Coty, Leroy Edward ( 2013 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. WR-79,318-02
EX PARTE LEROY EDWARD COTY, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. 1264113 IN THE 180TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM HARRIS COUNTY
Per curiam.
OPINION
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the
clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte
Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of possession of
cocaine and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.
Applicant contends that his due process rights were violated because a forensic scientist did
not follow accepted standards when analyzing evidence and therefore the results of his analyses are
unreliable. A Department of Public Safety report shows that the lab technician who was solely
responsible for testing the evidence in this case is the scientist found to have committed misconduct.
While there is evidence remaining that is available to retest in this case, that evidence was in the
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custody of the lab technician in question. This Court believes his actions are not reliable therefore
custody was compromised, resulting in a due process violation. Ex parte Hobbs, 393 S.W.3d 780
(Tex. Crim. App. 2013). Applicant is therefore entitled to relief.
Relief is granted. The judgment in Cause No. 1264113 in the 180th District Court of Harris
County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Harris County. The
trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within 10 days after the mandate of this Court
issues.
Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional
Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.
Delivered: June 5, 2013
Do Not Publish