A first-of-its-kind fentanyl conviction in Dallas County has been thrown out after it was discovered that the verdict was handed down by only 11 jurors, not the 12 required by the Texas Constitution, in a lapse so glaring the judge said “it defies logic.”
Richard Leal was convicted in April of manufacturing or delivering between four and 200 grams of fentanyl and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
But now the conviction has been tossed after there was no evidence in the trial transcript that a 12th juror ever existed, baffling many, WFAA reported. A felony jury trial conducted with fewer than 12 jurors violates the Texas Constitution…