On August 4, 2014, police in Houston, Texas arrested 19-year-old Kevin Nowak and charged him with possession of a controlled substance after they seized codeine for which he had no prescription.
In August 7, 2014, Nowak pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to probation for three years.
The Harris County District Attorney's Post Conviction Review Unit informed Nowak's defense attorney in October 2013 that the Houston Police crime laboratory tested the evidence and reported that no controlled substance was found.
On October 23, 2014, the prosecution joined with Nowak's lawyer to request that the conviction be vacated. The motion was granted and the charge was dismissed.
- Maurice Possley
Posting Date: 01-14-2015
Case Details:
State:
Texas
County:
Harris
Most Serious Crime:
Drug Possession or Sale
Reported Crime Date:
2014
Convicted:
2014
Exonerated:
2014
Sentence:
Probation
Race / Ethnicity:
White
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
19
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No