Bust may endanger up to 822 D. A. cases

Possible lab ‘ taint’ probed in exanalyst’s meth arrest

More than 800 resolved criminal prosecutions may have been impacted by a former lab analyst allegedly caught with an evidence bag of methamphetamine in August, according to a list released Friday by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

The cases, which include prosecutions for DUIs, rapes and murders spanning more than a decade, may now require a second look to ensure they aren’t tainted — a task likely to cost the city nearly a halfmillion dollars.

The announcement comes nearly three months after Justin Volk, then a forensic lab analyst with the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office, was arrested in Utah after reportedly driving with an evidence bag of meth and various pills. Volk was later charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

In a statement released Friday, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin said his office has “acted with great urgency” in handling the allegations against Volk and prioritized reviewing all of the convictions in which Volk was in

volved.

“Ensuring the integrity of our convictions is of the utmost importance, and for that reason, we are publishing this information as part of our commitment to integrity and transparency in the criminal legal system,”

Boudin said in a statement.

The list to date includes 822 cases, detailing the court number, date of arrest and charges, but no names. Officials with the district attorney’s office said the list will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

Prosecutors are encouraging anyone whose information is on the spreadsheet, or who believes Volk may have played a role in their case, to contact their defense attorney to discuss potential legal remedies.

Officials said the list wasn’t meant to cast doubt on the convictions or suggest it entitled anyone to legal relief.

“Rather, the information is provided to facilitate obtaining more details to determine whether any evidence supporting the conviction may have been tainted by Mr. Volk,” city prosecutors said in a statement.

The cases date back to 2009 and stretch into 2020.

Volk remains under investigation by prosecutors and has not yet faced local charges. He was terminated from his position at the office last month.

Officials with the District Attorney’s Office said they would review every case in which Volk was involved, to ensure none were tainted.

Prosecutors have estimated that the additional costs associated with the appellate filings and requests for new trials would top $ 450,000, and have requested additional funding from Mayor London Breed and Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee.