On October 14, 2014, police in Houston, Texas arrested 60-year-old Joseph Crochon after they seized a substance from him that field-tested positive for cocaine.
On October 16, 2014, Crochon pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 30 days in the Harris County Jail.
In November 2014, the Houston police crime laboratory tested the substance seized from Crochon and the results were negative for any controlled substance.
In 2015, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s Conviction Integrity Unit was informed of the negative laboratory test and informed Crochon’s attorney. The prosecution and the defense jointly filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to vacate his conviction.
In December 2015, a trial judge recommended the writ be granted and in January 2016, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the writ and vacated Crochon’s conviction. On February 25, the prosecution dismissed the charge.
– Maurice Possley
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