Melissa McCann-Arms

Go to Database Search Page

Go to Database Index Page

Charge:	Introducing drug into another person
Sentence:	20 years
Years Imprisoned:	2
Year Crime:	2012
Year Convicted:	2013
Year Cleared:	2015
U.S. State or Country of Crime:	Arkansas
County or Region of Crime:	Polk
City of Crime:	Mena
Result:	Judicially Exonerated Released
Summary of Case:	"Melissa McCann Arms was wrongly convicted on January 13, 2014 of introducing a controlled substance into the body of her infant son when he was born on November 1, 2012 in Polk County, Arkansas. Arms was charged on August 27, 2013. Arms, a methamphetaphine user, filed a pretrial motion to dismiss on the basis the statute she was charged with didn't include a fetus, but the trial judge denied the motion, agreeing with the prosecution's argument that methamphetamine could have been introduced into the infant through his umbilical cord after his birth. After the close of evidence the judge denied Arms motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. She was convicted by a jury and sentenced on January 14, 2014 to 20 years in prison. Arms appeal was denied by the Arkansas Court of Appeals on January 28, 2015. The Arkansas Supreme Court agreed to review her case. On October 8, 2015 the Arkansas Court of Appeals reversed Arms' conviction on the basis the trial judge erred in denying her motion for a directed verdict because the jury had to rely on speculation to convict her since the prosecution introduced no she took an affirmative action to introduce methamphetamine into her infant son after he was born. The Court ordered dismissal of her charges."
Conviction Caused By:
Innocence Proved By:	"On October 8, 2015 the Arkansas Court of Appeals reversed Arms' conviction on the basis the trial judge erred in denying her motion for a directed verdict because the jury had to rely on speculation to convict her since the prosecution introduced no she took an affirmative action to introduce methamphetamine into her infant son after he was born. The Court ordered dismissal of her charges."
Defendant Aided By:
Compensation Awarded:
Was Perpetrator Identified?
Age When Imprisoned:	37
Age When Released:	39
Sex:	Female
Skin/Ethnicity:	White
Information Source 1:	"Melissa McCann Arms. v. State of Arkansas, 2015 Ark. 364 (No. CR-15-124) (Ark. Sup. Ct., 10-8-2015) (Reversing conviction and ordering dismissal of charges.)"
Information Location 1:	http://opinions.aoc.arkansas.gov/WebLink8/0/doc/335588/Electronic.aspx
Information Source 2:
Information Location 2:	http://www.startribune.com/arkansas-court-tosses-conviction-in-woman-s-meth-case/331447651/
Information Source 3:
Information Location 3:
Information Source 4:
Information Location 4:
Information Source 5:
Information Location 5:
Book About Case:
Book Information:
Book About Case (2):
Book Information (2):
Movie About Case:
Comments About Case:

Go to Database Search Page

Go to Database Index Page

Melissa McCann-Arms

Charge:

Introducing drug into another person

Sentence:

20 years

Years Imprisoned:

2

Year Crime:

2012

Year Convicted:

2013

Year Cleared:

2015

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Arkansas

County or Region of Crime:

Polk

City of Crime:

Mena

Result:

Judicially Exonerated Released

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

37

Age When Released:

39

Sex:

Female

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"Melissa McCann Arms. v. State of Arkansas, 2015 Ark. 364 (No. CR-15-124) (Ark. Sup. Ct., 10-8-2015) (Reversing conviction and ordering dismissal of charges.)"

Information Location 1:

http://opinions.aoc.arkansas.gov/WebLink8/0/doc/335588/Electronic.aspx

Information Source 2:

Information Location 2:

http://www.startribune.com/arkansas-court-tosses-conviction-in-woman-s-meth-case/331447651/

Information Source 3:

Information Location 3:

Information Source 4:

Information Location 4:

Information Source 5:

Information Location 5:

Book About Case:

Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case: