State agent testifies about Robert Woody’s polygraph exam

A polygraph exam Robert Lee Woody took in April 2014 was the focus of testimony Monday in the Korey Kauffman murder case. The defense wants to know whether there was any withheld exculpatory information related to the lie detector test.

Special Agent John Jefferson of the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation conducted the polygraph exam on Woody. He said he has been trained to write a report of an exam soon after it’s conducted, while the details are still fresh in his mind.

On Monday, Jefferson testified that he didn’t write a report about Woody’s lie detector test until last week, about two years and four months after the polygraph was conducted. He said he didn’t take notes during the exam, and he wrote the report a day after reviewing a video recording of Woody’s exam.

The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office asked the state agent to conduct the polygraph exam. Jefferson said in court he doesn’t always write a polygraph report unless the outside agency asks him to write one. When his agency asks for a polygraph exam, Jefferson says he writes a report automatically.

Jefferson was questioned about how he conducted the lie detector test, but Judge Barbara Zuniga wouldn’t allow the attorneys to ask him about the polygraph questions, answers and results. She said that information is inadmissible.

Woody, who was the first person to be charged with murder in Kauffman’s death, is a key prosecution witness. He has agreed to a plea deal in exchange for his testimony. If he testifies truthfully, he will be sentenced to seven years and four months in prison instead of facing a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

The defense calls Woody a liar who has given numerous accounts, including claiming sole responsibility for Kauffman’s death. Defense attorney Jesse Garcia told the judge Monday that the lie detector test is another example of Woody giving varying answers to questions about Kauffman’s disappearance and death.

Woody has testified that Kauffman was killed on a Turlock property belonging to Modesto attorney Frank Carson. The prosecution believes the prominent criminal defense attorney recruited a group of people to send a violent message to thieves stealing scrap metal and antiques from his property, which led to Kauffman’s death.

Cross-examination of Woody has been put on hold to deal with the polygraph issue. Woody is testifying in a preliminary hearing for Carson and five others charged in Kauffman’s slaying. The hearing, which began in mid-October, is to determine whether there is enough evidence for the defendants to stand trial.

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "State agent testifies about Robert Woody’s polygraph exam."