GOLDEN, COLO. — Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former forensic analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, pleaded guilty to four felony counts on Tuesday. Woods entered guilty pleas for committing a cybercrime, perjury, attempting to influence a public servant, and forgery.

Dozens of other counts against Woods were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. She faces between 8 and 16 years in prison when she is sentenced in September. Woods and her attorneys declined to talk to reporters after the hearing.

Authorities accused Woods of altering data to conceal tampering and deleting data that showed she failed to troubleshoot issues within the testing process. Authorities also accused Woods of not thoroughly documenting tests performed in case records. According to an arrest affidavit, Woods allegedly told investigators she had changed data to complete cases more quickly. Problems with Woods' work were found in cases involving homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and other crimes, according to a law enforcement affidavit.

The investigation into Woods' misconduct began in September 2023. An intern at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation discovered missing information in a case that Woods handled in 2018. Woods resigned from the bureau in 2023.

Prosecutors reviewed hundreds of cases due to Woods' misconduct. At least one murder conviction was overturned as a result of her actions, and convictions in other cases are being challenged in courts across Colorado. Michael Clark was released from prison in 2025 after his lawyers argued that DNA evidence in his case was mishandled by Woods. Prosecutors are seeking to retry Clark.

In at least two homicide cases, defendants received lesser sentences under plea deals than they could have faced at trial. This occurred because prosecutors feared Woods' involvement could lead to acquittals. State officials said the response to Woods' actions could cost more than $11 million.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued a statement on Tuesday describing Woods' actions as intentional criminal fraud. The bureau stated that her actions did not reflect its practices. "Today's guilty plea is an important moment of accountability," said Armando Saldate, bureau director. "This moment is not about moving on, for CBI it's about moving forward." The bureau stated it has been making changes and is committed to following best practices used nationwide in forensic science.