Vehicle Identification Number & How to Read It Plus…
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From the National Defender Investigator Association • Volume 16, March 2009 GETTING AND HANDLING THE RECANTING WITNESS BATTLING CYBERCRIME VIN: VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER & HOW TO READ IT PLUS…NDIA’S 2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCE Eagle’s Eye Page 2 NDIA EDITOR’S NOTE National Defender Investigator Association 460 Smith Street, Suite K, Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: (860) 635-5533 The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor Fax: (866) 668-9858 to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread. E-mail: [email protected] www.NDIA.net – Anatole France, The Red Lily, 1894 Offi cers & Committees OFFICERS Colleen Flanagan The great can protect themselves, but the poor and humble require (973) 645-6347 the arm and shield of the law. President colleen_fl [email protected] Matt Whalen – Andrew Jackson, 1821 (203) 503-6818 Investigative Manual [email protected] Position Open t is easy to forget for whom Vice President Investigator/Paralegal we work. We so often en- Teri Moore of the Year counter the poor in a con- (609) 989-2160 Gerald Powell I [email protected] (901) 5444920 trolled environment, e.g. jail [email protected] or prison, that our knowledge Secretary-Treasurer of their indigence, even the de- William Smith Newsletter (804) 470-4139 James Tarter Sr. gree of it, is wiped clean by the [email protected] 615-862-5730 ext 289 inmate’s uniform. Occasionally [email protected] we may take notice of how hard Northeast Director Dave Young Survey a life takes a toll on the body (973) 977-4178 Kevin Rickel as severe poverty ravages the [email protected] (617) 424-0575 [email protected] whole man. Southeast Director Chicago, IL, one of the top fi ve Marvin Jeffcoat Certifi cation The law is a double-edged (704) 417-1919 Dean Applegate investigators in the country. He marvin.jeffcoat@meck- (662) 236-2889 sword, cutting either for de- is a regular contributor to CBS, lenbergcountync.gov [email protected] fense or prosecution. To be a CNN, as well as other news defender of the poor, we must Midwest Director Membership agencies. Ciolino is a prolifi c Thomas Hinton Beverly Davidson be ever mindful of the effort writer; his book about homicide (314) 241-1255 (860) 635-5533 which we put into every case. [email protected] [email protected] defense investigations is due That is why even the most ba- to be published soon. In this West Director Web Site sic of investigative tasks must issue we bring you his article Larry Carlson James Tarter, Sr. be mastered again and again. (775) 337-4834 (615) 862-5730 ext. 289 on “Getting and Handling the [email protected] [email protected] We must work relentlessly Recanting Witness.” to protect those who cannot Executive Secretary NEWSLETTER STAFF protect themselves for we are & NDIA Offi ce In this issue, you will also fi nd Beverly Davidson Eagle’s Eye Editor up against a very resourceful, our standard news sections like (860) 635-5533 James Tarter, Sr. powerful opponent. [email protected] (615) 862-5730 ext. 289 “Field Notes” and “How-To,” [email protected] but you also fi nd we have added COMMITTEES To accomplish this, we must a new contributing author, Paul Northeast Editor look to those who excel in Marshal, whose “Tech Bits,” By-Laws Margaret Livingston the fi eld of investigation and Board of Directors (973) 648-6225 we hope, will flesh out our [email protected] pattern ourselves after them. Technology section even fur- Conference Co-Chairs Sometimes their ideals are Sean Broderick, Co-Chair Midwest Editor ther. In the following months, (415) 436-7696 Brenda Tripp controversial. Therefore, us- you will be hearing more from [email protected] (618) 482-9050 ing a critical mind, we must at least one other contributing [email protected] glean from them that which Mark Neer, Co-Chair author. (213) 894-5060 Southeast Editor we fi nd useful and put it into [email protected] Dean Applegate action. This month, the crew We hope that our continued ef- (662) 236-2889 at the Eagle’s Eye, brings you Beverly Davidson [email protected] fort to bring you the very best (860) 635-5533 one of the pre-eminent minds will inspire you to master your [email protected] West Editor in private investigation today. craft to serve the clients most Hector Botello CBS calls Paul L. Ciolino, Drew Davis (510) 272-6650 often underserved. (704) 374-0720 [email protected] founder of Paul L. Ciolino [email protected] and Associates, LLC, based in ■ James B. Tarter, Sr., Editor Eagle’s Eye Page 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Editor’s Note ....................2 FEATURE: Getting And Handling