A Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney has resigned in the wake of a State Police investigation of his relationship with JP Crime Lab "Rogue Chemist" Annie Dookhan. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey released a short statement about the resignation late Wednesday afternoon:

After discussions with his supervisors, Assistant District Attorney George Papachristos has offered his resignation and District Attorney Michael Morrissey has agreed to accept it. George Papachristos communicated that he does not wish to be a further distraction from the central issue of the criminal conduct that has been alleged and the complete breakdown of supervision that allowed it to continue.

Papachristos and Dookhan corresponded by email, with Dookhan sometimes revealing personal information about her marriage and other aspect of her life, according to The Boston Globe. The emails were so unusual they caught the attention of state police officials investigating Dookhan, who is accused of mishandling evidence in thousands of criminal drug cases.

Papachristos and Dookhan did not have a romantic relationship, according to the Globe, though her husband did try to contact Papacristos over the emails. 

The relationship may place more cases in jeopardy because prosecutors are not allowed to contact lab staff. All correspondence must go to lab supervisors to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

Follow all the State Drug Lab scandal news at our "JP Drug Lab Scandal" topic page.

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