Posted by: thepinetree on 06/11/2014 10:24 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 06/11/2014 10:27 AM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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CDAA's Investigator Of The Year Award Goes To Gary Stevens!! His Exemplary Work On Bergo Case Highlighted!
Sacramento, CA....The California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) has selected the recipients of its 2014 awards, to be presented at the annual CDAA Summer Conference in Newport Beach on June 26, 2014. The 2014 recipients are: The District Attorney Investigator of the Year award recognizes investigators whose outstanding ability and professional dedication merit the respect and recognition of prosecutors. The 2014 recipient is Gary Stevens from the Amador County District Attorney’s Office. A peace officer for 24 years, the last six with the DA’s office, Mr. Stevens spent over two years investigating and gathering evidence in the murder of an elderly woman, whose son, Justin Bergo, was eventually found guilty of the crime. Amador County DA Todd Reibe describes Mr. Stevens’ work on that case as,“one of the best examples of investigative work I have seen in my 23 years practicing criminal law.”
 
Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year (Large County) is presented in recognition of a prosecutor whose outstanding ability, professional dedication, and personal sacrifice merit the respect and acknowledgement of all prosecutors. The 2014 recipient is Kern County Deputy District Attorney Eric Smith. Assigned to the Gang Unit, Mr. Smith prosecuted eight cases to a jury in 2013 – seven of which were murders, with one resulting in the death penalty, and spent 236 days in trial, more than any other attorney in the office.
Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year (Medium/Rural County) is presented in
recognition of a prosecutor from a county with a population of less than 450,000
whose outstanding ability, professional dedication, and personal sacrifice merit the
respect and acknowledgement of all prosecutors. The 2014 recipients are Marin
County Deputy District Attorneys Rosemary Slote and Dori Ahana, who
successfully prosecuted the capital case of serial murderer Joseph Naso, a process that
took two-and-half-years.
The Edwin L. Miller Leadership Award represents the highest honor paid to a
retiring or retired elected District Attorney. It recognizes and acknowledges leadership
in the furtherance of the prosecutorial profession both in California and on a national
basis. The 2014 recipient of this award is the Honorable Jan Scully, the Sacramento
County District Attorney. Ms. Scully has been a prosecutor for 35 years. She is
completing her fifth term as the elected District Attorney of Sacramento County. She
was the first woman president of CDAA and first woman president of the National
District Attorneys Association (NDAA).
The John J. Meehan Career Achievement Award recognizes a retired/retiring
deputy district attorney who has contributed greatly to CDAA’s education, legislative,
and training functions during their prosecutorial career. There are two recipients for
this award: San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Jerry P. Coleman and Riverside
County Assistant District Attorney Cregor G. Datig. Mr. Coleman is a prolific author
and instructor for CDAA, and has served on the Board of Directors and the legislation
committee. Mr. Datig has served on the Board of Directors and the legislation and
juvenile justice committee, developed the Association’s Traffic Safety Resource
Prosecutor (TSRP) program, and was named 2003 Instructor of the Year.
The William E. James Award was established to recognize and acknowledge a
Deputy Attorney General who possess outstanding legal scholarship and who has
provided exceptional assistance to California prosecutors. For 2014, this award is
being presented to Deputy Attorney General Elaine Tumonis from the Los Angeles
Office of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General Raquel Gonzalez from
the San Diego Office, for their joint work in assisting prosecutors with child abduction
cases.
CDAA serves as the primary source of continuing legal education and legislative
advocacy for prosecutors throughout the state. In addition to offering seminars,
publications, and extensive online tools, CDAA serves as forum for the exchange
of information and innovation in the criminal justice field.
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