On November 21, 2015, Harris County Sheriff's deputies arrested 29-year-old Carlos Matamoros after officers confiscated what they believed was Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug.
On December 7, 2015, Matamoros pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 10 days in the Harris County Jail.
On February 2, 2016, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences reported that laboratory tests on the seized pills were negative for the presence of a controlled substance.
The Harris County District Attorney's conviction integrity unit was informed of the lab tests and then notified Matamoros' defense attorney, who filed a motion for a new trial.
On March 3, 2016, the motion was granted and the prosecution dismissed the charge.
- Maurice Possley
Posting Date: 05-20-2016
Case Details:
State:
Texas
County:
Harris
Most Serious Crime:
Drug Possession or Sale
Reported Crime Date:
2015
Convicted:
2015
Exonerated:
2016
Sentence:
Term of Years
Race / Ethnicity:
Hispanic
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
19
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No