AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to 60 years in prison, who later had his conviction overturned because of “invalid DNA evidence”, filed a lawsuit this week against the city of Austin.
The lawsuit is a “civil rights action…arising from several problems that ultimately caused Plaintiff to be convicted of aggravated assault—and sentenced to 60 years, of which he served more than 10—based on invalid DNA evidence. This use of invalid evidence was in turn due to serious, systemic deficiencies at the Austin Police Department DNA Laboratory,” the lawsuit said.
Billy Faircloth is also suing the DNA analyst who worked his case and an Austin Police Department officer, according to the lawsuit.
Man to be released on bond, DNA evidence used in 2012 conviction inconclusive
KXAN has reached out to both the city of Austin and Faircloth’s attorneys. We will update this story when we receive responses from them…