District attorney asks county to fund dedicated violent‑crimes prosecutor as murder caseload rises

Kathy Mills, the county’s district attorney, and Matt Manning visited the Aug. 12 budget workshop to press for the creation of a dedicated violent/high‑crimes prosecutor. They presented case counts showing that the number of charged murder and capital‑murder cases brought to the office climbed from 13 in 2015 to 51 in 2018, with 30 of those cases still pending from last year.

Mills and Manning said the increase requires a specialist whose primary duty would be to staff, prepare and try high‑level homicide cases, manage grand‑jury work and mentor other prosecutors. The role would concentrate expertise and reduce the need for senior attorneys to be pulled from administration or other duties to try those cases. They recommended experience and trial competence at the hiring level, estimating a mid‑range salary around $84,000 in the draft budget; they warned a too‑low salary could make recruitment difficult given competing jurisdictions.

The DA’s office said its outcomes on major cases have been strong; several office leaders have recently handled multiple trials. Mills and Manning told commissioners the new position would also support retention by offering a clear career path for prosecutors who want trial experience locally rather than moving to private practice or other counties. The court asked for supplemental data on prosecutors’ vacancy and win/loss rates and noted the request amid competing personnel and capital demands in the county budget.