Montco D.A. Making Some Changes

Montgomery County Courthouse/ Photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

Three months after taking office as district attorney in Montgomery County, Kevin R. Steele has begun to make some personnel changes, putting his mark on the office. Courthouse insiders had expected that Steele, who replaced Risa Vetri Ferman as the county’s top law enforcer when she became a county judge in January, would make some changes during the first several months of his term.

Montco D.A. Kevin R. Steele

Mr. Everybody’s Business has learned that Steele announced the personnel changes in a letter distributed last week to his staff and all court officials. According to that letter, the changes are:

Lower Merion Detective Walter Kerr will be hired as a Montgomery County detective and will be assigned to the Major Crimes Unit. Kerr will fill the position opened when Lt. Mike Gilbert retired.

Montgomery County Detective Jeff Koch will be reassigned to the Violent Crime Unit.

Assistant District Attorney Gabriel C. Magee will be promoted to captain of the newly-created Community Prosecution Unit. That position will be focused on certain areas of the county that are particularly plagued by violent crime, according to Steele’s memo that was obtained by Mr. Everybody’s Business. It’s expected that Magee will work closely with community leaders and the police to address crime problems. Magee will keep his current caseload and will be reassigned to Judge Todd Eisenberg’s courtroom where he will be courtroom captain.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren I. McNulty will be reassigned as captain of the Grand Jury Unit. She will keep a select portion of her current caseload and will remain assigned as captain in Judge William R. Carpenter’s courtroom.

Judge Steven T. O'Neill

Assistant District Attorney John N. Gradel, who once handled grand jury matters, will be reassigned to be captain of the Major Crimes Team. Gradel will remain assigned as captain in the courtroom of President Judge William J. Furber Jr.

Assistant District Attorney Alec O’Neill, who previously headed the Domestic Violence Unit, will be reassigned to be captain of the Forfeiture Unit and will keep a select portion of his current caseload.

Assistant District Attorney Lindsay A. O’Brien will be reassigned to be captain of the Domestic Violence Unit and will assume the majority of O’Neill’s caseload. O’Brien will be assigned to Judge Gail A. Weilheimer’s courtroom where she will be courtroom captain.

Judge Gail A. Weilheimer

Assistant District Attorney Laura Adshead will be reassigned as captain of the Firearms Team and will be assigned to Judge Steven T. O’Neill’s courtroom where she will be the courtroom captain.

Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Geiser will be reassigned as captain of the ARD Unit.

Assistant District Attorney Brianna L. Ringwood will be transferred from the Domestic Violence Unit to the Community Prosecution Unit. She will remain assigned to Judge William Carpenter’s courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Kathleen McLaughlin will be transferred from the Drug Team to the Firearms Team and will remain assigned to Judge William R. Carpenter’s courtroom.

Judge Garrett D. Page

Assistant District Attorney Benjamin McKenna will be transferred from the Major Crimes Team to the Firearms Team and will remain assigned to Judge Garrett D. Page’s courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Alexandria T. MacMaster will be transferred from the Economic Crimes Team to the Domestic Violence Unit and will remain assigned to the courtroom of Judge Thomas P. Rogers.

Assistant District Attorney Katelyn Damanis will be transferred from the Major Crimes Team to the Sex Crimes Unit and will be reassigned to Judge William R. Carpenter’s courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Richard H. Bradbury Jr. will be transferred from the Firearms Team to the Major Crimes Team and will remain assigned to Judge Gary S. Silow’s courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Samantha L. Thompson will be transferred from the Economic Crimes Team to the Drug Team and will remain assigned to Judge Gail A. Weilheimer’s courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Douglas Lavenberg will be transferred from the DUI Team to the Drug Team and will be assigned to the courtroom of Judge Garrett D. Page.

Assistant District Attorney Scott Frame will be transferred from the DUI Team to the Economic Crimes Team and will be assigned to Judge Todd Eisenberg’s courtroom.

Judge Todd D. Eisenberg

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Brittenburg will be transferred from the DUI Team to the Major Crimes Team and will be assigned to Judge Gail A. Weilheimer’s courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Roderick Fancher will be transferred to the Trials Division where he will join the Economic Crimes Team. Fancher will be assigned to Judge Thomas P. Rogers’ courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Kelli Ann McGinnis will be promoted and will remain assigned to the Juvenile Division.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy B. Collier will be transferred from the Pre-trials Division to the Juvenile Division.

Special Assistant District Attorney Lauren A. Alessi will be hired as an assistant district attorney and will be assigned to the Pre-trials Division.

Congratulations and good luck to all those who are taking on new roles in the District Attorney’s Office.