BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — The Boulder County Sheriff’s Workplace is reducing ties with the state’s lab for DNA testing because the fallout over the “Missy” Wooden investigation continues to be felt throughout legislation enforcement businesses.
In a letter to Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Curtis Schaefer, Boulder Sheriff Curtis Johnson cited “latest challenges with DNA evaluation and sexual assault package processing instances” as reasoning behind the swap to the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory.
Denver7 obtained a replica of the letter from the Boulder County Sheriff to CBI Director Curtis Schaefer. Learn it within the widget beneath:
Allegations towards Yvonne “Missy Woods,” a former CBI forensic scientist accused of mishandling DNA, got here to gentle in late 2023, when an intern analysis challenge found “DNA anomalies” inside her work. The investigation into Woods claims she impacted greater than 1,000 instances. She now faces 102 prison expenses, together with cybercrime, perjury, and forgery.
In his letter, Curtis instructed the CBI director that although he can be wanting elsewhere for DNA testing, some companies like “hearth particles evaluation, explosives, toxicology, GSR and hint” will nonetheless be performed there.
District Lawyer of the twentieth Judicial District (Boulder County) Michael Dougherty stated Friday he helps the transfer.
“A part of our capability to do justice is impacted by whether or not the group trusts within the justice system and our processes,” Dougherty stated. “And that is why I am so involved about what’s been happening with CBI over the previous 13, 14 months as a result of it does undermine the integrity and confidence that folks have within the justice system.”
Proper now, the state’s rape package backlog exceeds 500 days.
Dougherty stated the Jefferson County Regional Crime Lab guarantees to offer DNA leads to fewer than 100 days.
“Take into consideration asking the federal government for a solution on one thing, something, and the federal government telling you it will take 530 days for us to get again to you. Now, give it some thought as if you are a intercourse assault sufferer and also you’re ready for DNA outcomes which can be going to find out whether or not a prosecutor’s workplace has sufficient to cost somebody with a intercourse assault or not, we’ll be capable to go ahead to trial or not. That delay is inexcusable,” Dougherty defined.
Nevertheless, the swap comes at a further value to taxpayers. Boulder County Commissioners not too long ago permitted a $100,000 annual contract to cowl among the prices for the Jefferson County lab.
“For different businesses, smaller businesses, it is value prohibitive,” he stated.
Dougherty hopes the state lab will enhance with the assistance from lawmakers, at present engaged on laws to handle the latest points.
In response to considerations about turnaround instances, CBI stated it plans to contract further outdoors labs “to eradicate the intercourse assault package backlog and reduce the turnaround instances in half by this time subsequent yr…”
However for now, Dougherty stated he expects extra legislation enforcement businesses to observe in Boulder’s footsteps.
“We want to ensure this downside is mounted for public security, for victims, but additionally for the accused, to ensure we’re getting the appropriate leads to our prison instances,” stated Dougherty.
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