DROPPED CHARGES END DRUG TRIAL

PORT ALLEN -- The trial of a Baton Rouge man on a felony count of drug
trafficking ended Wednesday in 18th Judicial District Court with prosecutors
dropping all charges against him.

The state decided to end the trial before it reached a conclusion, after
testimony determined that key evidence against Ronald Nixon, 33, 233 Logis
St., was left unattended in a file cabinet drawer, defense attorney Tommy
Thompson said.

Nixon was arrested Nov. 18, 2001, and was facing prosecution for possession
of cocaine with intent to distribute, Thompson said. Nixon's trial began
Tuesday.

During the trial, the defense suggested that the evidence could have been
tampered with because other officers had keys to the evidence drawer,
Thompson said.

Thompson said he realized during a police officer's testimony that the
evidence's "chain of custody" had been broken.

Thompson said he asked District Judge Robin Free to reconsider a motion to
suppress the evidence, and Free granted the motion.

The chain of custody refers to the movement and location of evidence from
the time it is obtained to the time it is presented in court.

Assistant District Attorney Becky Chustz was unavailable for comment.