The Sixth Appellate Court of Appeals in Texarkana on Sept. 16 overturned the conviction of a Gilmer man who was convicted of possession of cocaine.

James Sentrell Chism’s case was remanded back to the 115th District Court in Gilmer for further disposition, the ruling said.

Chism had pleaded guilty to possession of less than one gram of cocaine on Feb. 6. Judge Lauren Parish sentenced him to two years in a state jail.

His appeal was submitted on July 24.

He was represented on appeal by Gilmer attorney Tim Cone.

The appeal was based on evidence (a pill bottle containing a small plastic bag containing a powered substance later determined to be cocaine found in Chism’s pocket.

Chism contended the arresting officer, then-Gilmer policeman James Griswold had exceeded authority when he patted down the suspect after receiving a complaint that the man had been panhandling at a local convenience store.

Griswold said in the trial that he had conducted the search because he had found that transients, which Chism was believed to, often carried weapons, including knives, screwdrivers and handguns.

He said this knowledge made him fear for his safety.