State v. Blackwell

Ruffin, Judge.

The trial court dismissed drug possession charges against John Blackwell after the State intentionally destroyed Blackwell’s urine sample. The State Crime Lab’s positive test results on the sample were the only evidence of Blackwell’s guilt; the sample had initially tested negative for drugs in a field test; and there was an existing court order allowing Blackwell to independently test the sample. Under these circumstances, the trial court concluded that allowing the State to prosecute Blackwell would be “fundamentally unfair.” The State appeals. We agree with the trial court…