Wayne Autry

Chief Investigator

Wayne began his Law Enforcement career with the Exeter Police Department upon graduation from the Police Academy. He was assigned to Patrol where he completed calls for service, conducted investigations from petty theft, assaults, battery, disturbance of peace, traffic violations, sexual assaults, homicides, and digital forensics which included child abuse, child abductions, child sexual assaults including rape and kidnappings. Wayne became a member of the S.W.A.T Team in which he was assigned to entry and sniper.
He was promoted to the rank of Detective and assigned to the Agency’s Investigative unit. As a Detective, he was assigned major cases too complicated for other Divisions, including Patrol, Civil, Agricultural Crimes, and Violent Crimes. He was a member of the S.W.A.T Team since 1995.

During his time with the Tulare County Public Defender’s Office, Wayne investigated cases from petty thefts, disturbances of peace, assaults, sexual assaults including forcible rape. He investigated assaults with deadly weapons, murder, and Death Penalty Cases, child exploitation, child pornography, and other child sexual assault cases. In 2013, he built and began the Digital Forensics Unit. In this capacity, Wayne developed policy and procedures, the forms necessary for court orders, consent forms for digital forensics extractions / examinations. Wayne testified as an Expert in Digital Forensics Analysis with the Tulare County Superior Court. Wayne obtained certifications in Digital Forensics and have supervised and trained others in this field. Wayne was also Promoted to a Supervisor position where he supervised the Investigation unit in all aspects.

Wayne became licensed as a Qualified Manager/Private Investigator in December 2002, License #23338 and began operating his own business. In late 2023, Wayne joined Law Offices of William Pernik and has since continued conducting investigations that when litigated by the attorneys, resulted in dismissals, acquittals, and or resolutions to the cases.