HOKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- After months of investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation found that there was not widespread payroll fraud in Hoke County. We would like to thank Director Schurmeier for his bravery in cooperating with this inquiry. In 1979, North Carolina SBI Agent Alan was assigned to investigate McMahan whether Ray Finch had been framed by Sheriff Pridgen and Chief Deputy Owens to protect the individual who had committed the murder, but who had knowledge of Pridgen and Owens soli citing bribes to protect a prostitution ring operating in Wilson County . The full impact of the disclosure will reverberate for years to come as prosecutors and defense attorneys re-examine cases as much as two decades old to figure out whether these errors robbed defendants of justice. 132-1.3), criminal investigation records (N.C.G.S. In a hearing the same year, Watters explained his reasoning: "I'm telling you that the thing that concerns us most is the precedent this would set, and the potential for harmwe've never been a testing laboratory for the defendant. He further indicated that two other agencies had been investigated and that it wasnt good. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy The chief [Jones] was very upset. N.C.G.S. Persons seeking federal records under FOIA should contact an agency public information officer. Cooper last month dismissed SBI Director Robin Pendergraft after she struggled to answer questions about SBI cases and policies. An agent alleged the director discriminated based on race in a hiring decision. The SBI Headquarters is located in Raleigh and we have eight district offices as well. Greg Taylor was wrongly convicted precisely because of this policy. The public official in charge of an office is the designated custodian of records for that office. A new report released by the FBI showed that North Carolina crime lab workers omitted, overstated or falsely reported blood evidence over a 16-year period. Myers was lead investigator in the state's 2007 case against Black. Gov. 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Normally, a request to any employee in a government office is sufficient to get access to records in that office. The News & Observer reported this month in a series, "Agents' Secrets," that analysts across the laboratory push past the accepted bounds of science to deliver results pleasing to prosecutors. Schurmeier: Governors Staff Interfered with SBI Independence, Non-Standing, Interim and Study Committees. Agencies must permit inspection and provide copies of the public, non-confidential parts of these records. On Wednesday, Cooper promised a more independent review would follow and that McLeod, the new director, would bring in experts. The criminal convictions of three people who have since been executed in North Carolina, and four more cases in which the defendants are now on death row, are in doubt because of faulty lab work by the SBI, according to a new, scathing report written by former FBI agents who examined the troubled agency's blood work. But no charges have been filed against him. [See: PLN, Oct. 2010, p.1]. Schurmeier: Governor's Staff Interfered with SBI Independence Eight analysts were involved in these bad practices. Suite 110 The North Carolina justice system shook Wednesday as an audit commissioned by Attorney General Roy Cooper revealed that the State Bureau of Investigation withheld or distorted evidence in more than 200 cases at the expense of potentially innocent men and women. North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper is a good illustration of the political hurdles standing in the way of fixing any of these problems. Graham and Benjamin surrendered to SBI agents Friday morning. I don't know how we are going to make this right.". Still, Myers said he sees similarities in all public corruption cases. Hendersonville, NC 28792. SBI Director Robert Schurmeier announced June 29, 2023, that he will not step down from his role when his eight-year term expires on June 30. Analysts set their own criteria until 1997; that policy sanctioned the practice of not reporting negative or inconclusive results of confirmatory tests. Peterson argued that his wife died as a result of an accidental fall. 12/9/2013 2 About the SBI The State Bureau of Investigation is a division of the Department of Justice under the direction of Attorney . Those 4 individuals were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. "There was anecdotal evidence that some Analysts were not objective in their mindset," Swecker wrote. In October 2022, Jones called him to the governors office and asked him to resign after she learned of these allegations. 132-1.4 (a) states that records of criminal investigations conducted by public law enforcement agencies or records of criminal intelligence information compiled by public law enforcement agencies are not public records. Swecker found policies and practices out of step with the rules of serology. However, two. Graham city council member cleared of corruption allegations by SBI So will the lab at least open itself to peer review and observation? Jones and Fletcher both repeated their threats to Schurmeier in a follow-up meeting in November 2022. After learning Cindy Palmer was a primary target . PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I have been savouring every article in the Charlotte Observer series on the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Related: Hoke County probe turning into a legal standoff. BY MANDY LOCKE, JOSEPH NEFF AND J. ANDREW CURLISS - Staff Writers. Several statutes regulate public disclosure of personnel information of government employees. There was widespread lying, corruption, and pressure from prosecutors and other law enforcement officials on crime lab analysts to produce results that would help secure convictions. 