On August 5, 2022, police in League City, Texas, arrested 38-year-old James Nolan III after confiscating a small amount of what they suspected was cocaine.
Nolan was released on bond on August 15, and on September 22, he pled guilty in Galveston County Criminal District Court to possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to a year in the Galveston County Jail.
On November 3, 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety's crime laboratory in Houston reported to the League City Police Department and the Galveston County District Attorney that the material seized from Nolan tested negative for illegal substances.
The state notified Nolan's attorney, who filed a motion for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to vacate the conviction. The prosecution agreed to the motion.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the motion on February 15, 2023, releasing Nolan from jail, and the case was dismissed on March 22, 2023.
- Ken Otterbourg
Nolan was released on bond on August 15, and on September 22, he pled guilty in Galveston County Criminal District Court to possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to a year in the Galveston County Jail.
On November 3, 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety's crime laboratory in Houston reported to the League City Police Department and the Galveston County District Attorney that the material seized from Nolan tested negative for illegal substances.
The state notified Nolan's attorney, who filed a motion for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to vacate the conviction. The prosecution agreed to the motion.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the motion on February 15, 2023, releasing Nolan from jail, and the case was dismissed on March 22, 2023.
- Ken Otterbourg
Posting Date: 08-21-2023
Last Update Date: 08-21-2023
Case Details:
State:
Texas
County:
Galveston
Most Serious Crime:
Drug Possession or Sale
Reported Crime Date:
2022
Convicted:
2022
Exonerated:
2023
Sentence:
Term of Years
Race / Ethnicity:
Black
Sex:
Male
Age at the date of reported crime:
38
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:
No