Crime Scene Shooting Reconstruction Expert Witness

Expert Witness No. 146

Texas

Introduction

Expert 146 retired in 1996 after a 23-year career as a forensic scientist and a crime laboratory director.  During his years with government crime laboratories, he received extensive training in specialized areas of forensic science from the FBI, DEA, ATF, as well as through a number of professional forensic organizations such as the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners, the International Association for Identification and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

During that time, he conducted forensic research in many different areas and published numerous papers in professional forensic journals.  He was also active in a number of forensic societies, serving on various committees and holding a number of offices.  He has been qualified as an expert in the field of forensic science at the state and federal level in both criminal and civil courts and in a number of states.

Since retiring, Expert 146 provides consultations, analyses, expert testimony and forensic training.  He is presently on the faculty of the University of North Texas and serves as the forensic training coordinator for the University of North Texas Police Academy in Denton, Texas.

Present Positions

Director, F.S.A., since 1997

Forensic Trainer, Forensic Identification Training Seminars, since 1998

Adjunct Professor/Forensic Training Coordinator, University of North Texas, since 1999

Former Positions

Instructor of Chemistry, Blinn College, Brenham, Texas 1970-1974

Assistant Laboratory Director, Fort Worth Police Department, 1974-1983

Adjunct Instructor of Chemistry, Weatherford College, Weatherford, Texas 1976-1980

Adjunct Instructor of Criminal Justice, University of Texas at Arlington, 1980-1983

Supervising Criminalist, Arizona Department of Public Safety, 1983-1996 (retired)

Adjunct Instructor of Police Science, Northern Arizona University, 1984-1994

Firearms Examiner, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa, Oklahoma 1996-1997

Adjunct Instructor of Police Science, Tulsa Community College, 1997

Laboratory Manager, Weckerling Scientific Laboratories, Carrollton, Texas 1997-1998

Criminalist, Forensic Consultant Services, Fort Worth, Texas, 1998-1999

Formal Education

B.S., Chemistry, Sam Houston State University, 1968

M.A., Chemistry, Sam Houston State University, 1971

Special Courses Attended

DEA Forensic Chemist Seminar, McLean, Virginia, 1975

FBI Glass Analysis Course, Quantico, Virginia, 1976

Applied Molecular Spectroscopy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 1977

ATF Arson Residue Analysis Course, Rockville, Maryland, 1980

FBI Gunshot Residue Analysis Course, Quantico, Virginia, 1981

Ballistics and Handloading Course, Trinidad State College, Trinidad, Colorado, 1982

Polarized Light Microscopy, McCrone Institute, Austin, Texas, 1982

FBI Instrumental Analysis of Paints and Polymers Course, Quantico, Virginia, 1983

FBI Symposium on Footwear and Tire Tread Examination, Quantico, Virginia, 1984

X-Ray Fluorescence Class, Tracor Corporation, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1985

FBI Specialized Techniques in Firearms Identification Course, Quantico, Virginia, 1987

Ruger Police Armorer’s Course, Phoenix Police Academy, Phoenix, Arizona, 1987

Crime Scene Reconstruction Class, Dr. Henry Lee, Scottsdale, Arizona, 1988

AFTE Glock Armorer’s Class, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 1989

AFTE Remington 1100 Service Class, Houston, Texas, 1991

Photomicrography Class, Leitz Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona, 1991

Crime Scene Photography, Flagstaff, Arizona 1992

Wound Ballistics Class, Dr. Martin Fackler, Glendale, Arizona, 1992

Blood Spatter Interpretation and Crime Scene Reconstruction, Scottsdale, Arizona, 1993

FBI Footwear and Tire Tread Examination Seminar (presenter), Quantico, Virginia, 1994

SWAFS Shooting Reconstruction Class, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1995

SWAFS Lamp Bulb Examination Class, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1995

Accident Reconstruction and Low-Speed Crash Evaluation, Texas A&M University, 1996

Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation, University of North Texas, 2000

Recovery of Buried Remains, University of North Texas, 2001

Professional Affiliations

Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences

Distinguished Member of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners

Emeritus Member of the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists

Emeritus Member of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors

Member of the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction

Member of Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association

Papers Presented

Available upon Request

Specialized Forensic Classes Taught

Available upon Request

Professional Offices Held

Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners: Reviewer for AFTE Journal, 1989-present

Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists: Program Chairman, 1984, Member, Board of Directors, 1986-1988, Chair of Professional  Development, 1988-1990

SWAFS Journal Editor, 1988-1992,  President, 1993-1994

Fall Meeting Workshop Chair, 1993 Chairman, Board of Directors, 1994-1995

American Society of Crime Lab Directors:

Member, Board of Directors, 1986-1989

Chair, Publication Committee, 1986-1987

Chair, Membership Committee, 1987-1989

Laboratory Accreditation Inspector, 1987-1995

Laboratory Accreditation Board Member, 1996

Forensic Science Operations and Program Committee, 1988-1991

Member, Management Committee, 1992-1994

Chair, Crime Scene Investigation Standards Committee, 1996

Awards/Honors

“Distinguished Member Award,” AFTE, 1988

“James Zotter Award,” SW Assn. of Forensic Scientists, 1991, (“For Outstanding Dedication and Contributions to the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists and Forensic Science.”)

“Best Technical Paper,” Southern and SW Assns. of  Forensic Scientists, 1992, “The Use of Videomicroscopy in Footwear Comparisons”

“Best Technical Paper,” SW Assn. of Forensic Scientists, 1993, “The Reconstruction of a Double Homicide near Ashfork, Arizona”

“Best Technical Paper,” Southern and SW Associations of Forensic Scientists, 1994, “The Use of Hand-Held Laser Pointers in the Reconstruction of Events at Crime Scenes,” co-authored

Awarded Emeritus status in the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, 1996

Awarded Emeritus status in the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists, 1997