Bulletin: Oregon crime lab; Nikki Larsen: Oregon State Police forensic analyst suspected of tampering with drug samples. At least 7 convictions to be set aside at outset. 300 closed criminal cases under review. Analyst Larsen under criminal investigation. "Larsen was hired as a forensic analyst with state police in 2007, working in the Pendleton lab, and in 2012 joined the Bend lab. She remains on administrative leave from the agency, according to OSP Lt. Bill Fugate. To his knowledge, Hummel said, neither the Bend nor Pendleton labs are currently testing drug evidence. The labs suspended drug evidence testing last year after the investigation opened." The Bulletin; (Thanks to Mike Bowers at CSIDDS (Forensics in Focus) for bringing this article to our attention. HL);

 

"Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel wants to set aside at least seven criminal convictions in cases where evidence was reviewed by an Oregon State Police forensic analyst suspected of tampering with drug samples. Hummel published all Deschutes County cases possibly affected Friday on the district attorney’s website. The allegations against Nika Larsen came to light last fall, and she was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by state police. The allegations have caused prosecutors across the state to review hundreds of closed and ongoing criminal cases. There are nearly 300 closed criminal cases in Deschutes County since 2007 in which Larsen reviewed evidence, the records published Friday show, and Hummel’s staff has gone over about half of them. Of that half, the district attorney has asked for convictions to stand in 126 and to set aside the convictions in seven. Another handful were previously dismissed by the court on other grounds.........Hummel declined to share details about the criminal investigation of Larsen , which he is conducting along with Umatilla County District Attorney Daniel Primus and a U.S. attorney. “We’re working together to look into all the facts and determine what charges, if any, are appropriate,” Hummel said. Oregon State Police operate five forensic laboratories, all of which can conduct chemical testing on controlled substances, according to the agency’s Forensic Services Division. Larsen was hired as a forensic analyst with state police in 2007, working in the Pendleton lab, and in 2012 joined the Bend lab. She remains on administrative leave from the agency, according to OSP Lt. Bill Fugate. To his knowledge, Hummel said, neither the Bend nor Pendleton labs are currently testing drug evidence. The labs suspended drug evidence testing last year after the investigation opened."

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/deschutescounty/4071869-151/da-dismiss-cases-where-osp-analyst-reviewed-evidence#