On July 5, 2010, police in Houston, Texas arrested 52-year-old Gwendolyn Brooks after they confiscated white powder from her that field-tested positive for cocaine.
On September 2, 2010, Brooks pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to six months in Texas State Jail.
In January 2011, after Brooks was released from custody, the Houston Police crime laboratory tested the white powder and determined that there was no controlled substance.
In July 2014, the Harris County District Attorney's Post Conviction Review Unit notified Brooks' defense attorney and joined with the defense to file a motion requesting that the conviction be vacated. On August 19, 2014, the motion was granted 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:
2010
Convicted:
2010
Exonerated:
2014
Sentence:
Term of Years
Race / Ethnicity:
Black
Sex:
Female
Age at the date of reported crime:
52
Contributing Factors:
False or Misleading Forensic Evidence
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No