The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has overturned a $2 million civil rights award an “actually innocent” plaintiff won against Texas police officers for hiding exculpatory evidence in his criminal case because he pleaded guilty to assault on a public servant.

The background to Alvarez v. City of Brownsville is as follows, according to the Fifth Circuit's recent decision.

George Alvarez was detained in a holding cell of the Brownsville Police Department Jail when a detention officer pressed charges against him for assault. He pleaded guilty and received a suspended eight-year sentence.