Texas Judicial Branch

Commission Investigative Reports

Texas Forensic Science Commission Investigative Reports

Type

Case #

Submitted By

Subject

Report

Discipline

Published

Size (MB)

Self-Disclosure

25.68

Steve Mayes

Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory

Final Report on Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory 25.68 (CSI; Seized Drugs; Forensic Biology/DNA)

Crime Scene Investigation; Seized Drugs; Forensic Biology/ DNA

4/24/2026

 

Self-Disclosure

25.66

Harlie Sanchez

Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences (SWIFS)

Final Report on SWIFS 25.66 (Forensic Biology/DNA)

Forensic Biology/ DNA

4/24/2026

 

Complaint

24.45

Mark Thiessen

DPS Houston

Final Report on Complaint 24.45: DPS Houston (Toxicology/Blood Alcohol)

Toxicology/Blood Alcohol

10/24/2025

 

Self- Disclosure

24.32

Ali Salih

DNA Reference Lab

Final Report on DNA Reference Lab No. 24.32 (Forensic Biology/DNA)

Forensic Biology/ DNA

07/25/25

 

Self- Disclosure

25.01

Michal Pierce

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

Final Report on Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences No. 25.01 (Seized Drugs)

Seized Drugs

04/11/2025

 

Complaint

24.58

Kevin Schuette

DPS Tyler

Final Report on Complaint 24.58; Kevin Schuette; (DPS Tyler; Seized Drugs)

Seized Drugs

04/11/2025

 

Self- Disclosure

24.29

 

DPS Weslaco

Final Report on DPS Weslaco No. 24.29 (Seized Drugs)

Seized Drugs

01/31/2025

 

Complaint

23.67

Tiffany Roy

Timothy Kalafut, Ph.D.

Final Report on Complaint 23.67; Tiffany Roy; (Timothy Kalafut Ph.D.; Evaluation of Biological/DNA Results Given Activity Level Propositions)

Evaluation of Biological/DNA Results

7/26/2024

4.85

Complaint

21.27

National Innocence Project; University of Colorado Law School

Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory

Final Report on Complaint 21.27; National Innocence Project, University of Colorado Law School (Houston Police Dept. Crime Lab; Firearms)

Firearms

04/26/2024

 

Complaint

22.16

Harris County Public Defender

Ron Smith & Associates

Final Report on Complaint 22.16 Harris County Public Defender (Ron Smith & Associates; Latent Prints)

Webinar

Latent Prints

10/20/2023

 

Self-Disclosure

21.72

 

Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory

Final Report on Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory No. 21.72 (Blood Alcohol)

Blood Alcohol

07/21/2023

 

Self-Disclosure

22.39

 

Bode Technology

Final Report on Bode Technology No. 22.39 (Forensic Biology/DNA)

Forensic Biology/DNA

04/14/2023

 

Self-Disclosure

22.17

 

Fort Worth Police Department Crime Laboratory

Final Report on Fort Worth Police Department Crime Laboratory No. 22.17 (Proficiency Testing)

Proficiency Testing

04/14/2023

 

Complaint

20.55

 

ExperTox

Final Report on Complaint No. 20.55 Wood, Carrie (ExperTox; Forensic Toxicology)

 

04/14/2023

 

Self-disclosure

22.18

 

Houston Forensic Science Center

Final Report on Houston Forensic Science Center Self-disclosure No. 22.18, Forensic Biology/DNA; Trial Testimony of Stephen Adam Vinson

Webinar

Forensic Biology/DNA

11/15/2022

 

Complaint

21.46

 

Damon Earl Lewis

Final Report on Complaint No. 21.46, Damon Earl Lewis (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Kim Basinger)

Sexual Assault Nurse Examination

05/05/2022

 

Complaint

21.54

 

James Smiley

Final Report on Complaint No. 21.54, James Smiley (Signature Science, LLC; Forensic Biology/DNA)

Forensic Biology/DNA

04/28/2022

 

Self-disclosure

21.49

 

Fort Worth Police Department Crime Laboratory

Final Report on Self-Disclosure No. 21.49, Ft. Worth Police Department Crime Laboratory (Forensic Biology/DNA)

 

04/22/2022

 

Complaint

21.32

 

Harris Co. Public Defender for Theodore Schmidt

Final Report on Complaint No. 21.32, Harris County Public Defender's Office for Theodore Schmidt (Dr. Melba Ketchum; Canine DNA)

Forensic Biology/DNA

03/04/2022

 

Self-Disclosure

21.41

 

NMS Labs

NMS Hemp Marihuana Differentiation Final Report

Seized Drugs

01/27/2022

 

Self-Disclosure

21.17

 

Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences (SWIFS)

Final Report Concerning Firearms/Toolmarks Analyst Phong Ngo, Ph.D.

Firearms/Toolmarks

12/09/2021

 

Complaint

20.47

 

Trisa Crutcher

Fort Worth Police Department Crime Laboratory

Multiple

07/28/2021

 

Complaint

20.60

 

Gerard Cantu

Armstrong Forensic Labs, Inc.

