Trooper who testified in Williams trial quits

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 | 11:09 a.m.

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who testified for the defense in the Jessica Williams trial quit the department before an internal investigation into misconduct was completed.

Trooper Douglas Webster, 41, resigned Wednesday for "personal reasons" but had been on administrative duties since Dec. 18 as an internal investigation began, Trooper Alan Davidson, a Highway Patrol spokesman, said.

State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Hood would not discuss the allegations against Webster, claiming it was a personnel issue, but he said the investigation had nothing to do with Webster testifying in the Jessica Williams trial.

"Since he resigned before there was a conclusion to the internal investigation, there will not be a finding," Hood said.

Hood did say the allegations of misconduct were not criminal.

Webster, a trooper for 12 1/2 years, testified on Feb. 8 at Williams' trial. Williams was convicted Friday of six counts of driving under the influence of a prohibited substance and faces two to 20 years on each count when she is sentenced next month.

The defense claimed she was not impaired by the drugs found in her system and subpoenaed Webster, who testified he saw no reason troopers could not have given her a field sobriety test at the scene of the crash March 19.

Six days after he testified, Webster resigned.

"The investigation did not have one thing to do with him testifying," Hood said. "He has to show up (to testify) if it's a lawful subpoena," even if it is from the defense.