The Recanting Witness .......4 Federal Defender Investigator And Paralegal Training ......26 FIELD NOTES: Irma Grimes .......................15 HOW-TO: WIN—Vehicle Identifi cation Number & How to Read It .......17 In Memory: Ross Crespy .......................27 LATEST NEWS ..............28 he other day I found myself riding my motorcycle just for the sake of riding it. It was Meet Our Feature a pleasant day, and I had nothing better to do. Connecticut, even at this time of the Contributor ................12 Tyear, is incredibly beautiful. As I rode, I listened to the sound of the engine thumping NDIA 2008-2009 out that signature, guttural motorcycle sound, and I began thinking about what an amazing Advertising Rates ......32 thing it is when so many precisely-engineered components come together to form a well- NDIA 2009 National Conference ...............23 tuned engine. NDIA Annual Business Meeting ......................26 In many ways, the NDIA’s core group of folks function exactly like that engine. During the time I have had the privilege to be your NDIA President, I have seen the volunteers who make NDIA Member Benefi ts ......................32 the NDIA function come together in a way I have rarely seen in any organization. From the NDIA Membership Executive Committee to the NDIA Conference Coordinators to the Eagle’s Eye staff, inves- Renewal & Application tigators and paralegals have stepped up to serve your association, and in doing so coalesced Form 2009 .................33 into something more than just a group of volunteers. They have forged a strong bond and an NDIA Scholarships effi cient social network. They have become a well-tuned machine grinding out the business & Early Registration ...26 of the NDIA. And all of this is for your benefi t. President’s Message .......3 PROFILE: Terri To these folks, my hat is off. I thank them for making my work so much easier. There are Breneman ..................14 too many to name, but they know who they are. So when you see them at the 2009 NDIA TechBites .......................12 National Conference in Daytona Beach or at the 2009 NDIA Regional Conference in San TECHNOLOGY: Diego, CA, don’t hesitate to thank them for the work they do. Let them know you appreciate Battling Cybercrime ...13 their efforts. And, I challenge you to join them. Step up and offer your support. I think you Update: Clarence will fi nd the rewards of such an undertaking far exceed the work you do. Short ..........................27 Welcome New Members....................31 Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you wish to volunteer. You can reach me on my cell (203) 314-4506, my email [email protected], or on Facebook just search The opinions & comments made throughout this for Matt Whalen New Haven, CT. newsletter are not necessarily those of the NDIA. ■ Matt Whalen, President Eagle’s Eye Page 4 GETTING AND HANDLING THE RECANTING WITNESS do it are limited and the path area without losing a limb to the witness is loaded with or your career is preparation rattlesnakes and landmines. and detailed, mind-numbing One wrong step and your hard work. There is no easy career or at the minimum way to do this. Whenever the your case is ruined. facts of a case are simple and Feature straightforward, the side that The single biggest reason works the hardest will usu- that there are more people ally win. Out-working the in prison for crime that they government is not easy. They didn’t commit is that a bad have at their disposal a black witness(es) sat on a wit- hole fi lled with hundred dol- ness stand somewhere in lar bills. They have unlimited the United States and lied law enforcement personnel f you enjoy getting beat or colored their statement to call on. They have all the up, doors slammed in your to a point that the defendant toys and all the money. You, face, police and prosecu- I never had a chance. Forget on the other hand, have noth- tors hating you to the point forensic or expert advice. It ing but your willingness and of wanting to lock you up, is the witness from the com- work ethic. then you are reading the right munity with no apparent ax chapter. Re-interviewing to grind that will bury an Continued on page 5 > state or government wit- innocent defendant faster nesses in a criminal case is than a judge or jury can say, the meat and potatoes of the “guilty as charged.” criminal defense investiga- The single biggest tion. There is no way around The only way to navigate it, it has to be done and done reason that there you through this treacherous right. The opportunities to are more people in prison for crime that they didn’t commit is that a bad witness(es) sat on a witness stand somewhere in the United States and lied or colored their statement to By Paul J.