Wis. court upholds charging unknown suspect

By: Rick Benedict//March 26, 2013//

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By Associated Press

A Wisconsin appeals court says prosecutors legally charged an unknown suspect using only DNA markers rather than a full profile.

Milwaukee County prosecutors in 2000 charged an unknown suspect with multiple counts of sexual assault stemming from crimes in 1994 and 1995.

The complaint and arrest warrant identified the suspect as someone who matches DNA found on the victims at six genetic locations common to all humans.

In 2007 crime analysts matched Rodney Washington to DNA on the victims. Washington argues the complaint and warrant were invalid because they didn’t include an actual DNA profile.

The 1st District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday the wording was sufficient, noting the chances of someone’s DNA matching the offender’s at those six points were one in billions.

Washington’s attorney didn’t immediately return a message.

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