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State's attorney highlights felony caseload data, praises court cooperation and names new hire
Summary
The state's attorney reported higher case resolutions than filings in December and across 2024, credited the public defender and judiciary for efficient case resolution, and introduced new attorney Jade Dedeaux to the county courtroom staff.
The Stephenson County state's attorney reported that in December the office charged 39 felonies and closed 46, and that in 2024 the office charged 438 felonies and resolved 332 of them.
"438 felonies were charged, 332 were resolved, 168 of which were felonies filed in 2020," the state's attorney said, adding that many cases were resolved more quickly than the statewide average time-to-completion. The state's attorney credited the public defender’s office and the judiciary for helping resolve cases: "I think some compliments are due to our public defender's office and our judiciary, for us being able to resolve that many cases that quickly."
The state's attorney also reported staffing changes in the office: two attorney vacancies existed, and the office has hired a new attorney, Jade Dedeaux, who has begun work in Judge Houser’s courtroom. The state's attorney described a victim‑witness coordinator who recently completed law school while working in the office and noted plans to set a county board orientation for department heads.
No board action was taken on these reports; they were presented as departmental updates during the meeting.
