jail.
On December 30, 2016, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science performed tests on the pills that were negative for the presence of any controlled substance.
The laboratory informed the Harris County District’s Attorney’s conviction integrity unit and the prosecution notified Barry’s defense attorney.
The defense attorney filed a state law petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which the prosecution supported. On February 16, 2017, Barry’s convictions were vacated and the prosecution dismissed the charges. Barry remained in custody on the cocaine charge.
– Maurice Possley
|