State Renews County Crime Lab’s License

The Ventura County crime laboratory, which lost state approval in March to oversee breath tests for suspected drunk drivers, is back in business, officials said.

The state Department of Health Services renewed the lab’s license May 23 after approving the department’s new forensic alcohol supervisor. Dea Boehme, a criminologist with a doctorate in pharmacology, was certified as supervisor of the lab after meeting state requirements, said Scott Lewis, a spokesman for the Department of Health Services.

The state had withdrawn its approval of county testing after the lab failed a proficiency test. The test was necessitated by the retirement of its last certified forensic alcohol supervisor.

Although its license was renewed last week, the lab, which continued to oversee alcohol testing during the time it lacked state approval, faces legal challenges.

Kevin DeNoce, a criminal defense attorney, filed a motion last week to dismiss charges against a client accused of drunk driving. A judge is scheduled to rule on the motion today.

DeNoce’s motion says the lab defied the state Department of Health Services’ order for 1 1/2 months by continuing to oversee alcohol breath tests and withheld information from defense attorneys.

Such violations are grounds for having his client’s case thrown out of court, DeNoce claimed.

Capt. Mark Ball of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said tests performed by the lab are reliable.

“In effect, these lawyers are trying to get every test thrown out--they’re trying to cloud the issue,” Ball said. “But according to state law, these tests are admissible as evidence. The question is, how the evidence will be weighted.”