DNA HELPS CONVICT MAN IN DRUG CASE

Prosecutors Seek To Imprison Repeat Felon For Life

Rufus Edward White Jr., 27, didn't deny his DNA was on a small plastic bag
containing powder cocaine, but he'd been running from the police and
claimed the transfer was from his sweat.

Forensic DNA Analyst Mary Jones blew that defense apart by finding White's
DNA on the inside of the bag that police said was covered in saliva when an
officer found it in the back floorboard of his patrol car after taking
White to jail.

A jury recently convicted White of possession of cocaine, the first time
DNA has been used to prove a drug case in Caddo Parish, assistant Caddo
District Attorney Eddie Brossette said.

Brossette is now in the process of trying to imprison White for life as a
third felony habitual offender. Further proceedings in that process, which
can be lengthy, are set for Jan. 29. If Brossette is successful, "the only
thing that would keep (White) from prison is a governor's pardon."

White was convicted of attempted manslaughter in 1993 and got seven years,
Brossette said. White got three years in 1996 for an attempted armed
robbery conviction.

"He's just been in and out of things and suspected of doing things for a
good part of his life," Brossette said. There are 26 charges listed against
White since 1992 in the Shreveport police arrest computer. Detective Rod
Johnson said White was also a suspect in two double homicides.

A life sentence will protect society and could be an example to others who
might be headed down the same path White took, Brossette said.

White's most recent brush with the law was in March 2001 in Queensborough
during a traffic stop because the window tint was too dark on his vehicle.
White ran from police, but was caught and had a handgun on him, Detective
Jeff Brown said.

Brown was a patrol officer at the time and he transported White to the city
jail. When Brown searched the back seat of the patrol car - standard
practice after taking a prisoner to jail - he found a small plastic bag of
cocaine on the floorboard.

The bag, about 1.5 inches by 1 inch, was covered in saliva, as if White had
concealed it in his mouth, Brossette said.

White was booked into jail for being a convicted felon in possession of a
firearm and possession of cocaine.

"The case came through as a firearms type charge, but I saw immediately I
could make the case stronger and I knew what it would take to make the case
stronger," Johnson said. He needed to prove that the cocaine found in the
patrol car belonged to White. He needed DNA testing. Johnson had to get a
search warrant to obtain a sample of White's DNA from a swab of his mouth
because White wouldn't volunteer, Brossette said.

Jones, who works at the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory on Brooks
Street in Shreveport, figured the outside of the bag would be contaminated
from handling by officers and other analysts. She tested the inside to get
a clean DNA, convincing evidence for the jurors who convicted White on Dec. 13.

Jones knows nothing of a suspect's history when she analyzes evidence and
she was unaware that her work may help imprison for life a man authorities
describe as a career criminal. Detectives said they are pleased the
criminal justice system worked.

"How many times do you give a person a chance? This is the third time that
(White's) been caught with a gun. This time it was dope and a weapon,"
Johnson said.