Seized Drugs

07/23/2021

 

Self-Disclosure

20.20

 

DPS Austin

Texas Department of Public Safety (Austin) Concerning Materials (Trace) Analyst Katrina Battle

Materials (Trace)

04/13/2021

 

Self-Disclosure

20.48

 

DPS Austin

Texas Department of Public Safety (Austin) Self-Disclosure Concerning Seized Drug Analyst Timothy Cornelisen

Seized Drugs

04/01/2021

 

Self-Disclosure

20.13

 

Signature Science

Signature Science Self-Disclosure of Professional Misconduct and Evidence Handling by Technician Caitlyn Mercer

Forensic Biology

04/01/2021

 

Complaint

19.04

 

Dr. Robert Collins

Texas Department of Public Safety (Houston)

Forensic Biology/DNA

04/01/2021

 

Self-Disclosure

19.46

 

NMS Labs

NMS Labs Self-Disclosure Concerning Analyst Jessica Almond

Seized Drugs

07/24/2020

 

Self-Disclosure

19.03

 

Texas Department of Public Safety (Austin)

Texas Department of Public Safety (Austin) Self-Disclosure Concerning Testimony of D. Jody Koehler

Forensic Biology/DNA

08/16/2019

 

Complaint

18.21

 

Amanda Culbertson

Texas Department of Public Safety- El Paso

Blood Alcohol

08/16/2019

 

Self-Disclosure

19.12

 

Ft. Worth Police Department

Ft. Worth Police Department Crime Lab Self-Disclosure Concerning Analyst Amanda Schaffner

Forensic Biology/DNA

08/16/2019

 

Complaint

16.56

 

Walter Reaves for Joe. D Bryan

Complaint Against Robert Thorman and Texas Department of Public Safety

BPA/Serology

10/05/2018

0.85

Complaint

17.04

 

Lisa Gefrides

Complaint Against Houston Forensic Science Center

Forensic Biology/DNA

07/08/2018

46.20

Self-Disclosure

17.28

Texas Department of Public Safety- Garland

 

Self-Disclosure Concerning Testimony of Christopher Youngkin

Toxicology/Blood Alcohol

04/20/2018

104.20

Complaint

16.48

Harris County Criminal Lawyers' Association

 

Complaint against Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences & Fessessework Guale

Toxicology

04/20/2018

74.80

Accreditation

N/A

Texas Forensic Science Commission

 

National Medical Services, Inc. (NMS) DNA Analysis in Case of U.S. v. Torney

Forensic Biology/DNA

04/20/2018

20.60

Complaint

16.40

Harris Co Public Defender's Office

 

Complaint against Harris Co Institute of Forensic Sciences, Harris Co Sheriff's Office and Houston PD on behalf of Norma Clark

Gunshot Residue/Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

02/02/2018

6.80

Accreditation

N/A

Texas Forensic Science Commission

 

Austin Police Department Forensic Services Division, DNA Section

Forensic Biology

07/08/2016

17.00

Complaint

1088.14.08

Frank Blazek

 

Complaint against Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences on behalf of Joshua Ragston

Firearms/Tool Marks

04/19/2016

28.30

Complaint

1109.15.07

National Innocence Project

 

Complaint on Behalf of Steven Mark Chaney

Bite Mark Comparison

04/12/2016

0.29

Complaint

1081.14.11

Tamara Parsons

 

Complaint against Knox & Associates on behalf of George R. Powell, II

Forensic Video Analysis/Height Determination

04/12/2016

45.10

Self-Disclosure

2003.14.01

Integrated Forensic Laboratories, LLC.

 

Integrated Forensic Laboratories, LLC Laboratory Self-Disclosure

Firearms/Tool Marks

11/05/2015

10.30

Self-Disclosure

2015.14.10

Andrea Gooden

 

Houston Forensic Science Center Analyst Self-Disclosure

Toxicology

01/23/2014

0.27

Self-Disclosure

2001.12.02

Texas Department of Public Safety- Houston

 

Texas Department of Public Safety Houston Regional Crime Laboratory Self-Disclosure

Seized Drugs

04/05/2013

0.23

Self-Disclosure

2000.12.01

Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office Crime Laboratory

 

Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office Crime Laboratory Self-Disclosure

Forensic Biology

10/05/2012

0.91

Complaint

1050.12.01

Debra Stephens

 

Complaint against Austin Police Department Crime Laboratory

Seized Drugs

10/05/2012

9.89

Complaint

10.4411.11

National Innocence Project

 

Complaint against El Paso Police Department Crime Laboratory

Controlled Substance

07/27/2012

5.89

Complaint

1000.09.01

National Innocence Project

 

Complaint against Texas State Fire Marshal's Office on behalf of Cameron Todd Willingham & Ernest Ray Willis

Fire Debris/Arson

10/28/2011

22.6

Complaint

1024.10.25

Cecily Hamilton

 

Complaint against Austin Police Department Forensic Science Division

Forensic Biology/DNA

09/08/2011

1.98

Complaint

1001.09.02

National Innocence Project

 

Complaint against Texas Department of Public Safety- El Paso

Forensic Biology/Serology

09/08/2011

 

DNA Mixture Interpretation Review Panel

  • Bruce Budowle (Chair)
  • Sheree Hughes-Stamm (Panel Member)
  • Nancy Downing (Panel Member)
  • Jarvis Parsons (Panel Member)