On June 25, 2015, police in Houston, Texas arrested 47-year-old Kent Titus after they confiscated a cigar that field-tested positive as marijuana.
On June 30, 2015, Titus pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail.
In August 2015, laboratory tests performed by the Houston police crime laboratory were negative for the presence of marijuana.
The Harris County District Attorney's conviction integrity unit was notified of the test results and informed Titus's defense attorney.
In May 2016, a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed on behalf of Titus and supported by the prosecution. On May 12, 2016, the conviction was vacated and the prosecution dismissed the charge.
- Maurice Possley
On June 30, 2015, Titus pled guilty in Harris County Criminal District Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail.
In August 2015, laboratory tests performed by the Houston police crime laboratory were negative for the presence of marijuana.
The Harris County District Attorney's conviction integrity unit was notified of the test results and informed Titus's defense attorney.
In May 2016, a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed on behalf of Titus and supported by the prosecution. On May 12, 2016, the conviction was vacated and the prosecution dismissed the charge.
- Maurice Possley
Posting Date: 05-31-2016
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:
Black
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
47
Contributing Factors:
False or Misleading Forensic Evidence
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No