More than 200 who pleaded guilty in Harris Co. drug cases now cleared

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- More than 400 people in Harris County may have been wrongly convicted on drug charges, and now the district attorney's office is trying to fix the problem.

"We're doing a public service here," said District Attorney, Devon Anderson.

When you get caught with what police have reason to believe are drugs, you go to jail and the possible drugs go to a lab for testing. In these cases, the suspects plead guilty to having the illegal drugs before anybody went back to check lab results.

"There is a delay while we wait for the lab report," said Anderson. "Some defendants chose to plead guilty before the lab report comes back. That is their right."

The Public Defenders Office is now searching for these men and women, some of whom are in jail right now. The county likely can't offer restitution for time already served, but with an attorney and some paperwork, the charges could be dismissed.

"It's really tough, especially for somebody who is in jail awaiting trial to sit there and sit there as these lab reports can take several months to come back," said Nicolas Hughes. "It takes a lot of principle to sit there and say, 'I'm going to be away from my family for this long.'"

If you think you could be on the list, contact the Public Defender's office at 713-368-0016.