A former forensic analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation pleaded guilty Tuesday to 4 felony counts stemming from accusations that she manipulated and omitted data to pace up the DNA testing course of, calling into query the validity of a whole lot of legal circumstances.
Yvonne “Missy” Woods entered guilty pleas to committing a cybercrime, perjury, trying to affect a public servant and forgery. Dozens of different counts have been dismissed as a part of a plea settlement.
Woods was set to stand trial later this yr. Instead, she’ll face between 8 and 16 years in jail when she’s sentenced in September.
Woods and her attorneys declined to speak to reporters after Tuesday’s listening to.
Authorities accused Woods, who resigned in 2023 after a decades-long profession, of altering knowledge to conceal tampering, deleting knowledge that confirmed she failed to troubleshoot points inside the testing course of and never completely documenting checks carried out in case data.
The investigation into Woods’ misconduct started in September 2023 after an intern on the bureau found lacking info in a case that Woods dealt with in 2018. According to an arrest affidavit, Woods allegedly advised investigators at one level that she had modified knowledge to full circumstances extra rapidly.
Problems with the scientist’s work have been present in circumstances involving murder, sexual assault, theft and different crimes, in accordance to a legislation enforcement affidavit. Prosecutors have been compelled to evaluation a whole lot of circumstances.
At least one homicide conviction was overturned because of Woods’ misconduct. Michael Clark was launched from jail in 2025 after his legal professionals argued that DNA evidence within the case was mishandled by Woods, however prosecutors are looking for to retry him.
In a minimum of two circumstances, each homicides, the defendants obtained lesser sentences under plea dealsthan they might have confronted in the event that they went to trial as a result of prosecutors have been afraid Woods’ involvement could lead on to acquittals.
Convictions in different circumstances are also being challenged in courts throughout Colorado.
State officers have stated that the response to Woods’ actions may find yourself costing greater than $11 million.
The state investigation bureau in an announcement issued Tuesday described Woods’ actions as intentional legal fraud and stated it didn’t replicate the bureau’s practices.
“This moment is not about moving on, for CBI it’s about moving forward,” stated Armando Saldate, bureau director. “Today’s guilty plea is an important moment of accountability.”
The bureau stated it has been making modifications and is dedicated to following finest practices used nationwide in forensic science.