Public Protection

A prosecutor is the guardian of public safety. Because the county attorney has the final word in all major prosecution decisions, the community can not risk putting that responsibility in the hands of an inexperienced person with the hope that on the job training will some day produce a competent prosecutor. As Apache County’s chief law enforcement officer, the County Attorney must immediately possess both the experience to protect the innocent from false accusation and the skill and toughness to pursue vigorous prosecution against those‐the worst of society who prey upon victims or who as drug dealers prey upon our children.

Criss has been a tough prosecutor for 23 years. That includes thousands of felony cases and nearly 100 felony jury trials. His team has consistently prosecuted hundreds more criminal cases every year than did his predecessors.

In order to prove to lawbreakers in Apache County that the criminal justice system is no joke, he has gathered together a team of experienced criminal prosecutors who are not afraid to go to trial. The power of the prosecutor’s office is its credibility. That means that it has the courage to go head to head against criminal defendants. His team has gone to jury trials many more times than those prosecutors that preceded his administration. His two investigators, Terry Wagner and Bill Cloud, provide seasoned investigative support to local law enforcement agencies in difficult and complex cases.

© 2008 Criss Candelaria