On April 13, 2014, Harris County Sheriff's Police arrested 33-year-old Phillip Holmes after they seized a plastic bag containing a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.
On April 22, 2014, Holmes pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance in Harris County Criminal District Court. He was sentenced to six months in Texas State Jail.
On May 29, 2014, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences reported to the Harris County District Attorney's Post Conviction Review Unit that tests performed on the substance were negative for the presence of any controlled substance.
Holmes' attorney was notified and on June 11, 2014, the prosecution and defense presented a joint petition for a writ of habeas corpus requesting that Holmes' conviction be vacated. Holmes was also released on bond.
On August 14, 2014, a trial judge recommended that the writ be granted. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the writ on December 17, 2014. On February 23, 2015, the prosecution dismissed the charge.
- Maurice Possley
Posting Date: 03-06-2015
Case Details:
State:
Texas
County:
Harris
Most Serious Crime:
Drug Possession or Sale
Reported Crime Date:
2014
Convicted:
2014
Exonerated:
2015
Sentence:
Term of Years
Race / Ethnicity:
Black
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
33
Contributing Factors:
False or Misleading Forensic Evidence
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No