Live webinar presented by Anthony Monaghan, JD and Eric Grabski
Dec. 3, 2026, 12:30pm
90 min of CLE credit anticipated
Cell phone location evidence is frequently used to place a defendant at or near a particular location, so understanding what those records actually establish is critical to effectively challenging the evidence. The session will explain how law enforcement obtains and analyzes CDRs, how analysts use those records to infer a phone’s location, and the limitations and uncertainties inherent in that process.
Attendees will learn practical strategies for evaluating CDR evidence and location opinions, identify common analytical weaknesses and overstatements, and develop effective strategies for cross-examining law enforcement officers and experts who offer cell-site location testimony. Additionally, the session will cover how the defense can obtain CDRs to try to show phone is not at the incident location.
Registration:
This program is part of the 2026 IDS Forensic Science Education Series. The webinars will be presented monthly and are free to attend. Use this link to register for all webinars in the series and attend any that are of interest.
Presenters:
Eric Grabski is a Digital Forensics Principal Consultant specializing in cellular location analysis at Envista Forensics. Prior to his career at Envista Forensics, Mr. Grabski worked in law enforcement as a Special Agent at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). During his career at SLED, Mr. Grabski was assigned to the State Surveillance and Intelligence Unit where he conducted historical and live cellular location analysis to locate violent fugitives as well as Endangered and Missing Persons and Missing Children. While at SLED, he was deputized as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal on the South Carolina Electronic Crimes Task Force. Mr. Grabski has experience in utilizing Wiretaps, Pen Register Trap & Trace collection, Cellebrite data analysis and extraction, social media records analysis, IP address analysis, and mobile forensics to assist local and federal agencies on major cases. Mr. Grabski has qualified and testified as an expert witness in the area of cellular location analysis and has over 160 hours of training in cellular location analysis, wireless communications theory, and Pen Register Trap & Trace collection analysis.
Anthony Monaghan, JD is an Assistant Public Defender with the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office where he currently represents clients charged with homicide offenses. He is a Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law. Anthony received the UNC School of Government Professor John Rubin “Ruby” Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Indigent Defense Training Programs in 2025.