On May 23, 2014, Harris County, Texas sheriff's officers arrested 39-year-old Harold Peters after they seized a white powder that field-tested positive for cocaine.
On June 17, 2014, Peters pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to seven months in the Harris County Jail.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences notified the Harris County District Attorney's Post Conviction Review Unit on June 25, 2014, that a lab test on the evidence was negative for any controlled substance.
On June 26, the prosecution joined the defense in a motion to vacate the conviction. The motion was granted, the charge was dismissed, and Peters was released.
- 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:
Term of Years
Race / Ethnicity:
Black
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
39
Contributing Factors:
False or Misleading Forensic Evidence
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No