Strides made investigating computer crimes

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Department of Public Safety has made major strides when it comes to investigating computer crimes. A major backlog with these types of cases drew criticism in 2009 and prompted a series of changes within the agency’s crime lab.

Three years ago, a KXAN report revealed a Marble Falls school bus driver under investigation for involvement with child pornography. Evidence in that case sat on the DPS crime lab’s shelf for two years, delaying the bus driver's arrest while he continued to shuttle kids to and from school.

“The current backlog of cases is unacceptable, especially if the case involves child pornography,” said DPS director Steven C. McCraw in 2009.

Since that time, DPS officials took steps to speed up and streamline the process, including $287,000, two new staff members and six new workstations.

Because of those additions, the backlog went from 45 cases in 2009 to just 16 right now. The average wait time went from a year to just three months.

Typically, agencies in many smaller towns utilize DPS for this type of analysis, because they lack their own resources. During that three-year period, DPS took on nearly 240 cases, with nearly a third coming from Central Texas.

"That's the one vulnerable position, is the children,” said Lockhart Police Chief Mike Lummus. “When you see the things that happen to children, it really gives you that extra drive to try to do things right."

Last year, Lummus’ department began investigating Thomas Knox, a coach at the local high school. Allegations surfaced that Knox was having an "improper relationship" with a 16-year-old student.

"We had to analyze cell phones for text messages, to show the relationship and the extent of the relationship,” said Lummus.

Police needed to look at cell phones and computers of the coach and student, so they shipped the electronics to the DPS crime lab.

"Some photographs that were exchanged and some of those photographs and emails that were saved to a computer,” Lummus added.

“On some cases, (DPS officials) absolutely make the case,” said Luke Alsobrook, Caldwell County Assistant District Attorney. “It goes from a case that we wouldn't be able to prove to a jury to one where the jury's not going to be out very long."

The Caldwell County District Attorney's office is now preparing for the coach's trial. It had the necessary evidence back in exactly three months -- a noticeable improvement from not long ago.

"One way to eliminate the backlog, I would think, is to increase their funding,” said Alsobrook. “We would love to see that. That can only help to serve the community better in order to get some of that evidence to court quicker."

DPS said it will work with state lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session to figure out how best to keep up with the growing demand.

"We'll work with the legislature to deal with the expected growth in this area, both in terms of volume and the technological advances we shall see,” said Tom Vinger, DPS spokesman.

Lummus said he does not know how Knox's trial will play out but said he is sure speed is the biggest factor in cases like his.

“Absolutely, the faster the better,” he said.

In Caldwell County, Knox faces charges for an improper relationship with a student, plus soliciting a minor online. He also faces a string of sexual assault of a child charges related to that same case in neighboring Hays County.