Prosecutor

Duties & Responsibilities

The Prosecuting Attorney's office by Ohio law may inquire into crimes committed within the county; shall prosecute all complaints, suits, and controversies in which the state is a party, except for those required to be prosecuted by a special prosecutor or by the Ohio Attorney General, and such other suits, matters, and controversies, as the prosecuting attorney is required to prosecute within or without the county, in the probate court, court of common pleas and the court of appeals. In conjunction with the Ohio Attorney General, the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute cases arising in his county by a special prosecutor or by the Ohio Attorney General.

In every case of conviction, the prosecuting attorney shall cause execution to be issued for the fine and costs, and faithfully urge the collection until it is effected or found to be impracticable to collect, which money shall be paid into the county treasurer.

The prosecuting attorney may participate as a member of the investigatory staff of an organized crime task force that has jurisdiction in that county, in an investigation of organized criminal activity under Ohio law.

The prosecuting attorney may pay a reward to a person who has volunteered any tip or information to a law enforcement agency in the county concerning a drug through related offense that is planned to occur, is occurring, or has occurred, in whole or in part, in the county. The prosecuting attorney may provide for the payment, out of the following sources, of rewards to a person who has volunteered tips and information to a law enforcement agency in the county concerning a drug through related offense that is planned to occur, is occurring, or has occurred, in whole or in part, in the county.

Further, the prosecuting attorney shall be the legal adviser of the board of county commissioners, board of elections, and all other county officers and boards, including all tax through supported public libraries, and any of them may require written opinions or instructions from the prosecuting attorney in matters connected with their official duties. The prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend all suits and actions which any such officer or board directs or to which it is a party, and no county officer may employ any other counsel or attorney at the expense of the county, except as provided by Ohio law.

The prosecuting attorney shall be the legal adviser for all township officers in the county, except in limited situations.

Organization of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office

While still a small office compared to other counties in Ohio, the Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is organized into six main divisions: Criminal, Juvenile, Civil and Government Services, Appellate, Victim Services, and Administrative. At present, the office has three attorneys, three clerical staff, and a victim services provider.

Criminal Division

The Criminal Division has the responsibility to serve the criminal docket of the Common Pleas court in the prosecution of all its criminal cases. It also addresses issues of extradition, bindovers from the County Municipal Court, and post-conviction relief.

Juvenile Division

The Juvenile Division has the responsibility to serve the docket of Fayette County's Lone Juvenile Court. It addresses delinquency, traffic, dependency, neglect, and unruly cases as well as adult and permanent custody cases from the county's children's services.

Civil and Government Services Division

The Civil and Government Services division has the responsibility to serve the civil docket of the Fayette County Courts in which the county, any of its boards or the county townships are a party. As well, the division represents these clients in all administrative law matters, bankruptcy and collections, and taxation. The government services function is to advise and assist all county officers the various county boards and township officers in carrying out their duties. This includes attending meetings, reviewing contracts and rendering opinions.

Appellate Division

The appellate division handles all appeals from the courts and boards of the county and criminal courts. The division initiates and responds to appeals that are filed in the 12th District Court of Appeals for Ohio, The Ohio Supreme Court, Federal District, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

Victim Witness Division

The Victim Witness Division has the responsibility to aid and assist the victims of crime in overcoming the adverse effects of their victimization from cases originating in the Common Pleas Court and the Juvenile Court.

Administrative

The administrative division has the responsibility of supporting the office in its daily functions. Supplying all other divisions with needed supplies and data entry support. Further, the division forecasts the needs of the other divisions and attempts to meet those needs in a timely manner.

Prosecuting Attorneys of Fayette County, Ohio

• Jess Weade  2011 to Current
• David B. Bender  2005 through 2011
• Steven H. Eckstein  1993 through 2004
• John H. Roszmann  1984 through 1992
• James A. Kiger  1974 through 1983
• Otis R. Hess, Jr.  1973 through 1973
• Rollo M. Marchant  1961 through 1972
• W. S Paxson  1940 through 1962
• Charles J. Schwart  1939 through 1940
• W. S Paxson  1938 through 1939
• A. Newton Downing  1935 through 1938
• Norman L. McLean  1931 through 1935
• W. S Paxson  1927 through 1931
• Ray R. Maddox  1921 through 1927
• Harry M. Rankin  1917 through 1921
• Thomas S Maddox  1913 through 1917
• Pope Gregg  1908 through 1913
• Ed L. Rush  1903 through 1908
• Charles A. Reid  1897 through 1903
• William B. Rogers  1894 through 1897
• Nye Gregg  1891 through 1894
• Robert C. Miller  1885 through 1891
• Frank G. Carpenter  1880 through 1885
• Ace Gregg  1874 through 1880
• A. R. Creamer  1872 through 1874
• Madison Pavey  1870 through 1872
• H. B. Maynard  1868 through 1870
• J. B. Priddy  1866 through 1868
• Marshal J. William  1864 through 1866
• Madison Pavey  1862 through 1864
• Marshal J. Williams  1860 through 1862
• Mills Gardner  1855 through 1860
• Robert M. Briggs  1853 through 1855
• David M. Jones  1851 through 1853
• Nelson Rush  1847 through 1851
• Samuel F. Kerr  1843 through 1847
• Bernam Martin  1841 through 1843
• Alfred S. Dickey  1839 through 1841
• Wade Loofborrow  1837 through 1839
• Samuel F. Kerr  1835 through 1837
• Robert Robinson  1833 through 1835
• Wade Loofborrow  1833 through 1833
• Benjamin G. Leonard / Wade Loofborrow  1831 through 1833
• Benjamin G. Leonard  1827 through 1831
• Wade Loofborrow  1824 through 1827
• Benjamin G. Leonard  1823 through 1824
• Wade Loofborrow  1822 through 1823
• Samuel Buck  1819 through 1822
• Wade Loofborrow  1818 through 1819
• unknown  prior to 1818