MANY DRUG CASES PUT IN JEOPARDY

A Chemist, Accused Of Stealing Meth From Testing Samples, Resigns Monday.

Several hundred drug cases throughout the region are in jeopardy,
prosecutors say, in the wake of allegations against a Missouri Highway
Patrol chemist. Officials say the chemist - who resigned Monday,
according to the patrol - is suspected of stealing methamphetamine
from the samples he was testing.

While there's been no indication the tests the chemist performed were
inaccurate, prosecutors say they expect defense attorneys to attack
the man's work because of the criminal allegations.

"His credibility is gonna be shot," said Christian County Prosecutor
Ron Cleek. "Everything that he touched is gonna be an issue."

The suspect is not named because he has not been charged.

Cleek said more than 100 of his cases could be affected. Many, he
said, may be put on hold until samples can be retested.

"I don't see there's any other option," Cleek said. "It's gonna take
us six months to a year before we're able to take care of
everything."

Webster County Prosecutor Cynthia Black is preparing to send some of
her cases back to the lab for re-examination.

"Our pending cases, we'll have retested," she said. "... All of our
drug cases go to that lab."

The chemist - a civilian employee for the patrol since 1998 - worked
at the state's satellite crime lab at Southwest Missouri State University.

The lab is used to analyze drugs or materials perceived to be drugs
that are collected at crime scenes. There's been no indication how
long the alleged crimes have been occurring.

The suspect's attorney, Dee Wampler, said he will not comment on the
case.

The patrol is conducting its own internal investigation, said Troop D
spokesman Sgt. Dan Bracker. The Springfield Police Department and the
Greene County Sheriff's Department are assisting.

"We don't want any rock left unturned," Bracker said. "We're taking
this very seriously."

Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore has said that more than 300 of
his cases could be affected.

His office began notifying defense attorneys of the investigation
early last week. Since then, Moore has been trying to monitor the
investigation.

So far, he said, no evidence has been presented to him for
prosecution.