RICHMOND, Va. -- Hundreds of convicted drug offenders could have their cases thrown out after the city’s top prosecutor launched an investigation into a former Richmond police officer. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Herring confirmed Sunday that he is investigating former Richmond Police detective Jason Norton, a former narcotics detective in Richmond. The prosecutor's investigation involves cases where more than a dozen people are still in prison.
Norton, who worked on nearly 300 cases in his nine years with the Richmond Police Department, is accused of being less than honest when asking the court for search warrants -- particularly when investigating drug cases.
Todd Stone, a legal analyst for WTVR CBS 6 News, said that search warrants have to be obtained honestly or the entire case can be thrown out.
"If that officer had any hand in the strength of that case, then you've got to call into question and I think give the benefit of the doubt to the person who's been convicted," said.
Stone said that federal judge ordered three drug offenders to be freed last month after concluding the way Norton convinced courts to give warrants was not right.
"This initially began with federal court and they basically dismissed three cases because the officer was not credibly or reliable because of some of the things that had happened with respect to search warrants,” Stone said.
It remains unclear how long the Herring investigation will last and if the tainted search warrants are true what would happen to the hundreds of individuals who have already served time.
The former Richmond Police detective is currently employed as a Hopewell Sheriff's Deputy. WTVR CBS 6 News reached out to the sheriff for comment, but had not heard back as of 11 p.m. Sunday.
It is unclear how many cases in Richmond could be involved in this investigation.
