Evidence in hundreds of criminal cases is being reviewed following accusations that a forensic analyst with the Oregon State Police tampered with drug evidence.
The Oregonian reports the analyst, who worked at the agency's lab in Bend, has been placed on leave. The woman has not been identified, but agency spokesman Lt. Bill Fugate confirmed she is under investigation over the handling of drug evidence. The discovery puts current cases and convictions in doubt and could cost counties thousands to retest and retry cases.
Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel says he must retest evidence in more than 500 cases dating back to 2012. In Klamath County, District Attorney Rob Patridge says he's reviewing more than 300 cases. The majority of affected cases are from eastern Oregon.
