History
The DEVAUS Group, LLC was created to provide expert review and testimony of civil and criminal DWI/DUI-related and controlled substances cases. Members of the group believe that true justice requires that all parties do their jobs well and properly. In addition, the group has a strong desire to educate attorneys and the public about proper laboratory management, procedure, and practice. We ensure that when scientific evidence is used in your case, it is accurate, follows ALL procedures and is applied to the case correctly.
We are also passionate about the growing cannabis industry. We want to ensure that people (and pets) are gaining access to high-quality products and that they know how to check the reliability and traceability of their products. We assist farmers, wholesalers and retailers in researching legitimate testing laboratories and ensure the products provided are legal and of the highest quality for their clients.
With more than 45 years of combined laboratory and education experience, the DEVAUS Group offers customized training on laboratory operations, management and quality assurance, case record review, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and expert witness testimony.
Get in touch
We at The DEVAUS Group, LLC know that finding the right expert to represent your client is a choice not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer a FREE consultation to discuss your case information before agreeing to work with you. We want to make sure you find the right fit for you!
We provide a FREE consultation for cannabis industry farmers, retailers, and wholesalers.
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Our Team
ceo/founder
Bethany Pridgen
Bethany has worked in the forensic science industry since 2005 and has prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She also dabbled in crime scene investigation and family violence and sex crimes investigations while in graduate school. She provides expert witness testimony and consultation for criminal and civil matters involving, but not limited to, DUI, seized drugs, cannabis, forensic testing practices, laboratory management, quality assurance standards, and reliability of testing methods.
Early in her career, she had the opportunity to open a new regional forensic science laboratory in southeastern NC. She began an 11 year journey and gained a career’s worth of experience as a laboratory director, quality assurance manager, laboratory scientist, grant writer and manager. She has written and reviewed hundreds of administrative and technical policies, procedures, and training programs, and has analyzed and provided final review of thousands of biological and seized drug samples.
She is a lead and technical assessor for ISO 17025:2017 and performs assessments in the areas of quality management, toxicology, and seized drugs testing for ANAB and A2LA. In addition to her consultation/expert witness work, she currently serves as the Quality Assurance Manager for PinPoint Testing, LLC in Little Rock, AR, which is a clinical and forensic toxicology testing laboratory and manufacturing company.
She served two terms as a Board Member of the North Carolina Forensic Science Advisory Board by appointment. During her tenure, she served on the Toxicology Review Committee and the Controlled Substances Review Committee as both a member and a chair.
In addition to laboratory experience, she has experience in studying the metabolism of alcohol/drugs in the body, impairments due to alcohol and/or other drugs, impaired driving patterns and behaviors, and driving impairment investigations. She spent more than 150 hours in the field participating in active DUI investigations. She has completed California POST certified courses in DUI detection and investigation and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. She continues to study and keep up to date on factors that affect driving performance, such as, legal and illicit impairing substances, sleep/fatigue, and distractions. She continuously expands her work to stay up-to-date on studies involving the pharmacology of impairing substances, how different medical issues may affect the results of toxicological testing, and issues that have arisen within and due to the growing cannabis industry.
She is extremely passionate about truth and justice and has learned that the legal system is not always fair. She has a strong desire to see people held accountable to high standards for their work when it affects the lives and freedom of others. She maintains high integrity in her work and interactions.
She became very interested in the growing cannabis industry while working in the forensics world. She believes the cannabis testing industry has a lot to learn from the forensic science industry about how to self-regulate in a world where you are not regulated. She strives to be a source of knowledge to ensure that products on the market are legal, high-quality, stringently tested, and safe.
Education
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Master of Forensic Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - WILMINGTON
B.S., Chemistry; Minor, Physics
Activities & Affiliations
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, Member
Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Managers, Member
International Association for Chemical Testing, Member
Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Member
Certifications
Lean Six Sigma - Greenbelt
Partner
Ken MacGillivray, Jr.
Ken was a chemistry instructor for more than 20 years, teaching at both the high school and college level. Throughout his education career, Ken continued to advance his studies and performed laboratory research for more than 6 years. Ken is a master of translating scientific and technical information into common understandable language…even bringing humor to the chemistry world. Ken is no longer teaching full-time and works at a booming financial tech company.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - WILMINGTON
M.S., Chemistry
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
B.A., Chemistry
Certifications
Salesforce Administrator Salesforce Advance Administrator
Salesforce App Builder