Certified Forensic Document Examiner

TYPES OF CASES HANDLED

Signature Authentication/Forgery Detection

Most of my work involves the comparison of signatures. Typical cases concern the authenticity of the signature on such documents as checks, wills, deeds, loan papers, lease agreements and personal guaranties on business loans.

Handwriting Identification

When the author of a handwritten entry is unknown, a comparison of the handwriting of suspects may reveal the author. These cases include anonymous harassing or threatening notes and letters and entries in ledgers, diaries, logbooks and other records.

Medical Malpractice

I examine medical records for evidence of alteration. This normally involves examination of the written entries using non-destructive video spectral comparison to detect differences in writing inks, microscopy of written entries to detect differences in writing inks or handwritten entries and examination of pages of the medical record for writing impressions that may reveal evidence as to the continuity of entries or indications that pages have been removed or substituted.

Anonymous Letters/Notes

These cases normally involve harassing or threatening notes received by employees of corporate clients who have few or no suspects. Examination of the anonymous communication and screening of employee records often results in identification of the writer of the note. Examination of the paper of the note for writing impressions also may reveal clues as to its origin.

Mechanical Devices

Occasionally examine rubber stamp impressions, photocopy characteristics or commercial printing characteristics to gain evidence as to the origin or date of documents in question.

I have worked and testified in both civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases generally involve allegations of forgery of financial instruments or the determination of the authorship of handwritten letters or notes. I have worked for both prosecution and defense in criminal matters and for both plaintiff and defense in civil matters.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Questioned Document Examiner - U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, 1980.

Forensic Document Examiner - American Board of Forensic Document Examiners, 1992.

Certified Fraud Examiner - Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, 1995

QUALIFICATION TRAINING

U.S. Army two year resident training course in questioned document examination.

U.S. Secret Service two week questioned documents orientation course.

Rochester Institute of Technology one week graphics arts orientation course.

Mead Corporation one week Paper Knowledge Course.

Institute of Paper Chemistry three day paper examination seminar.

Canon Corporation three day seminar on photocopier technology.

U.S. Secret Service three day seminar on counterfeiting.

U.S. Immigration Service two day seminar on travel document examination.

Canon Corporation one day seminar on fax machine technology.

Scientific Games Corp. seminar on lottery ticket security and manufacturing.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners; Charter Member, Past-President

American Academy of Forensic Sciences; Fellow, Questioned Documents Section

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University, 1972.

Master of Science, Boston University, 1986.

OTHER

A Director of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners.

Subject of Biography in the 1994/95 and 1996/97 Editions of the Marquis"Who's Who in Science and Engineering."

Subject of Biography in the 1996 and 1997 Editions of the Marquis"Who's Who in the World."

EXPERIENCE

Completed examinations in over 3000 cases since February, 1980. Testified as an expert witness in the field of forensic document examination in courts-martial of all branches of the United States armed forces, hearings of various types and in civilian courts of many jurisdictions, including testimony on several occasions in United States District Courts. Cases include civil (plaintiff and defense) and criminal (prosecution and defense).

SPECIAL LABORATORY CAPABILITIES

Microscopy

Stereo-binocular zoom magnification microscope capable of magnification from 7x to 120x. Equipped for photomicrography.

Video Spectral Comparison System

Infrared sensitive video system for infrared reflectance and luminescence for the detection of alterations and and the decipherment of obliterated entries on documents.

Electrostatic Document Imaging Device

Instrument for detecting and deciphering writing impressions and invisible writing images in paper.

Color Computer Imaging

Color scanner and imaging software for differentiation of writing inks and enhancement of faint or faded entries, erasures and alterations.

RELATED EMPLOYMENT

1994-Present President, Nelson Document Investigation Laboratory, Inc., Stone Mountain, Georgia

1992-1994 Vice President, Carney & Nelson Forensic Document Lab., Norcross, Georgia

1991-1992 Chief Document Examiner, U.S. Army Crime Lab-CONUS, Fort Gillem, Georgia

1986-1991 Questioned Documents Training Officer, U.S. Army Crime Lab-CONUS, Ft. Gillem, Georgia

1983-1986 Chief Document Examiner, U.S. Army Crime Lab-Europe, Frankfurt, West Germany

1982-1983 Forensic Document Examiner, U.S. Army Crime Lab-Europe, Frankfurt, West Germany

1980-1982 Forensic Document Examiner, U.S. Army Crime Lab-CONUS, Fort Gordon, Georgia

1978-1980 Student Document Examiner, U.S. Army Crime Lab-CONUS, Fort Gordon, Georgia

1975-1978 Criminal Investigator, Fort Riley Field Office, USACIDC, Fort Riley, Kansas

RESEARCH

A handwriting classification system for identifying check forgery suspects.

Dequenching of infrared luminescence of writing inks.

Verification of signatures on documents stored on optical disk.

Effects of physical exertion on handwriting.

Non-destructive differentiation of full color copy machines.

Laser stimulation of infrared luminescence in writing inks.

Using digital image enhancement in questioned document examination.

Ink differentiation using color computer imaging.

INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lectures and classes conducted include:

The Military Police Investigator's Course, Vilseck, West Germany

The Advanced Fraud Investigation Course, Fort McClellan, Alabama

The Advanced Trial Advocacy Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

Fraud and Forgery Evidence Course, North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy, Marietta, Georgia

Investigative Team Chief Training Course, U.S. Army Crime Lab-CONUS, Fort Gillem, Georgia

Fraud Investigation Course, Fulton County Department of Public Safety Training Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Criminal Investigation Course, Central Texas College, Frankfurt, Germany and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Fraud and Forgery Evidence Workshop, Carney & Nelson Laboratory, Norcross, Georgia

Digital Imaging for Document Examiners, Workshop at conferences of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 1995 and 1996.

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

Numerous articles and papers for newsletters and instructional purposes. In addition, papers have been published in the following periodicals:

"Journal of Forensic Sciences," a publication of American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Society of Testing and Materials.

"The Detective," a publication of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

"Forensic Digest," a publication of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

"The Army Lawyer," a publication of U.S. Army Staff Judge Advocate.

"Georgia Forensic News," a publication of the Georgia Chapter of the International Association for Identification.

Last updated10/10/03

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