Ballistics

Richard Ernest is an award winning Forensic Scientist and Consultant who has over 31 years of Experience in Analytical Criminalistics and Forensic Ballistics. During his career he has worked literally thousands of forensic cases, and testified hundreds of times. Mr. Ernest is one of a very few private forensic ballistics consultants in the United States. He also owns and operates his own independent forensic firearms laboratory. He has worked cases all across the United States. His clients include law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices, civil and criminal case lawyers, private individuals, journalists, writers, educators and students.

Mr. Ernest has performed work on such notable cases as the Atlanta Murdered and Missing Children (Georgia vs. Wayne Williams), the Branch Davidian cases from Waco, the Texas Cadets Murder (Texas vs. David Graham and Dianne Zamora), the Miami SWAT case (USA vs. Acuna, et. al. - the Richard Brown case), and the Jayson Williams case (NJ vs. Jayson Williams).

Areas of Expertise:

Firearm Examination and Testing

Bullet and Cartridge Case Examinations and Comparisons

Ammunition Evaluation and Testing

Shooting Scene Reconstructions

Shooting Accident Reconstructions

Shooting Scene Re-enactments

Distance Determinations from Gunshot Wounds and Clothing

Gunshot Residue Analysis (GSR) and GSR Consultation

Tool Mark Examinations and Comparisons

Gun Safety and Design Issues

Serial Number Restorations

Crime Scene Examinations and Consultations

Footwear Identification

Tire Track Identification

Steven Howard provides a wide range of Consulting and Expert Witness Services to the legal professional in an ample variety of Firearms, Ammunition, Knives, Blades, Explosive Devices and many other related subjects. His Primary Area of Experience is Gunsmithing and Certified Public Armorer. Mr. Howard has a college degree in Gunsmithing and is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan. He is a former Federal Agent with the U.S. Border Patrol and a former Federal Police Officer with the Department of Defense. He has 35 years of Gunsmithing experience and is a Certified Police Armorer.

Services Include:

All Standard Firearms

Almost all Machine Guns

Silencers

Ammunition

Testing

Shooting Scene Reconstruction

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Spears

Knives

Explosive Devices

Donald R. Schuessler, MS is a Physical Evidence and Certified Bloodstain Pattern Examiner. He has been working in Forensic Evidence Evaluation and Crime Scene Investigation since 1978. His previous work for the Eugene Police Department and as a Deputy Medical Examiner provide a broad base of experience and knowledge useful to both the defense and prosecution and have contributed to many successful case resolutions.

The only certified examiner in the state of Oregon, Mr. Schuessler provides expert witness testimony throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has given expert opinion testimony in the state courts of Oregon, Washington, California, Utah and federal courts in Oregon and Washington. He also provides consultations and case review in Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho, New Jersey, Ohio, and Arizona.

Areas of Expertise:

Crime Scene Reconstruction Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Latent Print Identification Shooting Reconstruction - Bullet Flight Path Footwear Impression Identification Death Investigation

Serial Number Restoration Firearms Operation Identification Presumptive Blood Test Marijuana Identification Digital Photography Evidence Integrity / Chain of Custody Procedure

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Dr. Jon J. Nordby is a Professor and Medical Investigator, focusing on Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine. He specializes in Medico-legal Death Investigation, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Ballistics, Firearms & GSR Testing, Trace Evidence Analysis, Crime Scene Investigation & Event Reconstruction.

Services Include:

Death Investigation - Assessment of cause & manner of death and Investigation of scenes & histories of principals

Criminalistics - Trace evidence analysis, Ballistics & Firearms Examinations, and Scene investigation

Forensic Analysis - Investigation & evaluation of presented scientific evidence and Scientific Investigation & evaluation of expert testimony

Police Shootings - Administrative reviews & internal affairs investigations and Questions of Justification

Ethics - Police and Forensic Sciences

Rex T. Plant, Senior Evidence Technician at Forensic Training Services, is the past Mobile Crime Laboratory Training Coordinator for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. Mr. Plant was a sworn Senior Officer/Evidence Technician with an extensive background in Evidence Recovery and Crime Scene Examinations. He has specialized in Homicide/Death Scene Investigation in a city that was ranked one of the highest murder rates in the nation. He has over 23 years of experience reconstructing, processing crime scenes, writing reports, and training hundreds of officers and departments in the field of Forensics and Investigations across the United States and abroad.

In addition, Mr. Plant has been involved in over 30 missions, training over 1,000 US Soldiers, with the Biometrics Battlefield Forensic Mobile Training Team for the US Military, both Stateside and abroad. As an instructor and team lead/assistant team lead supervisor of 10-15 person teams, he trained deploying soldiers in the up and coming advancements and collection techniques in biometrics directly on the battlefield in theater.

