BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts chemist accused of deliberately faking test results on drug samples in criminal cases has been indicted on 27 charges.

Annie Dookhan, of Franklin, was first arrested in September on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of pretending to hold a degree.

State Attorney General Martha Coakley said the 35-year-old Dookhan was indicted Monday by a grand jury on 17 counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence, perjury and pretending to hold a college degree.

Dookhan’s alleged misconduct led state police to shut down a state lab used by police departments to test drugs in criminal cases.

The scandal has already prompted judges to release about 200 defendants from prison and put their cases on hold while their lawyers challenge their convictions.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.