132-1.2), certain lawsuit settlements (N.C.G.S. Although he wasn't in the courtroom Wednesday, a former state blood analyst was center stage during a North Carolina Court of Appeals hearing on . We are not authorized to advise or represent private citizens on personal legal matters. 2 indicted, 34 cleared in Hoke County payroll fraud investigation So long as government officials retain that mindset, we'll continue to see forensic scandals like the one currently unfolding in North Carolina. Prosecutors say the former speaker bribed Rep. Michael Decker to switch parties, which enabled Black to hold on to a share of his power in an evenly divided House. "This report reveals staggering lack of competence at the lab," said Mike Klinkosum, a Raleigh lawyer who represented Taylor in February and helped discover Deaver's withheld test results. North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) director Bob Schurmeier testified before the NC House Oversight and Reform Committee Tuesday that Governor Roy Coopers staff repeatedly interfered with the independence of his agency. 126-22, 153A-98, 160A-168, 115C-321, 115D-29, 122C-158, 130A-42, 131E-97.1, 162A-6.1. Those tests are fallible, prone to giving false positives. People requesting copies of computer databases may be required to make their requests in writing. UNC to offer free tuition to NC students after Supreme Court ruling. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are scrambling to review the 230 problem cases cited in Swecker's report. Two former FBI agents, Chris Swecker and Mike Wolf, examined more than 15,000 cases at the invitation of Cooper, a Democrat who has been attorney general since 2001. Behind the five cases Swecker deemed most problematic: Deaver, a 23-year veteran of the agency. Spring Lake police to regain full powers - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham Posted 4:07 p.m. Mar 27, 2014 - Updated 8:29 a.m. Mar 28, 2014. "They're fascinating cases, but on the other hand, they're very disheartening, disillusioning, what you find out. These rules apply to personnel information for applicants, current employees and former employees. Which means preventable mistakes will continue to send innocent people to prison, and allow guilty people to remain free. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The guide also instructs analysts to beware of "defense whores"analysts hired by defense attorneys to challenge their testimony. The allegations in Hudson's order involve the agency's bloodstain analysis unit, which was separate from the blood analysis unit and not previously implicated. Discredited SBI agent at crux of Peterson appeal - WRAL 132-6, If an agency can provide copies of public records in different kinds of media (for example, in print or on computer disc), people requesting copies may choose to get copies in any and all the media available. "The practice is unacceptable," said Chris Wrecker, one of the report's investigators. N.C.G.S. Hendersonville, NC 28792. N.C.G.S. Most forensic disciplines were invented by police investigators, not scientists. "We were encouraged to turn over every rock and look at everything." Deaver "deliberately and intentionally misled the jury at Mr. Peterson's trial about the scientific basis and acceptability of his opinions, methods and experiments," Hudson wrote. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 8.23.2010 4:30 PM. North Carolina Forensics Lab Scandal Grows With New Evidence of Fraud. Forensic science in America is corrupted by a fundamental conflict of interest. Plane banner!. (See here for some suggested reforms.). SBI Leadership. "It's an abomination of the criminal justice system and an affront to all the decent law enforcement officers out there doing their jobs.". Suite 110 05/25/2023 CLOSING DATE 6/1/2023 5:00 PM Eastern JOB CLASS TITLE SBI Special Agent in Charge SECTION Professional Standards WORK LOCATION Statewide POSITION NUMBER 60010839 SALARY GRADE SW11 Description of Work This is an INTERNAL POSTING open ONLY for the NC Department of Public Safety's current employees and eligible RIF candidates. Sadly, I'm not surprised.". Radley Balko North Carolina's Corrupted Crime Lab - Reason.com He explained that they delayed his hiring of key positions and inserted themselves into his decision to fill a vacant deputy director position. The NC SBI serology "scandal": What you need to know It is a true act of public service to the State of North Carolina.. 17, 2023. Scathing SBI audit says 230 cases tainted by shoddy investigations The report found that SBI agents withheld exculpatory evidence or distorted evidence in more than 230 cases over a 16-year period. An independent SBI is necessary for its role investigating allegations of misuse of state property, public corruption, and election law violations. The primary role of the Attorney Generals Office is to provide legal representation to the State of North Carolina, its agencies and state officials acting in their official capacities. 11. Deaver, who was fired in January 2011, is also at the center of a growing web of litigation that could ultimately cost North Carolina millions. 114 West Edenton Street I would say she was very mad at me. Welcome to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Established in 1937, the SBI conducts criminal investigations across the state of North Carolina and we're often called upon by local agencies to assist them when and where needed. 6,661 1. retiredLEO.
