Board appoints Michael McAfee as Mariposa County district attorney to complete unexpired term

The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Michael McAfee on Jan. 7 to serve as Mariposa County district attorney for the remainder of the unexpired term, following a public application process that closed Dec. 27 and a public hearing in which McAfee addressed the board.

McAfee, who has served as the county’s assistant district attorney, said he began prosecution work in Mariposa in 2019 and has since served in multiple roles, including contract defense and county prosecution. “My number one mission is to hold people accountable when they commit crimes in this county,” he told the board. He said his early priorities would be staff recruitment and retention, ensuring the office has the capacity to handle filings and meet new reporting requirements.

Why it matters: The district attorney directs criminal prosecutions, sets charging priorities, and helps coordinate with law enforcement, probation and victim services. An operational DA’s office is central to public safety and prosecution policy in the county.

Hearing and vetting: Clerk of the Board Daniel Bancho explained the appointment process the board established in October: the county opened applications Oct. 17, closed them Dec. 27, and received a single application (McAfee). The board held a public hearing Jan. 7, received public comment, and then proceeded to a confidential ballot procedure under the county policy for filling unexpired terms. The board reported a unanimous vote to appoint McAfee.

McAfee’s remarks and priorities: McAfee told the board he has worked with local judges, defense counsel and law enforcement since 2019 and said he is prepared to “immerse myself and my family into the community” if appointed. He said he would focus on ensuring every prosecuted case has the proper evidence and admissibility to secure appropriate outcomes, and on establishing the staffing and data capacity needed to comply with evolving state reporting requirements.

Support and staffing context: Josh McGilly, chief investigator in the district attorney’s office, spoke in support of McAfee at the hearing, and Christina Kehle, director of Health and Human Services Agency, called in to express HHSA’s support, noting recent coordination on welfare fraud investigations.

Outcome and effective date: The board’s vote was unanimous and the appointment is effective immediately. Because McAfee was already employed in the DA’s office, staff noted routine background checks and eligibility steps were already complete.

Ending: The newly appointed district attorney said he would meet county leadership and staff to assess office needs and return to the board with any budget or staffing requests required to meet statutory obligations and community expectations.