On July 28, 2014, police in Houston, Texas arrested 21-year-old Jose Baltierrez after they seized white powder from him that field tested positive for cocaine.
On July 30, 2014, Baltierrez pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced probation.
After tests on the powder by the Houston Police crime laboratory were negative for any controlled substance, the Harris County District Attorney's Post Conviction Review Unit notified Baltierrez's defense attorney and joined in a motion to vacate the conviction.
On August 15, 2014, the conviction was vacated and the charge was dismissed.
- Maurice Possley
Posting Date: 01-13-2015
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:
Hispanic
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
21
Contributing Factors:
False or Misleading Forensic Evidence
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No