Pubdate: Fri, 26 Apr 2002
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2002 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162
Author:  Domingo Ramirez Jr., Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?158 (Club Drugs)

CRIME AUTHOR AVOIDS JAIL TIME

True crime writer Barbara Davis was sentenced Thursday to two years' 
probation for possession of GHB, a charge that stemmed from a 1999 drug 
raid during which her son was killed by police.

Davis, 51, hugged her attorney after senior state District Judge C.C. "Kit" 
Cooke announced the sentence in a Fort Worth courtroom.

Before sentencing, Davis received support for probation from witnesses 
including an assistant U.S. attorney based in Houston, a former Rowlett 
police officer and a member of her church - First Baptist Church of Haltom 
City.

Davis had faced a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

"I'm very pleased," Davis said. Cooke "showed a lot of compassion."

Cooke sentenced Davis to probation with deferred adjudication, which means 
that if she completes the requirements of probation, her arrest will be on 
her record, but not her conviction.

Davis pleaded guilty in December to possession of a controlled 
substance/GHB, 4 ounces to 200 grams.

"It was the proper verdict under the circumstances," said Bill Lane of Fort 
Worth, Davis' attorney. "She's been punished enough."

Her son, Troy Davis, 25, was killed by North Richland Hills police during 
the 1999 drug raid at her house in the 8200 block of Ulster Drive. Barbara 
Davis still lives in the house.

As part of a plea agreement, a charge of attempted manufacture of a 
controlled substance/GHB over 400 grams was dismissed.

Davis has said that she believed the drug was legal and had purchased it 
through a pharmaceutical company. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
outlawed GHB in early 1999.

The raid by 17 tactical team officers occurred Dec. 15, 1999. Police said 
Troy Davis was pointing a loaded 9 mm pistol at officers when he was shot 
by tactical team member Allen Hill.

A Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict Hill in the shooting. He has 
resigned from the Police Department.

Barbara Davis has said that her son was not armed and that police placed 
the gun near her son's body.

Police said they found three marijuana plants and enough gamma 
hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, to make 600 doses. Police also found 16 guns, all 
legal, authorities said.

Davis faced counts related to possession of the GHB and marijuana, but the 
Tarrant County district attorney's office later dropped the marijuana count.

Davis is best known for her book, Precious Angels, which stated that Darlie 
Routier of Rowlett killed her sons in 1996. Routier was convicted on one 
count of capital murder after a highly publicized trial. She was sentenced 
to death.

Davis later announced that she had changed her mind and intended to write 
another book showing that Routier is innocent.

A federal lawsuit is pending against North Richland Hills and the Police 
Department. It contends that officers used excessive force and violated 
Troy Davis' civil rights.
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