Lee hires three new attorneys
EPHRATA — Three new deputy prosecutors started working for Grant County Monday.
The attorneys were hired as part of the reorganization of the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office.
Changes included laying off of two legal secretaries and cutting the administrative assistant position. The money for those salaries are being used to pay for the new prosecutors.
Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee referred to the new hires as an “all-star rookie team.”
The two new district court prosecutors are Brad Thonney and Nate Bailey.
“These are attorneys who are committed to public service above all. Any one of them could have taken jobs in Seattle making six figure incomes, but instead chose a career in public service,” Lee stated.
Thonney, a former Moses Lake resident, graduated with honors from Cardoza Law School in New York state. He worked as a clerk for the New Jersey Superior Court and the Grant County Probation Department.
“Thonney’s strong academic background in law and computer science, along with his experiences working inside the courts and probation departments, make him a real asset to the prosecutor’s office,” Lee stated.
Bailey graduated Indiana School of Law in the top 10 percent of his class and was editor of the law journal. He worked in the Washington Court of Appeals and has experience working at T-Mobile in contract, anti-trust and intellectual property law.
“Bailey has shown that he is going to excel in whatever he chooses to do. We are very lucky to have someone of his caliber choosing to fight crime for our county,” Lee stated.
The prosecutor’s office also hired Karen Horowitz as a juvenile attorney.
Horowitz graduated from the University of Washington School of Law with honors and was the editor for the law journal. She previously worked at the Rural Development Institute on land-use law.
“Karen’s strong legal ability will be an asset to our juvenile prosecution team,” Lee stated. “Her background in science and technology will enable her to take advantage of the technological advancements our office is currently making.”
Lee said he received almost 30 applicants and interviewed 11 of the candidates.
He went to various law schools looking for the best quality candidates.