Former State Crime Lab Scientist Faces Federal Drug Charges

A former forensic scientist with the Oregon State Police used her position to steal drugs, according to a document filed in federal court in Portland on Thursday.

Nika Larsen is charged with two counts of using her position to obtain drugs through "misrepresentation, fraud, and deception."

The first count charges her with stealing drugs while at the police lab in Umatilla County between December 2013 and November 2014.

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The second count charges her with theft from the lab in Bend between November 2014 and Aug. 27, 2015.

Among the drugs she allegedly stole were morphine, oxycodone, hydocodone and tramadol.

The court filing charges that she stole "pills from evidence items submitted by law enforcement agencies to the Oregon State Police Crime Lab for analysis and testing."

The situation involving Larsen first became public last September when the State Police notified district attorneys that as more than 1,000 cases might have been affected.

As a result, many district attorneys have been going case by case, trying to determine if there were problems.

When the evidence tampering was revealed, the co-founder of the Oregon Innocence Project, Aliza Kaplan, said it showed the need for the crime to be independent.

"This unfortunate situation shows we need much more effective checks and balances on the work of our crime labs," she said. "Creating an independent testing agency would be an excellent start."

In March, The Bend Bulletin reported that Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel had moved to set aside at least seven convictions in cases where Larsen was suspected of having tampered with evidence.

Hummel's office also set up a website listing all cases where evidence had been reviewed by Larsen.

“Integrity and transparency should be hallmarks of our justice system,” said Hummel.

"The launch of this web portal allows the public to have the information necessary to make an informed decision as to whether I’m properly balancing the equally important goals of holding offenders accountable and ensuring that innocent suspects are exonerated," Hummel said.