LISBON — A witness for the prosecution on Monday disputed claims by the defense in the William P. Long Jr. aggravated murder case that the “Trax” software used to generate maps using cell phone location data was flawed, unvalidated and unacceptable.

“We have over 1,000 law enforcement agencies using this. It’s been accepted in courts all across the United States,” Timothy DeVries said.

DeVries was the only witness who testified during a motions hearing which was a continuation of a previous hearing when an expert for the defense, James Stafford, a forensic examiner with 20 years experience, claimed there was a potential for error with “Trax,” a lack of peer review and the program had not been published in any scientific journal, claiming it was not generally accepted by the scientific community.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton, who took all the arguments under advisement, gave both sides 14 days to file post-hearing documents for her to review before she makes a ruling.

During the hearing, DeVries was qualified by Bickerton as an expert in geo location data analysis who has used the “Trax” software program and trained law enforcement in its use. He testified that he was a longtime police officer and investigator for the Grand Rapids Police Department in Michigan, where he worked in the major case unit and specialized in digital evidence.

He worked on phone extractions and analyzed cell phone location information and social media content, call detail records and geo location data, taking training and also training others. He called “Trax” a visualization tool. Since 2022, he’s worked for LexisNexis Risk Solutions and has continued taking training

Under questioning by county Assistant Prosecutor Alec Beech, DeVries challenged claims made in the motion filed by defense attorneys David Betras and Frank Cassese asking for the exclusion of all exhibits related to “Trax”-generated maps, plots or analysis and to preclude any witness from offering opinions or conclusions based on “Trax” or other unverified GPS data.

The cellular location evidence and “Trax” analysis allegedly places Long near the scene of the 2023 homicide at the critical time when the victim was shot to death in her vehicle while getting her mail.

Long, 51, North Market Street, Lisbon, was charged in May 2024 with aggravated murder and murder, both unclassified felonies, along with first-degree felony discharging a firearm upon a roadway, and firearm specifications for use of a gun for each count, in the death of 50-year-old Michelle A. Long on Nov. 29, 2023 outside her Carey Road home in Butler Township. She was his ex-wife and a teacher at Leetonia High School.

His jury trial remains set for Feb. 3 and he remains jailed under a $1.5 million cash or surety bond.

DeVries said multiple times that he disagreed with many of the statements in the defense motion, telling the court that “Trax” doesn’t interpret anything and does not map movement. He said the program has been peer reviewed and tested by law enforcement and universities. He also said the mapping is based on actual GPS points from the cell phone location data.

Cassese questioned DeVries on whether he had an engineering degree or any degree related to radio frequencies. He did not, but he did have training regarding radio frequencies, which relate to how a cell phone connects with a tower. He also said he used “Trax,” with Cassese asking several questions regarding whether there’s a way to show where a cell phone is located based on the pie-shaped cell phone range. There were also several questions regarding GPS data and whether he based his opinion strictly in response to what was in the defense motion.

Beech focused on that when he approached DeVries again and asked whether his opinion was based on his years of experience and training and his use of the “Trax” program.

After the witness was finished, Betras said there were a couple of issues he wanted to bring up, but not in front of the gallery, so Bickerton and the attorneys went behind closed doors for a short time before returning and ending the hearing.

mgreier@mojonews.com