Mr. Plant has been qualified on numerous occasions as an Expert Witness in the field of Crime Scene Reconstruction, Examination and Physical Evidence Recovery. His areas of expertise include:

Crime Scene Reconstruction Crime Scene Processing Criminal Case and Forensic Case Review Police Policies and Procedures Firearms and Ballistics DNA Latent Fingerprints and FootPrints

Homicide Death Investigations and Suicides Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Police Misconduct / Malpractice Laboratory Services Fire, Arson, and Explosives Narcotics

Mr. Gregory A. Danas is a Certified Expert in Firearms Technology, Design and Use. Mr. Danas is an experienced ammunition manufacturer, licensed custom gunsmith, and teaches advanced firearms training courses to thousands of citizens and law enforcement personnel. He has 27 years daily experience in intensive interaction with the public and law enforcement personnel in the application of firearms technology, design and use for all types of firearms.

Mr. Danas is qualified in the areas of: Civilian / Law Enforcement firearms training, Forensic Firearms Identification, Comparison Microscopy Illumination, Skeet / Trap Shooting catastrophic failures, Handgun Retention, Police Firearm utility, and Home Firearm Responsibility issues , Shooting Reconstruction.

Mr. Danas is available to discuss the actual and potential case merits and defenses, identify issues, fields of review and make expert recommendations. He has knowledge in defending a client in a firearm crime, violation of municipal, state or federal firearms statutes, defending or moving a civil plaintiff's case forward.

Services Include:

• Firearms Technology Design and Use
• Self Defense Event Assessment
• Tortuous Liability Assessment
• Negligent Use of Firearms / Ammunition Case Evaluation & Expert Testimony
• Internal Audits of Agency Training, Handling & Choice of Equipment
• Combat Technique & Tactic Analysis
• Assessment of Proper Weapons Handling
• Firearm Discharge Review / Analysis
• Firearms / Ammunition Functioning
• Ammunition Analysis
• Direct Referral Access to the Nation's Foremost Ballistic Laboratories:
  • Ammunition Testing
  • Body Armor Testing
  • Computerized & High Seed Video & Sound Analysis
  • Composites & Mineral Strength Testing
  • Patent Infringement Research & Analysis

Jeff Saviano is a Certified Forensic Consultant who has been involved in the Examination and Evaluation of Forensic Evidence for over 26 years. Mr. Saviano has testified in both state and federal jurisdictions as an expert in several forensic disciplines. As a forensic examiner and consultant, he has worked on cases originating in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, and Washington.

Mr. Saviano was a Criminalist with the El Paso County Colorado Sheriff's Office for over 23 years. He has been in private practice as a Forensic Examiner and Consultant since 2004. Among others, Mr. Saviano provides specialized knowledge to defense attorneys involved in criminal or civil cases in which physical evidence is at issue.

Jeff Saviano is a court qualified expert in the following disciplines: Crime Scene Investigation; Crime Scene Reconstruction; Bloodstain Pattern Analysis; Shooting Incident Reconstruction; Evidence Recovery; Fingerprint Examination; Footwear and Tire Impression Examination; External and Terminal Ballistics.

Certifications:

• Certified Forensic Consultant (American College of Forensic Examiners)
• Level 1 Certified Medical Investigator (American College of Forensic Examiners)

Services Include:

General Review of Criminal Cases Crime Scene Investigation Crime Scene Reconstruction Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Bullet Flight Path Analysis Collection/Preservation of Forensic Evidence Latent Print Examination

Footwear Impression Analysis Tire Impression Analysis Forensic Photography and Digital Imaging Crime Scene Diagrams and Other Demonstrative Evidence Vehicle Lamp Examination Identification of Serological Specimens

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Dr. George Pecoraro has 49 years of involvement in Glass and Material Science. With 60 patents, Dr. Pecoraro is internationally recognized as a glass scientist and he has been deposed for glass litigation and testimony for arbitration and jury trial, and has been involved with 30 legal clients. He is an expert in spontaneous glass breakage from NiS stones, glass fracture forensic science, residual stress, glass injury issues, product liability for glass doors & shower enclosure issues, ICC building codes, hurricane glass, windows, glass doors, vases, bottles, table tops, glass quality, strength and property measurements.

Dr. Pecoraro's Expertise Include:

• Glass Forensics - Injury and Product Liability
• Glass Manufacturing Process - Refractories and Glass Quality Issues
• Measurement of Stress Levels in Glass to Determine Extent of Strengthening
• Residential and Commercial Building Codes for Windows and Doors

James Gannalo is a former NYPD Detective and Forensic Consultant with twenty-three years experience in Firearms Identification. He has assisted attorneys and law enforcement agencies with hundreds of firearms related criminal and civil casework in addition to training dozens of individuals in firearms operability and microscopic analysis of ballistics evidence. He has testified as an expert witness in six hundred trials since 1989.

Areas of Expertise:

Firearms Operability Examination

Microscopic Analysis of Ballistic Evidence

Shooting Incident Reconstruction

Laser Trajectory Analysis of Bullet Paths

Gunshot Residue Distance Determination

Operability and Microscopic Report Review and Evaluation

Trial Preparation and Presentation

Expert Witness Testimony

Witness Interviews and Witness Statement Evaluation