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.