Mass. Drug Lab Chemist Indicted on 27 Counts

Charges include tampering with evidence, perjury

Former state chemist Annie Dookhan, who triggered a crisis in the state's criminal justice system that has set convicted drug dealers free and may cost tens of millions of dollars to fix, is facing a 27-count indictment, Attorney General Martha Coakley's office said today.

Dookhan, 34, of Franklin, who allegedly mishandled evidence she was supposed to test at a state drug lab, has been indicted by a grand jury on 17 counts of obstruction of justice, as well as 10 other charges, including tampering with evidence, perjury, and falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university, prosecutors said.

Dookhan had previously faced criminal charges in Boston Municipal Court. Those will be dropped and the prosecution of the former Department of Public Health employee will now shift to Suffolk Superior Court.