05/27/2026
Today I’d like to mention an important person to me, my Grandpa. The picture here shows him, my Dad, and me planting an oak tree in our backyard when I was a kid. It was just one of the many things we did together. I was blessed to have some great family support when I was young, and my Grandpa was a big part of that.
Grandpa was a coal miner, and ultimately, a janitor and handyman. He was tough, gruff, and hard working. He was not a stranger to four letter words, he enjoyed wearing his bib overalls pretty much everywhere he went, and he loved our Grandma Nellie ‘til his last breath…and he also cared a lot about us. He really enjoyed helping out people whenever he could.
Coal mining took a toll on him. One day, a patch of slate broke loose and crushed him, breaking his back. Later on, he also had to fight black lung disease. But Grandpa refused to let any setback get the best of him. Even as he slowed down with age, he was always able to give us guidance and a boost when it was needed the most. One of the many pieces of advice he would say is “If you ain’t goin’ forward, you’re goin’ backward.”
That oak tree we planted stands tall to this day, and my Grandpa’s guidance and example, including his example about moving forward and helping others still means a lot to me.
For quite a while now I’ve said that I will be your voice for justice, and in doing that, the bottom line is that I will be tough, but I will also be fair. That inspiration really goes back to all those times spent with my Grandpa and his example.
During my career as a lawyer, I’ve definitely represented my share of people who would be the “little guys”, or the disadvantaged. When so many people came to me and expressed support for me to seek the position of prosecutor in our county, with so many looking for a positive change and moving forward, I knew exactly what my Grandpa would say.
As your prosecutor, I will rely on 34 years of criminal law experience in Vermillion County and the Wabash Valley. That experience includes success in major felony jury trials. My first jury trial was in 1995, when the accused was facing 5 counts and over 100 years in prison upon a conviction, and we won. Since then, we’ve also been successful in trials with charges like Arson, Burglary, Attempted Murder, and Murder, among others. Along the way, I’ve resolved thousands of other criminal and juvenile delinquency cases, acquired extensive experience in child support and paternity law, and I’ve worked in both high volume and low volume courts throughout the Wabash Valley, with many different prosecutors. I will also rely on a work ethic that was originally cultivated in me by my family, including my Grandpa, which focuses on hard work, smart work, teamwork, and public service. When all is said and done, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and put all that experience to work to serve you and Vermillion County as your voice for justice.
My vision includes justice and accountability for each case under the law, and it means having a safe and protected Vermillion County, with safe communities for us to enjoy. I will actively and consistently work with all our law enforcement partners and those impacted by crimes, to get that done. My vision will also focus on things like:
Enhancing and improving communication, for more effective case review, progression, and resolution;
Increasing efficiency to cut the backlog of cases;
Strengthening the office, while working to control costs; and
Attacking continued issues with drug and alcohol abuse cases. I will aggressively prosecute dealers to cut the supply of illegal drugs…prison time is waiting for dealers trying to bring illegal drugs into our county. But I will also look for additional ways to develop, strengthen, and enhance our options in cases to cut the demand for drugs, and change behaviors, including with those struggling with addiction.
Now that’s going to be a lot of work. But I believe we are up to the task, and that together we can have both a safe, and a better, Vermillion County.
Your vote matters, and I would be honored to earn your support and your vote…your vote to be your voice for justice.
Thank you!
